Bipolar disorder in children can be described as a serious medical condition, in which the child depression can go from bad to worse within a matter of minutes. A child who suffers from bipolar disorder can be sweet and amiable one second and can be uncontrollable the next. Therefore, it is safe to say that handling bipolar disorder in kids can be a bit of a challenge for most people. However, while it may be quite a difficult task, it is definitely possible to learn how to cope with children who suffer from bipolar disorder. With a little bit of patience and by understanding the highs and lows of the child, handling bipolar disorder in kids can be much easier.
The first and most important step in being able to deal with this condition in children is by realizing that the child does not know his behavior can cause people to get distressed. These bouts of depression are as difficult on the child, as they are on the parents. Children with bipolar disorder usually wish that they could be like other children.
Some parents give their children medication and drugs without conducting a thorough research activity on it. Before giving a child any kind of medication, it is important to get information about the long term and short term side effects, expected benefits, nutritional effects, lab work and interactions. Most of these questions can be answered by a psychiatrist or a pharmacist. While medicines are effective in handling bipolar disorder in kids, there are many other natural ways that can help parents deal with the disease. Certain herbs like Ginko Biloba, chamomile, St. John's wart, ginseng, licorice and kava-kava are all known to beneficial for children with bipolar disorder.
Children with bipolar disorders should be tested for allergies as well as lead poisoning. At times, parents maintain a log, with the child's behavior, symptoms, medicines taken, foods eaten and so on. In future, this log is can be referred to, for studying and analyzing the child's behavior patterns in conjunction with foods eaten. This is an excellent way to evaluating the child's diet too, since studies indicate that there can be an improvement in the child's behavior and mood after the elimination of certain foods and food ingredients like aspartame, MSG, artificial colors, added flavors, gluten and meat. A log can help a parent to separate the foods that help the children, from the ones that aggravate the condition.
Bipolar disorder in kids is a lot more common, than most people imagine. Therefore, there are several help and support groups too, that have special programs for parents and relatives, on handling bipolar disorder in kids. The information and contact details of these groups can be found at most local children's hospitals or through online resources.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.