[Sunnyhunny00]

How do you manage parenting with bipolar?

How do you do it? What methods work for you?

This is interesting to me.

I have 2 kids youngest is 11mo and the oldest is 4. I'm DONE having kids. To be honest, having children was probably the worst and best thing I've done to myself. They help keep me in check, I always have a reason to keep truckin, and they make me happier when I'm already feeling good. I love them to death.

However... It makes EVERYTHING soo much harder. It makes having bipolar harder to deal with. On a normal day I am ready to explode multiple times a day. I feel lost all the time on how to manage all of it. I'm always afraid I'm going to ruin my kids. I try to be my best but sometimes my best is a normal persons worst. Crying is a trigger for me, so cave in all the time. I kinda just do whatever it is I can to make it through the day without exploding. My good and bad days literally revolve around my children's behavior. My days are just as unpredictable as a child.

My meds help extremely good with this but I need coping skills. I'm going to talk to T about it all when I get the chance.
But until then do you have anything that works for you?

How do you be a good parent with bipolar?

[raspberrytorte]

I have a three year old and feel the same way you do. It's so hard and stressful and makes managing bp harder. I'd post longer, but I'm on break at work. You are not alone!

[RisuNeko]

I've wondered whether or not I should even have kids, knowing that I'm bipolar. Do I want my kids to potentially have to go through everything I go through? Could I even handle it? I still feel like I want kids someday though.

[violet66]

I wish I had some advice for you. I have two teen girls. I only had depressive episodes before my first was born and having the extra responsibility triggered my bipolar. As they got older it became harder and harder. Having a strong support system is important.

[scatterbrained04]

You are not alone. I am going through the same thing. It's tough. Sometimes I think we believe we are worse parents than we really are though? The thought of being a bad parent is worse to me than dealing with the bipolar.

Crying is a huge trigger for me as well. Especially if he's crying over something little. He cried once for like 20 minutes because I bumped into something he built, and it fell over. Halfway through that, I threw a small shelf, and it put a hole in the wall.

[Sunnyhunny00]

Being a bad parent is the worst feeling for me also.
I try not to explode around them, I keep it isolated but sometimes I fail.
I had JUST got the baby to sleep and was ready to enjoy some peace until my oldest screams at the dog. The baby woke up and it was all over. The peaceful hour I had been looking forward too since 7am disappeared at the sound of his screaming cry.
I looked at her and blamed her, she said sorry but I kept glaring. Threw the blankets down and stopped off into the kitchen where I threw a tiny jega block. It hardly made a sound and I felt pathetic.

Next thing I knew my daughter opened the door and both dogs ran out. I threw on my coat and ran into the freezing air running into a feild to chase them down. I fell to my knees, right there in the middle of a feild, for a split second to woller in self pitty. Finally, I stand up kicking rocks in a fit of rage as I scream "I'm taking you both to the ****** pound!!!"

I live in a gated community. What a site to see at 2pm.

I've since collected myself and my dogs still have their home. But it's times like this when I wish I could keep control and not look like I'm bat sh** crazy for all my neighbors to see.

[raspberrytorte]

It's hard for me to keep my cool too. One time I was so frustrated I threw one of her toys and made a hole in the wall. ( Sometimes I feel like the worst mom in the world and fear she'll end up in therapy because of me when she gets older.

[~Christina]

I didn't have a clue I had Bipolar . I was age 43 diagnosed BP I and my daughter at age 19 diagnosed 3 months after me.

I thought everyone went through racing thoughts , ups and downs , just life,, Call me clueless ..

Anyway no family history at all,, Yet I have BP and she does..