Considerations
for Parents and Pregnant Women with Bipolar Disorder
There
are a lot of worries and unknowns when becoming a parent. If you have bipolar
disorder, you might worry about stigma, raising your kids, and going through
mood swings.
Many
patients with bipolar disorder live in stable families with wholesome
connections. Bipolar disorder management and informing loved ones, particularly
children, about the condition frequently lead to stability.
Having
children while treating bipolar illness
Anyone
can find parenting challenging, but having bipolar disorder can add
complications. People with bipolar disorder frequently have to balance caring
for a kid while simultaneously managing their treatment, which may include
medication and talk therapy.
Bipolar
disorder may require regulating triggers and preventing mood swings with
counselling and a regular schedule.
People
with bipolar disorder have more stressful life events prior to a manic or
depressive episode, according to a 2017 meta-analysis of research. Giving birth
was listed as a stressful life event in the study, and it was discovered that
those with bipolar disorder were more likely to experience a relapse after
giving birth than those with other mental health conditions, such as major depression.
Bipolar
disorder sufferers are capable of being devoted parents. Parents may give their
children the care and attention they require until they are adults, even if
they themselves have bipolar disorder.
The
family dynamic may be complex since a parent with bipolar disorder may relate
to their children differently than someone without the condition.
A review
of studies from 2020 Parents reported poorer family cohesion in their homes
than parents of families where mental health concerns weren't present,
according to a Trusted Source study on bipolar disorder and family situations.
However,
the study also pointed out that bipolar disorder's impact on the home
environment did not differ noticeably from those of other mental health
illnesses.
Chance
of passing on the bipolar disease to future generations
Bipolar
disorder risk may be influenced by family history. Though not always, bipolar
disorder does not always run in families.
A
study review from 2018 According to Trusted Source, there is a 40% to 70%
chance that if one identical twin has bipolar disorder, the other will as well.
According to the same analysis, there is a 5–10% probability that a child or
sibling of a person with bipolar disorder will also become ill (7 times higher
than the general population).
However,
even if they have a close cousin who has bipolar disorder, the analysis points
out that those relatives are really more likely to have depression than bipolar
disorder.
Tips
for parenting children with bipolar disorder and family planning
Many
people who suffer from bipolar disorder make great parents. However, it's
normal to feel anxious and afraid as you start your parenting journey. You
might feel more validated if you know that others with bipolar disorder have
similar worries to your own.
Pregnancy
with bipolar disorder: What to know first
In
a 2016 study, remarks from bipolar women who were thinking about getting
pregnant were gathered. These women had a variety of worries, among them:
· How
adverse drug reactions like obesity could lead to more complicated
deliveries.
· That
the pregnancy and childbirth may cause a relapse or a mood crisis.
· The
stigma associated with being a mother with a mental illness.
· Newborns
must be bottle-fed in order to shield them from lithium-containing bipolar
illness drugs.
· Managing
sleep deprivation while providing for a newborn, which is a known trigger for
mood disorders
Participants
in the study stated that having a supportive partner and family helped lessen
some of these anxieties.
There
is some evidence that pregnancy has no impact on how bipolar disorder develops.
Bipolar
disorder does not progress any differently in pregnant women than it does in
non-pregnant women, according to a 2021 study. This conclusion was reached by
analysis of the daily mood scores. 2019 research Furthermore, Trusted Source
discovered no distinction in pregnancy outcomes between women with and without
bipolar disorder.
However,
a 2016 analysis indicated that pregnant women with bipolar disorder had worse
results than pregnant women without the condition.
You
might wish to act wisely for yourself as a person with bipolar disorder. You
might want to think about how the symptoms of bipolar disorder might impact
your life as a parent as part of that journey.
You
can listen to our podcast "Inside Bipolar Podcast: Pregnancy
Considerations with Bipolar Disorder" for more information on this
subject.
Manic
episode agitation is a symptom
Some
people link agitation to a manic episode. However, a 2018 study of 583 patients
with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder discovered that agitation was more
frequently felt inward as:
· tension
· restlessness
· unease
In
this group, agitation did happen, with an average of 22 moderate episodes per
year.
In
this study, roughly two-thirds of individuals were able to identify when they
were agitated or likely to become so. Many folks went to the doctor. Others
made an effort to self-manage by continuing their medicine or talking to their
doctor, family, or friends.
While
agitation may be a person's own warning sign of a manic episode, talking to a
mental health professional about learning to spot the clinical indications of
mania may be beneficial. Investigate self-management strategies that you might
employ to strike a balance between your experience and your parental
responsibilities.
Lack
of motivation is a sign of depression
Because
the drugs for depression and bipolar disorder depression are different,
treating bipolar depression can be challenging. Researchers emphasise that
sometimes symptoms can get worse if a patient is given an antidepressant rather
than a mood stabiliser, such as when someone has:
· Bipolar
disorder with fast cycling
· A
mixed-state episode
Your
self-care is crucial for both you as a parent and as a person. Consider seeing
a doctor or your neighbourhood emergency room if you have the low motivation or
suicidal thoughts.
When
you have bipolar depression, having a daily schedule can help you feel more
motivated.
Leaning
toward euthymic cycles as a symptom
You
might appreciate the respite from symptoms when you're in euthymia, or when you
aren't going through a mood episode. You can also decide to use this time to
complete important tasks if you're a parent or someone who is managing a mental
health problem.
When
you discuss bipolar disorder with your child, you can be in a euthymic
condition. You can also keep a mood journal and make a plan for how others
might assist you in the event of a future mood episode as steps toward managing
bipolar disorder.
Psychosis
and unanticipated stimuli are symptoms
Occasionally,
it's impossible to forecast when a mood episode may occur. Your family may play
a crucial role as a source of support if you suffer from psychosis.
When
a person with bipolar disorder experiences:
· delusions
· hallucinations
· false
assertions
A
depressive or manic condition may include psychosis. Examples include having
exceptional abilities or being financially ruinous.
It
is beneficial as a parent to have a mental health crisis plan in place for
situations like these. If your child is experiencing an episode alone and
doesn't have the assistance of another parent or family member, talk to them
about Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers can help make the situation less
frightening and manageable for them.
Talking
with your youngster about how to handle stressful situations is a smart idea.
Create a list of people to call in this situation so they can get the
assistance they require. The list can include trusted friends and family
members who are aware of your family's condition as well as emergency
personnel.
Conclusion
Bipolar
disorder sufferers are capable of raising loving and responsible children. It
is normal to feel anxious and fearful before becoming pregnant or starting a
family. Your family can thrive in a healthy atmosphere if you take care of your
health and make emergency plans.