Learning to Cope

I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I am on medication for it now. I am scared as i dont really know how to handle this. my kids are 6 and 2 and i love them but they dont understand why mommy cant get out of bed sometimes. I cry because of what this does to them. My husband is in the Military and we face deployment next year and I want to be able to handle this before he leaves. does anyone have any advice?

[hell1971]

Hey firstly welcome to this forum, I was diagnosed in november last year, I am a mum of four children. When I was first diagnosed I was scared, everyone told me that knowledge is power but I found it overwhelming at fist, reading everything I could became yet another reason for my mind to race. I went through many fases of denial then acceptance then denial then acceptance and so on. It can take time to get stable again, I am still trying but things are much better than last year when my mind was out of control. Dont expect a quick fix, there isnt one, it does take time. This forum has been a life saver for me, everyone gets a response and support which is all anyone else can do. My only advise is to keep to the medication you are prescribed and dont beat yourself up about it, your kids know you as you and love you for you, they know nothing else. Look after yourself, take time for relaxation, eat well and try and take little steps. Good luck, you are not alone.internet hug.

[kroxrose]

i dont have kids but i have BP and so did my mother. the only thing i can think to tell you if to be honest with your kids. they may not fully understand but if you talk with them about it. it will be much easier for them to understand. my mother didnt tell me till i was in high school and for most of my life i thought she was a crazy B cause she was always up and down. we would have has a better relationship if i would have known. so i think you should tell your kid about it and try and explain the best you can. i also think you need a schedule and to try and stick to it the best you can. it will help with giving you something to do to make you get out of bed. i find that most days when i feel like i cant get up. if i had a plan the night before then i get up and do it even if i dont want to. so maybe a plan the night before will help you get out of bed when you are feeling low. i hope this helped.