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Parenting while receiving treatment for bipolar disorder

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  • 13-02-2015 9:11pm
    #1
    Mister Know It Not
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭


    A close friend of mine has trouble with alcoholism and now suspects that she may have underlying issues re. depression or bipolar disorder. She has two children (16 and 12) and is worried about seeking help because she is afraid her husband may need to give up his job because it requires him to travel for a week every two or three months or, in a worse scenario, that they may simply lose custody of the children altogether.

    If it turns out she does have bipolar disorder and if she is prescribed medication, what are people's experiences re. functioning in jobs or family roles during this period?

    If this period of adjustment is indeed suboptimal, does social services take an active interest and intervene in the family?
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    #2
    JuliusCaesar
    Registered Users Posts: 4,882 ✭✭✭JuliusCaesar


    We cannot comment on individual cases.

    For what reasons are children taken into care? Only if they are being abused or neglected. Generally children want to stay with their parents. Generally if parents aren't coping, they are helped and supported. Taking children into care is difficult and expensive and time-consuming and generates a whole heap of requirements - it is usually only done if absolutely necessary.

    There's a mass of child protection legislation. The days of institutionalising people including children is long gone.


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    #3
    blatantrereg
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,743 ✭✭✭blatantrereg


    It's often very treatable. Person I know on meds for it is in line for a first in a hdip at the moment. Incidentally, this is better than her performance in her undergrad while stable. Her functioning has improved in general sine diagnosis and treatment; not disimproved (and this is in comparison with her in general previously, not during any recognised episode).

    BPAD is a very serious condition. If episodes are left untreated they can result in severe consequences including suicide and psychosis. There can be a severe impact on relationships, work, finances as well as general health.

    There's absolutely no reason for someone to have their children taken away only on account of having BPAD. If they were to refuse treatment or to acknowledge they were sick this could very well result in a situation like that however.


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