When a Child's Parent has PTSD Jennifer L. Price, PhD

When a Child's Parent has PTSD
Jennifer L. Price, PhD
Introduction

Researchers have examined the impact of Veterans' PTSD symptoms on family relationships, and on children of Veterans in particular. Understanding how these symptoms affect relationships can help families and children of Veterans cope with difficulties, should they arise. Although much of the research described here has been conducted with children of Vietnam Veterans, findings from this body of research may generalize to children of Veterans from other eras as well as non-Veterans with PTSD.
How might a Veteran's PTSD symptoms affect his or her children?

Re-experiencing symptoms

Individuals who have PTSD often "re-experience"' traumatic events through vivid daytime memories or dreams. Re-experiencing can occur suddenly and without intention, and it is typically accompanied by intense emotions, such as grief, guilt, fear, or anger. Sometimes these intrusions can be so strong or vivid that the individual believes the trauma is reoccurring.
These symptoms can be frightening not only for the individual experiencing them but also for children who witness them. Children may not understand what is happening or why, and they may start to worry about their parent's well-being. Children may also worry that their parent cannot properly care for them.
Avoidance and numbing symptoms

Because the re-experiencing symptoms characteristic of PTSD are so uncomfortable, people who have been traumatized tend to try to avoid thinking about the traumatic event. They may also attempt to avoid places and experiences that could trigger upsetting memories. As a result, individuals with PTSD may not want to do things or go places, such as to the store, to the movies, or out to dinner. Children may feel that their parent does not care about them when the reality is that the parent is avoiding places that are just too frightening. In addition to these active avoidance strategies, traumatized individuals often struggle with experiencing positive emotions and may feel "cut off" from other people, including family members.
These avoidance and numbing symptoms can have a direct impact on children. For example, when a parent with PTSD withdraws from family members and has trouble feeling positive emotions, children can inaccurately interpret this as the parent not being interested in them or loving them, even though the parent may try to indicate otherwise.
Hyperarousal symptoms

Individuals with PTSD tend to have a high level of anxiety and arousal, which shows up as difficulty sleeping, impaired concentration, and being easily startled. They tend to have a high level of irritability and may experience an exaggerated concern for their own safety and the safety of their loved ones. Parents with PTSD can therefore tend to be overprotective. Irritability and low frustration tolerance can make a parent seem hostile or distant, again making children question the parent's love for them. This perception is simply a misunderstanding of the reasons behind the symptoms.
How do children respond?

A parent's PTSD symptoms can be directly linked to their child's responses. Children can respond in certain ways:
The "over-identified" child might feel and behave just like their parent as a way of trying to connect with the parent. Such a child might show many of the same symptoms as the parent with PTSD.
The "rescuer" child takes on the adult role to fill in for the parent with PTSD. The child acts too grown-up for his or her age.
The "emotionally uninvolved" child gets little emotional help. This results in problems at school, depression, anxiety (worry, fear), and relationship problems later in life.
What are some problems children of Veterans with PTSD might experience?

Social and behavioral problems

Research in Vietnam Veteran's families has revealed that children of Veterans with PTSD are at higher risk for behavioral, academic, and interpersonal problems. Their parents tend to view them as more depressed, anxious, aggressive, hyperactive, and delinquent compared to children of non-combat Vietnam era Veterans who do not have PTSD. In addition, the children are perceived as having difficulty establishing and maintaining friendships. Chaotic family experiences can make it difficult to establish positive attachments to parents, which can make it difficult for children to create healthy relationships outside the family. There is also research showing that children may have particular behavioral disturbances if their parent Veteran participated in abusive violence (i.e., atrocities) during combat service (5).
Some research has found that PTSD is related to an increased likelihood of violence in the home. It is important to note, however, that the majority of Veterans have violence-free homes and that most of this research is correlational. For example, one study found more violence in families of Vietnam Veterans with PTSD than in families of Veterans without PTSD, including increased violent behavior of the child (1). Several studies have examined the relationship between fathers' combat-related PTSD and violent behaviors and their children's functioning (2, 3, 4).
Emotional problems and secondary traumatization

Although not common, children may start to experience the parent's PTSD symptoms (e.g., start having nightmares about the parent's trauma) or have PTSD symptoms related to witnessing their parent's symptoms (e.g., having difficulty concentrating at school because they're thinking about the parent's difficulties). Some researchers describe the impact that a parent's PTSD symptoms have on a child as secondary traumatization (2). It is also possible that children develop PTSD symptoms of their own, especially if there is trauma or violence in the home. Research on Vietnam era Veterans found that children of Veterans with PTSD are at higher risk for being depressed and anxious than non-combat Veterans' children. Having a supportive parent or caregiver can offset these problems and enhance recovery in children with PTSD or other emotional concerns.
Problems may continue into adolescence

Adolescent children of Veterans with PTSD may be similarly affected by their parent's symptoms. Although the research cannot point to cause and effect, compared to adolescents whose fathers were not Veterans, adolescents whose fathers served in combat in Vietnam showed poorer attitudes toward school, more negative attitudes toward their fathers, lower scores on creativity and higher levels of depression and anxiety (6). In spite of these differences, the two groups of adolescents were actually quite similar on a range of other measures of social and personality adjustment.
Can children get PTSD from a parent?

Although not common, it is possible for children to display symptoms of PTSD because they are upset by their parent's symptoms (secondary traumatization). Some researchers have investigated the notion that trauma and the symptoms associated with it can be passed from one generation to the next. Researchers describe this phenomenon as intergenerational transmission of trauma. Much research has been conducted with victims of the Holocaust and their families (see Kellerman [7] for review), and some studies have expanded on these ideas to include families of combat Veterans with PTSD.
Ancharoff, Munroe, and Fisher (8) described several ways to understand the mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of trauma. These mechanisms are silence, overdisclosure, identification, and reenactment.
When a family silences a child, or teaches him/her to avoid discussions of events, situations, thoughts, or emotions, the child's anxiety tends to increase. He or she may start to worry about provoking the parent's symptoms. Without understanding the reasons for their parent's symptoms, children may create their own ideas about what the parent experienced, which can be even more horrifying than what actually occurred.
Overdisclosure can be just as problematic. When children are exposed to graphic details about their parent's traumatic experiences, they can start to experience their own set of PTSD symptoms in response to the images generated.
Similarly, children who live with a traumatized parent may start to identify with the parent such that they begin to share in his or her symptoms as a way to connect with the parent.
Children may also be pulled to reenact some aspect of the traumatic experience because the traumatized parent has difficulty separating past experiences from present.
What should a parent do?

Parents can help children by understanding how specific symptoms of PTSD affect relationships and by using the resources identified below. Preventive interventions can be helpful and include explaining to family members the possible impact of intergenerational transmission of trauma before it happens. Education about the potential impact on children can also be a useful response when a child is already being affected by his or her parent's trauma history.
An excellent first step in helping children cope with a parent's PTSD is to explain the reasons for the traumatized parent's difficulties, without burdening the child with graphic details. It is important to help children see that the symptoms are not related to them; children need to know they are not to blame. How much a parent says should be influenced by the child's age and maturity level. Some parents may prefer to have help with what they say to their children, and assistance through therapy or written materials can be helpful.
In addition to this basic first step, there are multiple treatment options available for affected families. Treatment can include individual treatment for the Veteran, as symptom improvement for the person suffering from PTSD would also benefit the family. Family therapy can support the parent who is struggling with symptoms and teach family members how to get their own needs met. Family therapy is typically more effective if the Veteran with PTSD has first received some type of trauma therapy so that he or she is better able to focus on helping the children during family sessions (9).
Children may benefit from individual therapy as well, with variations based on the child's age (e.g., play therapy for younger children, talk therapy for older children and adolescents). Each family is unique, and decisions about what kind of treatment to seek, if treatment is needed, can be complicated. The most important thing is to help each member of the family, including the children, have a voice in expressing what he or she needs.
VA has taken note of the research showing the challenges that families can face when dealing with PTSD, as well as the importance of family in supporting the Veteran's recovery from PTSD. The Caregivers Act was enacted in 2010 and mandated VA to document the effects on family members and assess caregiver needs and resources. VA PTSD programs and Vet Centers across the country are beginning to offer group, couples, and individual programs for families of Veterans.
References

Jordan, B. K., Marmar, C. B., Fairbank, J. A., Schlenger, W. E., Kulka, R. A., Hough, R. L., et al. (1992). Problems in families of male Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 916-926.
Cosgrove, L., Brady, M. E., & Peck, P. (1995). PTSD and the family: Secondary traumatization. In D. K. Rhoades, M. R. Leaveck, & J. C. Hudson (Eds.), The legacy of Vietnam veterans and their families: Survivors of war: catalysts for change (pp. 38-49). Washington: Agent Orange Class Assistance Program.
Harkness, L. (1993). Transgenerational transmission of war-related trauma. In J. P. Wilson & B. Raphael (Eds.), International handbook of traumatic stress syndromes (pp. 635-643). New York: Plenum Press.
Parsons, J., Kehle, T. J., & Owen, S. V. (1990). Incidence of behavior problems among children of Vietnam War veterans. School Psychology International, 11, 253-259.
Rosenheck, R., & Fontana, A. (1998). Transgenerational effects of abusive violence on the children of Vietnam combat veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11, 731-742.
Dansby, V. S., & Marinelli, R. P. (1999). Adolescent children of Vietnam combat veteran fathers: A population at risk. Journal of Adolescence, 22, 329-340.
Kellerman, N. (2001). Psychopathology in children of Holocaust survivors: A review of the research literature. Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences, 38, 36-46.
Ancharoff, M. R., Munroe, J. F., & Fisher, L. M. (1998). The legacy of combat trauma: Clinical implications of intergenerational transmission. In Y. Danieli (Ed.), International handbook of multigenerational legacies of trauma (pp. 257-275). New York: Plenum Press.
Harkness, L. (1991). The effect of combat-related PTSD on children. National Center for PTSD Clinical Quarterly, 2(1).

BECAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS BREADS SOME OF THE WORLDS GREATEST TALENT! : Meet Jess, a talented photographer from Vic/Australia

HEY....My name is Jess and I run my own photography business and have done so for about 3 years now. I specialize in weddings and I'm lucky enough to love what I do. I also have Bipolar type one. I could go on about my business and amazing prices but instead I would rather tell you about me. hehe :-)  I'm a mother of two pretty rad humans, a wife to the most wonderful man I know who just happens to be my best friend, photographer, procrastinator and occasional doer.Lover of white wine, abstract art, sunsets, songs that make you cry and TV shows that make you want to stalk the characters Instagram pages when their over because you feel like you know them and just want to see what they're up too! I've made lots of mistakes, some questionable casseroles and some amazing memories. I admire woman with confidence, woman who give birth to ten pound babies and a quick wit. I have little to no understanding of boundaries and I break rules daily.. Usually it's unintentional, I swear.. My hobbies include sleeping to much and then complaining when it's 3am and I can't sleep, long "romantic" walks on the beach (which I usually take alone), playing with my 2 overly dependent dogs, reading memoirs and stories of overcoming trauma and pretending I know what I am doing in a kitchen. I drink to much coffee, I sniff new born babies and even though I am 28 years old, I am yet to invest in a hairbrush. Some people think I am funny, however Bipola has this ability to remove the filter most people have so when I speak its bluntly honest and thankfully people seem to enjoy the humour this brings, I guess I'm lucky like that. I once ate a whole apple, including the core because I couldn't be bothered going to the bin, admit it, you’ve done it. And one day I hope to love something as much as woman in commercials seem to love yogurt. :-)If I'm someone you would like to help capture your special moments then let me know! I would be honored! For all your photography needs 💙

SERVICING :Mornington, Victoria,  and surroundings 

CONTACT ME VIA FACEBOOK  VIA THE LINK:  

https://m.facebook.com/JKMphotography01/

young adults raised in institutions are 10 times more likely to fall into sex work than their peers, 40 times more likely to have a criminal record and 500 times more likely to take their own lives!!!

This is a truly fasinating story about the 'business'  of orphanages over sea's,  but as i read the article,  I found some statistics and information that surely apply to our children with care orders until the age of 18 here in Australia.
Residential Care,  out of home care or youth refuges as it is know here also don't provide for the basic primitive need for an attachment to one primary adult.
Tara in this story learned that when children don’t get what they are biologically programmed for, it can have a significant impact on the development of human brain architecture – key synapses, the connections between the nerves, fail to form in really critical regions of the brain.
“The constant rotation of caregivers in an institution – even an institution with the best possible standards of care – leads children to adopt survival techniques to gain the attention and affection of adults. After the workshops with the psychologist, I was able to start recognising some of the behaviour problems we were seeing in the kids, like indiscriminate affection, as symptoms of attachment disorders.
As Tara dug a little deeper,  she uncovered some truly unsettling facts. “There’s a huge body of international scientific research proving that children can’t thrive when growing up in residential care. One study found that young adults raised in institutions are 10 times more likely to fall into sex work than their peers, 40 times more likely to have a criminal record and 500 times more likely to take their own lives.” Sound familiar?  As a kid in care,  i escaped with only spending the equivalent of 2yrs in a refuge. (Broken across time) and as an adult,  I spent a good 3yrs working in res care. The rate of crime of those young people,  drug use and suicide i encountered was mind blowing... and I my self have had numerious suicide attempts.

According to Tara, The solution in these 3rd wolrd countries is to redirect our support and donations away from organisations with residential care and  towards organisations that promote family-based care,” says Tara. “If all the funding being sent to orphanages and other residential care institutions was redirected to organisations are getting children out of institutions and back to families, as well as preventing vulnerable families from being separated in the first place – we could then see an end to the era of institutional care of children.”
Does this also not sound familiar? 
Funding and training to recruit more LONG TERM foster placements with a view of adoption right here in Australia could change a system that currently leaves kids in care  far behind the 8 ball in oyr society!

Now that i've had my rant,  please do take the time to read Tara's powerful message about how we can truly help empoverished 3rd world countries.'Teddys and books sent in care packages isn't  the answer.. support an agancy that works on the foster care principle as opposed to orphanages and institutions that inhibit a childs development and retards their future!

The link is:

http://www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/real-life/in-the-news/stop-supporting-overseas-orphanages?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=editorial

Every daughter of a veteran will laugh so hard it hurts at this vid

So...  You want to date a ex-combat veterans daughter hey?  Hahahahaha

Funniest vid!

https://youtu.be/tcXOnDr6gjI

A good book! 'Enemy' The tale of the daughter of a vietnam veteran

'I was born into the war still raging inside my father.'

Ruth Clare's father came back from the Vietnam War a changed man: a violent, controlling parent and a dominating, aggressive husband. Through a childhood of being constantly on guard, with no one to protect her but herself, Ruth learned to be strong and fierce in the face of fear.

After escaping her difficult upbringing, Ruth went on to have a family of her own. Facing the challenges of parenting brought her past back to life, and she lived in fear that she was doomed to repeat her father's behaviour. Wanting to understand the experiences that had damaged her father, she met with other veterans and began listening to their stories, of war, conscription, returning to civilian life. What Ruth uncovered left her with a surprising empathy for the man who caused her so much pain and heartache.

Weaving a striking personal narrative with a revelatory exploration of the effects of war, Enemy is a bold, compelling and ultimately triumphant memoir from a hugely impressive new Australian writer.

'Ruth Clare brings history into the home with piercing intelligence, unflinching honesty and total, terrifying recall.' Clare Wright, author of the Stella Prize-winning The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka

Purchase the book here: 

https://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780670079094/enemy

Minister vows to reduce the number of indigenous kids in care! (About time Australia!)

Great story on SBS guys!
Lets keep these pollies to their word. 
Have a read!!!

http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/nitv-news/article/2016/05/27/everythings-table-minister-vows-reduce-number-indigenous-kids-care

8 Things All Kids In Foster Care Want People To Know (by Amma Mante)

Although this is an American article,  the experiences are across the board. Our system is broken and traumatizing to  children of all ages. Those in foster care are  12 times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic drugs, scrutinized for the mistakes of their natural parents AND for still loving and wanting a relationship with said birth parents.  research by the Casey Family found one in three children in their study had been abused while in foster care and that is just the reported cases. Foster kids are often scared to speak out because they know they are likely to be moved and after many  previous placements already, sometimes it's a case of 'better the devil you know!'

Foster kids learn early that no matter how 'perfect'  a placement may be,  they will never find the kind of love that a biological parent can give.. even if they are small moments often overshaddowed by many more of abuse,  foster parents can only give so much of them selves to a child that is not truly theirs. The rules and expectations are different between their natural kids and their foster child, the amount of them selves they give a foster child verse a biological child is also different... and that difference also creates a pain despite these differences not being intentional. Foster kids often spend their entire lives searching for that special connection with someone and most never find it.

Give this article a read. If you are a foster child you will most likely relate to much of this article,  and if you are not a foster child,  it may show you another side to life.

http://elitedaily.com/life/kids-in-foster-care-want-you-to-know/1492485/

To tell or not to tell your children that you have a mental illness by Jenna Bagini

Why I Told My Sons The Truth About My Bipolar Disorder

Courtesy of Jenna Bagnini
I am a mom living with bipolar disorder. My three wonderful boys — ages 11, 9, and 5-and-half — are my world. I love being a mom, but I also work part-time and between that and my illnesses, it can be exhausting to care for them, particularly because my oldest son has some special needs, including high-functioning autism. On top of his needs as well as my other two sons', it's very difficult to keep my own mental health in mind. And to be honest, I'd never talked to my kids about my bipolar disorder before. But I decided, after a particularly sudden hospitalization for my depression, that it would make my life and that of my kids easier if I explained to them the truth about my bipolar disorder. That way, they'd understand my mental health issues and I'd be able to mitigate some of the fear and concern they have if I get sick and needed to go to the hospital and needed to go to the hospital.

As a mom with bipolar disorder, I have to be mindful of my stressors so that I don’t end up in a manic or depressive phase and eventually need to be hospitalized. In the past, I've had to be hospitalized several times for my own safety, when I became so depressed that I was having thoughts of suicide. I noticed that my kids were getting scared when I had to go to the hospital, because their routines would change and they'd often end up spending extra time with babysitters or grandparents. Once, I wasn't able to properly prepare the kids before I had to go to the hospital and they were terribly afraid. In their minds I'd just disappeared without warning. So I decided that I needed to teach my kids about my bipolar disorder so that I could minimize their fear and so that they might better understand what to expect if it happens again.

I said that sometimes I feel sad, or angry, or scared, and it has nothing to do with them; it's just the result of the chemicals in my brain not working properly.
I had already talked about autism at length with my children because of my oldest son. We talked about all people having strengths and weaknesses, and about how my oldest son’s brain often needs things to be “just so,” because of his autism. I explained to my boys that this is different from other people’s brains, and sometimes he has a hard time because of it. I wanted to make sure that I presented autism without judgment so that my kids would not think that my oldest was any less than anyone else, but just different. I used that same logic in order to tell my sons about my own mental health. What I told them that, just as their brother’s brain works differently, my brain also works differently from most people’s. I said that sometimes I feel sad, or angry, or scared, and it has nothing to do with them; it's just the result of the chemicals in my brain not working properly. I told them that I see a therapist to talk about my problems and that I take medicine from a doctor to make sure that everything inside me is working well. But sometimes the medicine and the therapy are not enough, and I need to go to the hospital to get better when I am sick, just as someone with a physical illness needs to go to the hospital to get better when they get sick.

The fact that I am a person with needs of my own didn't scare them or make them think something was "wrong" with me. It's helped them realize that just like I care for them, I need to care for myself, too. And so do they.

So far, telling my sons the truth has worked very well. The fact that I am a person with needs of my own didn't scare them or make them think something was "wrong" with me. It's helped them realize that just like I care for them, I need to care for myself, too. And so do they. My 11 year old was pleased to find out that he had something in common with me, and he's often checking to make sure that I take my medication. My 9 year old is a natural caretaker, and he wants to make sure that I am not “too” sad or angry. If he thinks I am, he asks me if there is anything he can do to help. My youngest is still very young, but my explanation seemed to have reassured him that I am not going to disappear for no reason, and that when I have to go to the hospital, I’m always coming back. Although they still don’t like to see me leave for the hospital, all of them are much less afraid now.

They are completely nonjudgmental about other people and how everyone’s brains function differently. As someone living with a mental illness, and their mom, I am so proud of their ability to be caregivers not just to each other, but also to me.
Courtesy of Jenna Bagnini
One of bright sides to being a mom with a mental illness is that it's opened up a dialogue in our home, and the kids are able to talk about people with different sorts of special needs and understand that none of us is better or worse than the rest; we are all just different. They are completely nonjudgmental about other people and how everyone’s brains function differently. As someone living with a mental illness, and their mom, I am so proud of their ability to be caregivers not just to each other, but also to me. Though I was worried about telling my kids the truth about life with bipolar disorder, I'm in awe of how they've handled the news. I wish that more of us could be so accepting, because there is still so much stigma surrounding mental health issues. But my sons see their older brother as a person, and his differences don't make him less than or less normal. Neither do mine. I know that, moving forward, they'll carry this knowledge through everything they do.

JENNA BAGNINI
@Ddown79
 

5 Things To Remember When You Cannot Work by Zoe DeCicco

Published by: International Bipolar foundation
5 Things To Remember When You Cannot Work

Zoe DeCicco

I have not worked since I left my job in 2013 due to my mental health. I have successfully gotten a couple of jobs since, but have not made it past the induction period before I’ve become unwell again. I just don’t seem to be able to deal with the stress that comes with being employed. I may be able to work again one day, but for now I am unemployed and I stay at home.

At times I have struggled to find meaning in my life now that I am not working, and to feel that I am still of value.

Over time, I have come up with some things I think are important to remember, and I would like to share these with you.

1. You can still be productive.

If you want to make some money, find something you are good at and turn it from a hobby into a profession. It could be anything – sewing, building things, crafts, computer programming. Find possible freelance jobs online, or try selling what you make on eBay or Etsy.

You can still be productive even if you don’t make money. You could write your own blog, or for one such as International Bipolar Foundation. You could write short stories or even a novel.

Even the simplest hobby can be transformed into something productive. I like reading, so I set myself the challenge recently of reading all of Oprah’s Book Club books. I get the books out the library to keep it free and clock my progress on the Goodreads website. Making goals like that gives me structure and something to aim for, and makes me feel like I’m achieving, no matter how slowly.

2. You can still refresh yourself and learn new skills.

There are countless online courses available now in every subject you can think of, and many of these are free. I do a lot of the English literature ones and learn about books and poetry, because that is what I am interested in.

You could also check out your local college for daytime or evening classes, to learn new skills too.

You could teach yourself a useful skill you’ve always wanted to learn, such as cooking, gardening, knitting, or anything, using the Internet or books from the library.

3. You can still expand the size of your world.

This may be easy or difficult depending on your condition, but getting out of the house is really important to stop you getting bored or isolated.

If you prefer to be alone, you could take yourself on adventures. Find out about all the free attractions in your city or area and go and visit them armed with a camera. Be a tourist. Walk around your neighborhood. Find local parks or nature reserves and explore.

Try and meet up with people if you are able. Being around other people will lift your spirits and give you fresh input.

If you don’t want to leave the house but are getting frustrated and feel stuck, try to change things up by moving space. Try sitting in a different room, or go outside in the yard.

4. You can still help others.

Volunteering is the best way to do this. It is great way to feel like you are part of something and to get a sense of satisfaction. It also is a chance to be alongside others who are in need, and puts your own needs into perspective.

Some places require references and have a long hire process just like a job, though with some you can just turn up to and do what you can. These are the type I prefer, because they are flexible, and the work depends on how much you want to give or are able to do that day. Others find a regular volunteer service works better because it gives a sense of structure to their time.

You don’t even have to be an official volunteer to help others. I have an elderly neighbor who loves to engage in conversation with me, and I give him a hand with his trashcans each week. I’ve also joined some online mental health forums and I try to answer people’s questions and make suggestions to help support them.

5. You can still have a vocation.

I have often dreaded the question ‘so what do you do?’ in social situations.  It is so much harder to answer this question if you don’t have a job or vocation of some sort.

The thing is, you can have a vocation or an identity even if you’re not working. Spend some time thinking about it and creating YOU and who you are.

Depending on what you do, you can say you are a writer, you sell things online, you make things, you volunteer, you are studying.

When people ask now I say I blog from home and I’m working on various writing projects, alongside some studying and volunteer work. People are genuinely interested to hear more, and I no longer feel uncomfortable about them finding out ‘the truth’.

Being unable to work is nothing to feel ashamed of. There is a lot you can do, and you should feel proud of the things you do!

Topic:
Bipolar Disorder
Consumer
Tags:
Zoe DeCicco

10 Celebrity faces of bipolar

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones checked herself into a mental-health facility in 2011 to treat her bipolar II disorder, which has longer periods of depression and shorter, milder manic episodes than bipolar I.

Zeta-Jones told People magazine that she decided to go public because it might help others to step forward and get treatment.

"There is no need to suffer silently and there is no shame in seeking help," she said.

Demi Lovato
It wasn’t until she entered a treatment center for her struggles with anorexia, bulimia, and cutting that teen pop star Demi Lovato found out she had bipolar disorder.

"Looking back it makes sense," she told People of her diagnosis. "There were times when I was so manic, I was writing seven songs in one night and I'd be up until 5:30 in the morning." 

 

Kurt Cobain
The grunge rocker took his own life at age 27 despite the success of his Seattle–based band, Nirvana. Noting that one of the band’s songs is titled “Lithium,” which is also a mood stabilizer used in the treatment of bipolar disorder, Time magazine included him in a 2002 list of “manic geniuses” who made great contributions to music, art, or literature and who may have had bipolar disorder.

 

Carrie Fisher

Actress Fisher, 54, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars trilogy, has experienced plenty of turbulence in her life—and not just aboard the Millennium Falcon. After years of struggling with mania and depression, Fisher was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 28.

 

Jean-Claude Van Damme.

was formally diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder and placed on sodium valproate, which he calls "that simple salt." E! Online quoted him as saying, "You just have to take a little salt, and since I'm doing that it's, like, BOOM! In one week, I felt it kick in. All the commotion around me, all the water around me, moving left and right around me, became like a lake."

 

 

 Russell Brand

 has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder.  He also suffered from bulimia and experienced a period of self-harming.  Brand has described the concept of fame "like ashes" in his mouth.

 

 

 

Chris Brown

The letter from the rehab facility states, "Mr. Brown will also require close supervision by his treating physician in order to ensure his bipolar mental health condition remains stable. It is not uncommon for patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bipolar II to use substances to self-medicate their biomedical mood swings and trauma triggers."

 

 

Winston Church Hill

The twice-over Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who achieved victory during World War II was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in middle age. Winston Churchill often referred openly to his depression, calling it his “black dog.” He was known for making the best of his situation and often capitalized on episodes of sleeplessness by directing his energy into his work. He published 43 books during his time as prime minister. He went on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. 

 

 

Mel Gibson

In 2012, the actor was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after dealing with a custody battle involving ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva

 

Macy Grey

The 'I Try' singer has dealt with bipolar disorder for many years. She's also a strong advocate for bipolar cure research.

 

All of these celebs  have gone on to achieve a fulfilling and inspiring life despite their ups and downs.... Many of which the media have had no shame to make public.  Being bipolar is not a disability... It is an ABILITY! We are creative, we are fun, we are filled with love and it is often the things closest to our hearts, things that mean the most ot us that cause our break downs because we over think and care so much. Is that really so bad? 

It's upto us to use our bipolar to colour the world with our creativity and fill the world with the love we hold. SURE.... there will be dark day, days you want to be alone, days you want to stay in bed.... BUT THEN..... We recharge and are ready to paint he world again. How will you use your bipolar to colour the world?  

8 warning signs of cromic anxiety

Follow the below link to a great article about the 8 signs of cronic anxiety and feel free to share it so others may understand what your experiencing!

http://healthsmog.com/8-warning-signs-of-chronic-anxiety-most-people-ignore/

23 Things About Bipolar Disorder Nobody Talks About By Sarah Schuster

This is a fantastic article in 'The Mighty' that covers 23 things no one wants to talk about re: Bipolar.

Personally,  I related to each and every point. It helped 'normalize'  some of the things I've been experiencing simce dad died.

Follow the below link

http://themighty.com/2016/05/hardest-parts-of-bipolar-disorder/

Diary entry 20/05/16

Since mother's  day - and my daughter's touching edition to the day (asking the woman I call mum as she 'mothered' me)  for permission to call her granni,  mum has come to me and expressed that in heinsight, she thinks my daughter should choose a grand parent term important to her insted of the term her biological grandchildren use.
As nicely as this was said - to me,  it felt like my daughter was going to be made to feel 'different'  or not good enough because she lucked out in the gene pool... something neither my daughter or I can help. I didn't  say much... except it was a convo that mum needed to have with miss 12 but the more I think about it.. common sence prevails. I know the importance of that grandparent terminology in their family and the centiment behind it and I too begin to question if my daughter has the right to use it. Would it be a privledge if the answer was yes?  100% and that is because i know it's  significance but I compleatly understand the reason for a no. What does this realization mean?  It means I need to talk to mum,  face to face and i guess tell her this. I also feel I need to tell her that miss 12 wasn't  asking her to take on yet another reaponsibility. YES.... she would be open to it,  but it's not an expectation. She just feels that she finally found a place (outside her father and I)  where she feels understood,  respected for who she is,  loved. This is a massive deal to her....she see's for her self why I call her mum and wants to honnor her with a title fitting also. In further discussions i learned that miss 12 also wants to find a title that suits mums husband... a grandparent title but she doesn't  want to disrespect my late father by using that title. With all the emotion around the granni situation, i have told miss 12 to hold out on the grandfather title... it's probably all too much at this point in time. My problem is, I
Know that I have far more to loose in approaching this.... Mum could just pull the pin on my daughter and I  all together all because i pushed a point which would mean I have screwed up more than my own life ... but that of my child. Can you hear an anxiety attack coming on?  If so... your spot on. I have had 5 or 6 episodes where I start shaking,  then it becomes hard to breath... then bursting out in uncontrolable crying fits  between sunday and monday. I wish I could fast forward till after this convo and be past it all ready. Sitting on it is driving me round the bend.

Still on the topic of miss 12,  she recently bought to me how much she wants a relationship with her paternal grandmother and infact always has... but in recent months,  her grandmother took her to the easter show with a group of other elderly woman and was show ponying miss 12 off for her recent academic achievements. This hurt miss 12 as she thought her grandmother was actually  starting to make an effort... it was the 1st time she has ever seen her grandmother without it being at a party and the 1st time her grandmother had ever taken her out... but insted she made miss 12 feel her grandmother was only interested in her now  because she did something that my mother in law can use to make her self look good.  Infact,  miss 12's comment was 'what if I was dumb mum... nan wouldn't have ever noticed me. She just doesn't  care about  me at all,  only how good I make her look. She was soooo embarrissing at my school when she picked me up,  she was embarrissing at the show. I can't  relate to her and I'm  just so  embarrissed. She doesn't get me, we have nothing in common.  I mean, she just doesn't know me! I don't want her coming to my school to pick me up ever again. She was telling everyone she had a doctorate while making a fool of herself to my teachers who actually ARE doctors in their subject. I wanted to crawl in a hole and disapear. It was seriously the worst. Why can't she just be normal? I want to keep trying with her but please,  please don't let her come back to school.. she was the laughing stock for days. Can you some how tell her I just can't  see her when I'm  at school?  I don't ever want to feel so humiliated ever again. ' 
I wish I could talk to my dad about this. That family is the only biological family my kids have left. If I approach this the wrong way it could really back fire. I mean,  my mother in law and I are from 2 different planets. The sight of her makes me angry at the best of times and the utter crap that falls out of her mouth is insulting to everyone around her's intelligence at best... but I never speak poorly of her to my children because I truly believe they deserve biologocal family but... when the 12yr olds noticing her grandmother's lack of interest,  feels no rapport with her,  is highly embarrissed.... disconnected... I feel I need to support her  BUT in a way that leaves the door open for her and her grandmother for the future. Tough call right!

On a compleatly different note,  this week I have upped my Pristique to try and control  the anxiety  that has been  consuming me for weeks. I mean,  to give you an example,  It had been 3 weeks since I had opened my email because I knew there would be people contacting me for money... money I don't have after my last hypomania episode that put me in $800  debt ontop of debt to my daughters violin teacher and so on. 
Within 3 days of upping  the pristique to 100mg I'm  feeling more stable. I left the house ALONE 2ce this week and went to town. I picked my boys up from school insted of the bus stop. Walking into the busy school... infact just thinking about it made me feel ill .. but this week I managed it. Interestingly,  when I'm  in Sydney,  i have no anxiety about going out alone but in our small town... mmmm.... that has been hard since dad died... but further more,  I did a 3hrs canteen shift at the boys school Thursday without a hint of anxiety AND managed a second shopping trip alone... and actually enjoyed it. I loveddd being out alone and buying clothes for my kids. I felt so free.  driving home along the coast line at 100kms made me feel invinsable... free like a bird. I  could have driven and driven till I ran out of fuel. It was the best feeling I've had in sooo long!

Another trend I have noticed is that I am ALWAYS tired spot on 3pm. I mean more than tired!  Any mums out there will relate, you know the tired you get while pregnant... absoloutly exausted -  that's  what I'm  talking!!  Then if I am not in bed by 10pm,  11 comes around and good luck going to sleep before 2am!  Its like I'm  peeking from 11pm-2am so this week I am going back to being religious about the 10pm bed time no matter what is on my 'to do'  list!  Now if I could just find away to avoid the 3pm stall I may be back ontop of things!
I'm  not as strong as I was post dad dying but this week I feel I'm  on the way!

Question... has anyone come across hyper-sexuality with bipolar? This week I've  been more horny then a ovuating crack whore at midnight on the cross!  It's  rediculious!  I'm  driving my partner crazy and having adultery thoughts which of cause I'm fighting to keep a lid on  but waaa.... who the hell am I? 

That's  me for now guys.
Peace out!

Journal entry 16/05/16

So... it's been a long 6 weeks post diognosis. The first 2 weeks on Lamictol, I felt compleatly numb, no emotion until I had a complete emotional break down and felt every small thing. It was as if everyone's words were daggers to my heart for the day. I then seemed to ballance out from there for the following two weeks and functioned as i had post diognosis...HOWEVER,  I ended up in a situation where my partner quite TAFE 6 weeks out of graduating  with no communication with me,  no regard for my children or I and all our hopes of moving to the central coast of NSW by the end of the year slipped away. I then felt my anxiety peek. I didn't want to get out of bed,  never loan leave the house. I became anxious about checking emails,  driving a car etc and slept at every available opportunity for 2 days before I got a call from the family I sort of chose for my self asking for help as they had a serious crisis and they needed to stay a while with me. I tried my hardest to pull my self together while they were here but found pushing down my own emotion left me feeling suicidal. I couldn't  tell my  'mum' (you will hear me refur to a longggg time friend as mum... she is my mother in my heart but she is not who gave birth to me)  because she was eye-balls deep in crisis of her own so I had to remain strong for her (despite her warm words and hug being all I craved) and the family I had staying here. I couldn't show weakness but was dying on the inside. 'I'm  the best I've ever been'  I told my mum lying compleatly out my butt!
I kept telling myself that it would be selfish if I acted on anything while I had family staying here,  it would traumatize them for life if I disapeared into the bush never to be seen again while they were staying here. They would blame them selves... just hold on,  just hold on i kept telling my self.. and praying. I prayed to God and Mary AND my dad for strength for me,  and for my family to get through all that was going on but in the real world and in my head.
Having something to hold on for was the best thing that could have happened as these urges to self harm did go away.. . But when I drove to Sydney for mothers day, I was having anxiety attacks while driving in Sydney traffic. My chest felt like it was caving,  my hands shook,  breathing became hard... I wanted to go to bed and cry.... but had to be strong,  yet again,  I had to appear I was ontop of life to spare mum... this was not the time for me to be weak... this is when she needed me the most and I needed to be a support to her and not yet another drain of her emotions and energy... and I am dam proud of how well I held it all together!

I ended up having the best mothers day I could have asked for. I got to see one of my children whom I hadn't seen in a few weeks,  my 'sister' (not by blood)  spoilt me so my chidren had gifts to give me, I could see I actually touched mums heart with my gift (which means the world to me to know I could do that... that I touched her heart and maybe... just maybe I  finally showed her how special she is to me.. blood or no blood... she IS my mum)  and my daughter asked her for premission to call her Granni just like I chose to call her mum.. because that's  how she loves which was sooo over whelming. I struggled to drive back to the north coast feeling my anxiety peeking but again having to control it.
I spent the entirity of monday in bed just trying to bring my self back to a level playing field... turned my phone off... I needed time out from the world.
I ended up upping calling my paychiatrist on the tuesday and he upped my lamictol to 75mg a day which DID leveled out those emotions (Thank god.)

I still miss my dad every day. The one thing I don't like about the lamictol,  is before I got this bipolar diognosis I would hear my dad answer my prayers when I was praying at night. Not a whole conversation but... he would comment. Things like 'that's heavy'  or 'is that all it takes!'  Now... i don't  hear my dads voice at all.
I also don't get the dreams -  good or bad about him. I used to dream of the abuse as a child,  i used to dream of him dying in all different ways,  i drempt he faked his death but I also drempt of good times with him also...but i no longer  see him in my dreams at all. His just a memory. A memory that leave me lost. Without him I have no extended biological family...and as much as I absoloutly adore the mum I chose... her husband and children... they can't  love me like a parent loves a child... because we don't share blood,  because they never rocked me to sleep as a baby or put a band-aid on my boo-boo's. They never had to break up fights  between me and their kids.. because I wasn't  there,  the kids and I haven't experienced leeding each other into trouble,  dobbing and slumber parties. We don't  have that history... and I have far more to loose in this relationship to them. They all have each other... stuck if you will, wether they like it or not,  but there is absoloutly no reason why they should stand by me. If i push to hard they can walk.... they're not obligated... so I know I must be... and I am eternally greatful for what I do get from them. I honestly know I wouldn't  be here without them. They're the sole reason I haven't  ended life... but I am still lost... because  since dad's  dealth,  I will for ever actually belong no where... and that's the hardest pill to swollow!

Link to managing bipolar - strategies/HOPE

http://www.bphope.com/hope-floats/

Could bipolar also be genetic memory?

So... in doing some reading,  I've  found that the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs has noted  that the bipolar disorder is usually accompanied by other psychological ailments or illnesses such as anxiety disorders( EG:  PTSD as well as substance abuse) which is exactly what I  personally  have yet I have never seen war.. begs the question... is my bipolar a case of epigenitics as well??  (minus the substance abuse! - that was my dad's deal with alcohol!) According to selfgrowth.com  not enough research has been done on bipolar disorder to know its exact causes, but there are some strong theories as to who is susceptible to developing it and how. It states that researchers have found that “it is more likely that the disorder is caused by a combination of genetic factors and environmental triggers,” rather than a single influence either brought about internally or in a person’s environment. Other theories include that certain brain chemistry can help create the moods needed for bipolar disorder, such as the lack of communication between brain cells and malfunctioning neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine... INTERESTING RIGHT!!
On top of biological risk factors, the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs also believe that certain stressful environments that allow for intense emotions trigger bipolar episodes. Perhaps this fact explains why combat veterans can easily express the symptoms of bipolar disorder due to war’s intensely dangerous and volatile atmosphere..  but how does this manifest in the second generation I wonder?? It's common sence that warzones can easily cause adrenaline surges, deep depression , and sometimes (delusional) periods of invincibility even after they returm from service... but the question still remains... is this genetic memory passed on?  Is this part of human evoloution for survival??

If you are the child of a veteran of ANY war and suffering bipolar,  I'd  be really interested in hearing your take on this!!!

Epigenitics... an interesting read about the transfurance of PTSD

It has been agreed on by researchers that human evolution is a genetic
response to environmental change. (  EG:  The instinctual training of veterans PLUS  survival skills and trauma inflicted on them in combat) This postulation asserts that, in order to survive as both individual and as a species, humans must make rapid, and
permanent changes, and these must be heritable to ensure species survival. (and lets face it... survival was the greatest fear of our fathers in battle!  Jungle warfare, battle of coral balmoral etc etc.)
This kind of genetic memory or epigenetics is a hot topic in both research and argument. Most researchers agree that PTSD can be passed to
the next generation. THAT BEING US.... THE CHILDREN OF VETERANS!!! (No matter what war your parent/s served!) An emerging field of researchers and practitioners agree that an individual
may be born with a genetic predisposition to having a higher-than-‘normal’ risk
of developing PTSD and/or any of the associated conditions after even a mildly traumatic event. Current trends indicate researchers and mental health
practitioners are willing to embrace the perspective that PTSD can be inherited. Those that do, argue that a severe stressful event which
occurred in the individual’s immediate environment (AKA...WAR!) can produce an alteration in our genetic information which is passed on to subsequent generations. They argue that genes exist in each of us that are responsible for the modulation and appearance of specific and ranging conditions, both physical and mental, and that a significant environmental event can produce a neurotransmitter that locates these genes and switches them on or off, creating a type of “genetic
memory” (Ridley, 2003).

Check out the link below and have a good read. It deffinatly helped me understand a whole lot more about my PTSD as the daughter of a veteran!

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/13794/

How I landed here :-/

Hey guys, I thought I should make my first post a intro....sooo here we go.

My name is Rose and I'm a mother ( of 4) and a coffee lover. Previously an Australian Sydney girl but now on the NSW north coast.

My life as a child was full of turmoil, BUT for the past 13yrs it has been stable. I have great kids, a house, a car, a decent standard of living,  great friends and best of all STABILITY. This was until recently of cause.

I'm the daughter of a man who was an Australian Vietnam veteran who suffered alcholism and PTSD and a woman who was skitzophranic and wiped her hands of me before my teen years rolled around.  In the early 2000's, dad and I really made a menes and built a friendship. He spent years getting help for his issues.. and continued to do so after we reunited. We became close. He would call just to see how I am, he walked me down the isle when I married, he was there within hours after I gave birth to each child and was the first to respond when I cardiac arrested.... But he did live 5hrs away.

When I gave birth to my eldest child, he made a promise to that little bundle of blankets that he would get it right this time.... and he did... all 4 of my children absolutely adore him but a day came in 2013 when he called me to say 'good bye' as he intended to commit suicide, he couldn't fight the demons any more. I kept him on the phone while I jumped in the car and did the 5hr drive from Sydney to the north coast to get him back into one of the best mental health hospitals for PTSD, that being St John of God in Richmond. After 3mths in hospital, his psychiatrists would not release him back to his isolated home on the coast and assisted him to find a retirement village in Sydney closer to help.. but of cause this meant he had to sell the house on the coast. It was listed for months for $315,000 but not one looker and why would they? The property is 45minutes from schools, shops,  amenities etc and 2hrs from the nearest hospital. The roads are dirt tracks and it is rather secluded... but I decided to purchase it from my father. It would mean I could get into the buyers market and helps dad out.
A year into living at the coastal property, I got a call from Hornsby/ Ku-ri-ngi hospital telling me my father has been admitted and isn't doing so well. As his only child, I raced to Sydney to be by his side and it is while he was there that we got the diagnosis that he had stage 4 small cell cancer. This news ripped me apart, I knew I was loosing my father, my friend, my abuser and he knew he was loosing life. I came to Sydney to take him to all his chemotherapy appts, I met with oncologists, veteran case workers, pastoral carers and a whole list of people... and I helped facilitate dad spending as much time with the lights of his life - his grand children.... He was stubborn, he was strong, he knew what he wanted and denied help from just about everyone except me. As he deteriorated further, past the hair loss and the weight and muscle loss,  as he needed a walker just to go to the bathroom, vomited tar like substances and lost bowel control, I moved back to Sydney for 7 weeks with amazing friends so I could care for him. He would need me one minute and would be shaking me and yelling at me the next. He bought up my entire past, all the abuse, all his mistakes and my birth mothers, he needed absolution. I struggled watching him deteriorate to nothing while reliving my past day in and day out so I agreed to Psychotherapy. Dad became so unwell, that he finally agreed to go into palliative care where he died 2 weeks after admission at 8:32am on his 69th birthday with me by his side. I watched his gasp for breath, and a tear run down his cheek as I told him ' stop fighting it daddy, I will be ok, no more suffering daddy if you just let go.'  With dad dying, I lost my father, by abuser, my best friend.....And my self. The trauma has left me with PTSD, Anxiety disorder and trauma induced bipolar. I'm told my brain has had to rebalance after so many trauma's (abuse)  in my life..that this trauma has left my brain unbalanced now.

My diagnosis only came on April 2016 so I am on an introduction level of 75mg of Lamictol and 100mg of Pristique, I am battling my self and my anxiety everyday over tasks as small as leaving the house or checking emails, I am keeping at bay hearing voices and suicidal thoughts, (neither have been experienced since being medicated) I am not sleeping well at all and learning about being in this world of having a mental health issue and still being the best person I can be for the sake of my children and the woman I call mum (but is clearly not my biological mum ) because hurting them is just not an option for me.

I have found a real lack of info or people with a diagnosis of trauma induced bipolar so far so I am hopeing this becomes a place where I can blog my journey so others don't feel alone... and we can connect and support each other. As i post stuff on this blog, don't be scared to pop in and say hi... I just ask that we keep the comments supportive and none judgemental of each other.

Till next time peeps!