Sometimes my kids drive me crazy.
That’s a bit tongue-in-cheek — I have bipolar disorder, and having suffered a postpartum psychotic break, the hormones from giving birth have contributed to a literal going nuts.
My break was absolutely not my child’s fault. Not in the slightest.
But giving birth to and parenting two unique, fascinating individuals while managing my own mental health challenges has giving me a new perspective that I would have not had were I not a parent.
Here are 3 things my kids have taught me about mental health.
1. Oxygen Masks are Crucial
If you’ve ever flown — or raised a child — you’ve heard this axiom before:
Put your own oxygen mask on before assisting other passengers.
Figuratively, it means to make sure you take time to recharge your batteries before diving into help manage other people’s needs, even and especially your children.
This is true. This is so true.
When I do not get enough sleep, I end up spiraling into a manic episode, which is almost always followed by a depressive one.
During the baby days, I needed sleep more than anything else. So I slept with my child, breastfeeding him in the bed in a half-awake state, so I could get back to sleep right away after nighttime feedings.
And I’ve found the same to be true about self-care. If I don’t spend some time each week by myself on my hobbies, I end up crabby, jittery, and much more likely to spiral out with anxiety.
So now, with a 13-year-old and a 5-year-old who both have wildly different needs, I find I must keep myself well-fed, well-hydrated, medicated, sometimes entertained, and sleeping well in order to be the present, compassionate parent they need.
I must put on my own oxygen mask before I help them with theirs.
2. Communication is Also Crucial
I am extremely open to my kids about my moods.
Not all parents can be like that, but I try to tell them, “I’m feeling anxious today,” or “I’m feeling down,” or “I’m extremely stressed.”
I try to emphasize that my feelings (usually) have nothing to do with them and they are absolutely not responsible for my moods nor making me feel better. I’m not the best at that, but I do try.
I wear my heart on my sleeve. If I’m feeling bad, everyone knows it. I have no poker face. So I try to tell my kids what I’m feeling and encourage them to open up about what they’re feeling and why.
If I bottle my feelings, they come out in other ways. My emotions tend to build up in my brain and my thoughts circle around them until I explode.
I snap at the people around me, my loved ones, who do not deserve my bad temper.
So what parenthood has taught me about my mental health is that healthy communication is crucial.
This is true regardless of whom I need to communicate with. Whether it’s my spouse, my treatment team, or an employer, I must tell the people around me when I’m not at my best.
3. Try to Enjoy the Good Days
Parenthood is a blend of ups and downs.
Some days are filled with drudgery, where I drag my feet and end up stressed beyond belief. My kids push my limits and know just what to say to set me off (which is where healthy communication comes into play).
But most days, my kids are hilarious, compassionate, friendly human beings who are a joy to be around.
My children have taught me to enjoy the good days.
When suffering a depressive episode, the good days–and even the good moments–are few and far in between. If I ever want to recover from my mood episodes–which I always do!–then I must treasure the good moments and learn to break the cycle of sadness.
What I’ve learned from my kids is that the bad days won’t last forever.
Into each life some rain must fall, yes, but there’s always some way to turn bad moments into good ones if I’m present.
Let’s Recap
My kids have taught me all sorts of things about my mental health, but these three are the primary lessons:
- Oxygen masks are crucial. I must take care of my own needs before I attend to other people’s.
- Communication is also crucial. I must communicate when I’m not at my best to the people around me, or I’ll get worse.
- Try to enjoy the good days. If I’m present in the moment, I can treasure my days and break the cycle of sadness.
I hope these three lessons will help you as well. If you take a few moments to think about what the people around you have taught you about your own mental health, I’m sure you can come up with many more.
I wish you well in your journey.
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The Bipolar Parent 
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