SOMETIMES MY MOMMY GETS ANGRY By Bebe Moore Campbell
When parents face difficult days due to a mental illness, their children will undoubtedly face difficult days with them. The behaviors of the parents will spill over to the child. This can result in children being behavior problems in the classroom and in the community to name a few.
Learning coping strategies for a mentally ill parent is even harder when you consider the stigma. No child wants anybody to know that his or her parent is "crazy." Thus, the mental illness becomes the dark secret as the child is silenced.
If you take that same family and lead them to supports and services beginning with the parent with the mental illness, that entire family can survive the parent's mental illness. They can support each other and thrive as a unit.
When the mental illness results in physical abuse or emotional abuse or substance abuse, that child is being taught to mimic the behaviors of the adults in the house. That becomes a generational problem for society to struggle with don't you think?
Today, many children tip-toe around parents with mental illnesses and in this book, "Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry," Bebe Moore Campbell brings the issue right to the dinner table. Everybody can learn from this book and if there are children involved, it is a good companion for them to learn coping strategies as well.
Bless a child whose parent suffers from a mental illness with this book written by a woman who lived with a mental illness while raising children. Children are our future. If we teach them about coping skills and treatment, they grow up to be adults educated about mental illness and will break the cycle of shame, embarassment, and denial. If they fall into the category of having a mental illness themselves, they will seek treatment.
Other issues in our community can be addressed and decreased by helping a child with a parent having a mental illness. These include Teen s*x, Suicide, Depression, Gang Affiliation, Domestic Violence, s*xual Abuse, Drug/Alcohol Use, and Poor Academic Performance
Visit: www.amazon.com
Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation: www.bpkids.org
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: www.dbsalliance.org
Agnes B. Levine
Author of: "Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" ISBN 0975461206 Winter 2008 Release Pending
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Just today, I was speaking with on of my girlfriends and she was telling me about her sister who always seems to be up and down with her mood. Now I am afraid that the undiagnosed mental illeness that my friend's sister has has also been passed on to her children. Currently the woman's 13 year old is being treated at an acute care hospital's pediactric mental health unit. Apparently from my friend's account, this sister has been up and down since they were children. As my friend put it...her sister has been a drama queen since they were children.
I think it is sad, because the children of people with undiagnosed mental illnesses often are the people who suffer. The cycle needs to be broken so that we don't pass these poor behaviors and poor coping mechanisms from generation to generation. Why can't we just get help Agnes in order that we can live fullfilling lives? I know the answer, but I am just frustrated.