This continues to be a great book for children of parents struggling with a mental illness.
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
www.myspace.com/coolingwellwater (Subscribe Now)
Founder/President: Levine-Oliver Publisher, the Exclusive publishing home of Swaggie Coleman. Visit Swaggie's VoiceŠ at:
http://swaggiecoleman.blogspot.com and win prizes!
Posted By: agnes levine
Sunday, October 5th 2008 at 4:09PM
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