Swimming in Deep Water: Childhood Bipolar Disorder

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Swimming in Deep Water Childhood Bipolar Disorder

• Article by Gwyn W. Senokossoff and Kim Stoddard
• Presentation by Courtney Filion

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Who is Mathew

• Initially diagnosed with ADHD
• In third grade and not performing past first
  grade level
• Has outburst and throws tantrums, cant focus
• Has trouble sleeping

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What Happens?

• Start seeing a therapist to learn how to cope
  with ADHD
• Mathew takes medication to control his ADHD
• His behavior is still not improving
• Therapist tells mother about The Deep End of The
  Ocean

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Getting Diagnosed With Adolescent Bipolar Disorder

• Mother reads book and immediately knows that
  Mathew has Bipolar Disorder
• Schedules appointment with yet another doctor
• Doctor performs extensive testing and comes to
  the conclusion that the mother was correct and
  Mathew in fact does have Bipolar Disorder

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Treatment

• Medication
• Educational training
• Psychotherapy

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What did we learn

• Diagnosis is the Key
• Above that is treatment
• Support and knowledge are also important
• Children with Bipolar Disorder can succeed

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Outcome

• Mathew learns how to cope with his disorder
• Actually did bad in school because he was not
  being disciplined correctly for his disorder
• Mathew is now doing academically as well as his
  peers in school
• Likes to educate others on what he has been
  through and what he deals with everyday

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• Questions????

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• How can we as educators help children with
  bipolar disorder?
• What is another way children with Bipolar
  Disorder cope?