Small as an Elephant

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness defined by characteristic changes in a person’s mood. People who have bipolar disorder often experience physiological effects such as low energy and lack of motivation, and they often have difficulty concentrating on tasks or people. Completing even simple daily tasks like taking a shower or fixing a meal may become challenging. For Jack’s mother, Becky, her illness impairs her ability to parent Jack safely and conscientiously. In this instance, she leaves him on his own, and it isn’t the first time; she often departs without even telling him that she’s leaving. Jack describes his mother’s moods as being like a pinwheel, which reflects the shifts that happen in bipolar disorder: Jack notes that Becky, like a pinwheel, is usually either still, lacking motivation to do much at all, or “spinning,” meaning flighty, impulsive, and inspired by the world around her. For children who live with a parent who has bipolar disorder, life can be unpredictable, particularly if the parent isn’t getting the necessary treatment (or is avoiding treatment because of the side effects). The child’s life may be filled with both good and unwelcome surprises, and it can be difficult to predict what’s coming next. Like Jack, many children who have a parent with bipolar or any severe mental illness might feel a sense of shame or embarrassment and refrain from discussing it with others, isolating them further and compounding their struggles.