Bipolar Kids: Helping Your Child Find Calm in the Mood Storm [Paperback]

Rosalie Greenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2008

Once considered an adult illness, bipolar disorder is one of the fastest growing categories in child psychiatry, touching the lives of an estimated one million children. But often it goes misdiagnosed, and kids can be prescribed medication that only worsens the condition. With her twenty-five years’ experience, child psychiatrist Rosalie Greenberg offers parents and professionals alike an innovative approach to help bipolar youngsters locate that elusive inner calm. Gathering stories from families on the front lines, she shows parents how best to navigate the peaks and valleys of the disorder, addresses family relationships, and guides parents in making meaningful choices about their child’s education and treatment options. A masterful book that recognizes the brilliance and creativity in bipolar kids, it will give hope that every child can, with the proper interventions, lead a full, productive life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A child psychiatrist with 25 years of clinical experience, Greenberg specializes in juvenile bipolar disorder, a condition that affects an estimated half million children in the U.S. Greenberg explains that bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed in children as such other disorders as ADHD or OCD; the "diagnostic morass" is further complicated by the fact that many bipolar kids also suffer from these very conditions or others such as autism or Asperger's syndrome. When bipolar disorder "rides sidesaddle" with other disorders, the wrong diagnosis can result. Fortunately, scientists are learning more about the disorder, and with this book in hand parents will also become more aware of the intricacies of this complex condition. Greenberg walks parents through a multitude of "hidden symptoms," including impulsivity, difficulty waking up, nightmares, anxiety, hypersexuality, carb cravings and sinus infections. Although in and of themselves these clues don't herald the condition, they are among the many fascinating links to pediatric bipolar disorder that Greenberg explores through current research and her own clinical experience. Along with examining the challenges, the author celebrates the bipolar child's creativity, sensitivity, and ability to "think outside the box." She also stresses the importance of listening to bipolar children, revealing that their self-observations can often be key in proper treatment. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

LifeCoachBuzz.com, 10/30/08
“Greenberg offers parents and professionals alike an innovative approach to help bipolar youngsters locate that elusive inner calm…A masterful book that recognizes the brilliance and creativity in bipolar kids, it will give hope that every child can, with the proper interventions, lead a full, productive life.”

 

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, May 2011

“A very readable book and is quite well written for a general audience. Greenberg provides many real-life cases to illustrate her topics and concepts. She also describes medical terms and medications in ways that nonphysicians can understand."

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; Reprint edition (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738211133
• ISBN-13: 978-0738211138
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #822,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It can change your world!!, May 27, 2007

By 

Paul B. Zukoff "JimJim" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bipolar Kids: Helping Your Child Find Calm in the Mood Storm (Hardcover)

I laughed and I cried when I read this marvelous book by Dr. Rosalie Greenberg. You see, my son has been a patient of hers for 11 years during which time the possibility of diagnosing a child with Bipolar Syndrome emerged in the psychiatric world. She figured it out and then we worked together to help him. This book is the story of our family and those of the multitude of families who have been helped by Dr. Greenberg. I only wish this information had been available when my son first became ill. Now, he is 15, and an amazing, stable, productive, creative and compassionate human being. Thanks to Dr. Greenberg and to our partnership, he has been able to meet his potential. Read this book. It can change your world!!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can relate to this book!, February 28, 2007

By 

J. Moreno "Concerned Mom" (San Francisco CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bipolar Kids: Helping Your Child Find Calm in the Mood Storm (Hardcover)

I have read a few books on bipolar kids but this is the first book that explains everything in a simple, easy to read way. It's the first time that I can take terms from a book & actually translate them to real life examples. It is helping me to look at things from a different perspective & to more clearly understand certain behaviors.

I have other books on bipolar disorder & I use them like textbooks..they sit on the shelf till I want to look something up. This is the first book that I carry around to read & then actually try to apply what I've read.

This is a great first book if you are just starting to inform yourself about the bipolar disorder, or like me want to better understand the behavior of bipolar kids.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a Doctor Who "GETS" My Son & the Book to Prove It, March 5, 2007

By 

J. R. Mahieu (Martinsville, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bipolar Kids: Helping Your Child Find Calm in the Mood Storm (Hardcover)

I was happy to find a book that addressed the unique situation of having a child who has more than one diagnosis. Our son has both high functioning autism and pediatric bipolar disorder, and until I read BIPOLAR KIDS, I never really understood how it all worked together.
His psychiatrist has been trying many of the medications discussed in Dr. Greenberg's book, which now will become a great a reference tool for whenever changes have to be made. The book also includes many forms of therapy inwhich our son has been involved over the years. Now I have a better appreciation of why different therapies worked at different ages and what might be available for him in the future.
Although she is a psychiatrist, Dr. Greenberg does offer some advice on how to make sure that your child is getting all that he or she is entitled to in school. She offers advice for teachers, school counselors, nurses, or anyone else who comes in contact with kids like our's throughout the day.
It is also comforting to know that we are not alone as parents. Reading BIPOLAR KIDS showed me that other parents have encountered many of the same problems and triumphs we have. My husband and I are extremely proud of our son's artistic ability. He studied many forms of dance for eight years before he "retired," but has been seriously and successfully studying water colors for the last two years. We had to wonder where this talent came from because neither of us can paint.
We were amazed and amused when we learned in BIPOLAR KIDS that our son was not alone. There are stories of many famous people throughout history who were either bipolar or who later were thought to have been bipolar. Somehow knowing that our son may have something in common with Sir Winston Churchill, Ludwig van Beethoven, Vincent van Gogh, and President Abraham Lincoln is somewhat comforting and perhaps even a little encouraging.
I am considering buying a copy of BIPOLAR KIDS for our son's teachers and his grandparents. I may even give a copy to his pediatrician, because at times I am not sure he believes me. Our son is always so well behaved in public.
It's nice to read a book that is informative and NOT boring. There are lots of stories about her patients, many of which will make you chuckle or maybe see glimpses of your own child like we did.