Bipolar Parenting

Bipolar is a term that is often referenced colloquially to describe someone with mood swings in any given setting, but the clinical reality of this disorder is something quite different altogether. While it has become commonplace to use terms describing mental illness in a way that only aims to align them with one notable trait, the diagnoses themselves are often expansive in a way that is not always easy for a person who has not experienced them to understand.

Depression and loneliness come and go. It is not uncommon for them to occur together, as depression causes people to isolate themselves, withdraw, and generally feel alone. Likewise, people who are alone in life (such as the elderly, shut-ins, prisoners, and people who are generally shy) may experience bouts of depression. Regardless of which causes the other, the reality is that you cannot avoid the problem and hope it goes away. While feelings of loneliness and depression may lessen with time, they usually return.