Help !

My Mommy Has Bipolar Disorder

By: J.D. Havis

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Once there was a little puppy named Anna. She lived in a blue house with her mommy and
daddy.

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One day Annas mommy started to act weird. She talked really fast and jumped from topic to
topic when she talked to Anna and Daddy. She would say things such as I wonder what will
happen if I do this? I wonder what will happen if I do that? Do you know the circumference
of the moon? How far away is the sun? Im hungry! Do you think I can fly? These things
would make Anna laugh. Daddy didnt think they were funny.

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Sometimes she would even start to sweat and pace back and forth across the floor. Also, Mommy
would sleep sometimes for only two or three hours and have lots of energy for days. Anna and
Daddy began to worry about Mommy.

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Sometimes late at night, Anna would hear Mommy and Daddy arguing about money. Daddy
would say that Mommy was spending too much money and that she needed to take the things she
bought back, but Mommy wouldnt listen.

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 Other times Mommy was so sad that she couldnt get out of bed. She wouldnt bathe or
brush her teeth. All she would do is cry. She wouldnt eat and she didnt want to do fun things
anymore. She couldnt even help Anna with her homework or with her chores or even play with
Anna. This made Anna sad. Daddy explained that Mommy didnt feel good, but she would feel
better later.

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Sometimes when Anna was in the car with Mommy, Mommy would drive really fast and make
fast turns. This scared Anna, so she told Daddy.
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The next day, Daddy told Anna that he was going to call the doctor for Mommy so she
could see if the doctor could help her feel better. Anna said okay.
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When Mommy and Daddy came home from the doctor, Mommy said, I went to a special
doctor. A head doctor. They are called psychiatrists. The doctor thinks that I have bipolar
disorder.

Whats that? Anna asked.

Its an illness in Mommys brain. It can happen to mommies and daddies and children
too. Mommy will have to take special medication to help her get better.
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Is it contagious? Will I get it? Anna asked.

No. Its not contagious.

Are you going to die? Anna asked.

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No. Im not going to die. Bipolar disorder cannot kill you. Its a mood disorder. It affects how I
think and how I behave. Im going to start the medicine today. But it will take a few weeks for it
to start working. Will you be my helper and ask me if I took my medicine? Its going to take all
of us to help get me better.

Okay, Mommy. I can be your helper.

The end
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Key Words

Medicine: Illustrators note Draw a bottle of pills and indicate that this is medicine for the
patient

Patient: The person being treated by the psychiatrist or doctor or therapist (Illustrator note: pic
of Mother dog)

Psychiatrist: The doctor that gives the medicine and makes the diagnosis (Illustrator note: pic of
Psychiatrist sign)

Therapist: The person that the patient talks to in order to help with their feelings and help them
feel better and think better. Examples: LMT, LMFT, LPC, PhD

Bipolar Disorder: A mood disorder of the brain characterized by unstable moods, depression, and
mania, irritability, anger, and sometimes psychosis.

For more information on Bipolar Disorder, please visit the following sites:

www.bphope.com
www.dbsalliance.com

www.nami.org

I hope this book was helpful for you and informed you. Thank you.