Bipolar Disorder and Children: Part I of II

I was untreated and undiagnosed for the first 3 years of my sons life. After that I finally found the help I needed and my moods stabilized except for occasional outbursts. None were ever directed towards my children. Unfortunately, both my son and daughter, born four years later, also have BP. They blame my earlier outbursts or depression for causing it. I am now in recovery. They are facing their own demons by refusing to take proper care of themselves, using drugs and alcohol in college, and my son refuses to to medicated. Still they blame me for all this for having been a mental case of a mother in in early years. I am now an Advocate and public speaker for NAMI. Yet after reading your artical I do wonder if it may be true if I did destroy their lives.
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