Every day can be an ordeal for families struggling with the difficult, moody, "impossible" behavior that may point to childhood depression or bipolar disorder. Effective help for kids does exist, but it often requires a customized combination of medication, therapy, coping skills, and support. From esteemed clinician and researcher Dr. Mary Fristad and fellow treatment expert Dr. Jill Goldberg Arnold, this indispensable book explains how treatment works and what additional steps parents can take at home to help children with mood disorders--and the family as a whole-- improve the quality of their lives. Explained are why symptoms look so different (and can be so much harder to manage) in children and teens than in adults, how to find the right doctor or therapist, and how to help kids develop their own "coping toolkits." Bursting with practical tools, FAQs, and examples, the book covers everything from dealing with medical crises to resolving school problems, sibling conflicts, and marital stress. Table of Contents Part I. Understanding Your Child's Problems
1. Difficult, Temperamental, Impossible: The Challenge of Raising a Moody Child
2. What's Wrong with My Child?
3. Why My Child?
4. The First Step in Getting Good Treatment Is Getting a Good Evaluation Part II. Treatment
5. Getting the Big Picture
6. What Do Medications Offer?
7. What Should I Expect from Therapy? Part III. Helping Your Child Cope
8. Ten Principles for Managing a Mood Disorder
9. Coping Skills for Moody Children
10. Mood Disorders in the School Setting: What You Need to Know to Help Your Child Cope
11. Crisis Management Part IV. Helping Your Family Live with a Mood Disorder
12. How Mood Disorders Affect Family Life
13. How Can You Help Siblings?
14. How to Take Care of Yourself Resources
References
Index "As the mother of two children who have been diagnosed with mood disorders, I found this book invaluable. It is extremely thorough and readable; provides solid, current information; and covers every aspect of life that is affected by these disorders. In short, the book helps families navigate murky and formidable waters. It is a great plus to have such a resource available."
-Edna Wright "This is an extremely reassuring and eminently practical book that educates and empowers parents of children with bipolar disorder. Not only does it demystify situations that so often paralyze parents, it moves them to a place where they can become much more effective in helping their ill children as well as their family as a whole."
-Demitri F. Papolos, MD, and Janice Papolos, authors of The Bipolar Child | 
