There are steps you can take at home to reduce your child's symptoms of bipolar disorder.

• Keep your child's room quiet, and have your child go to bed at the same time every night.
• Control the amount of stress in your child's life. You may need to seek ways to help your child reduce academic requirements during severe mood swings.
• Learn to recognize the early warning signs of your child's manic and depressive mood episodes.

Steps your child can take to help control moods include:

• Getting enough exercise. During a depressive episode, your child may feel like doing only gentle exercises, such as taking a walk or swimming.
• Getting enough sleep and keeping a consistent sleep schedule.
• Eating a balanced diet.
• Avoiding the use of alcohol or drugs. Substance abuse makes bipolar disorder worse.
• Avoiding beverages that contain caffeine, including coffee, tea, colas, and energy drinks.
• Learning to recognize the early warning signs of manic and depressive mood episodes.
• Asking for help from friends and family when needed.

Managing a manic episode in a child or teen

For some children with bipolar disorder, depression can cause debilitating symptoms. For information about managing childhood depression, see the topic Depression in Children and Teens.