By Lacey Louwagie
At first, the idea of occupational therapy for children may seem like a bit of an oxymoron, as children don't have occupations. But children do have the important job of playing, going to school, growing and learning, and occupational therapy can help kids succeed in these areas. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) says that occupational therapy, which addresses cognitive skills as well as motor skills and hand-eye coordination, can be helpful with kids who have mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder.
Conducting Assessments
An assessment done by a qualified occupational therapist can help determine in what areas a child with bipolar disorder needs the most work and intervention. Because bipolar disorder is often a lifelong condition, children can benefit from early diagnosis, assessment and intervention. Occupational therapy can help them establish coping mechanisms, strategies and routines that can help them manage their bipolar disorder throughout their lives.
Fine Tuning Developmental Skills
Children with bipolar disorder may display more erratic developmental patterns than children without mental health disorders, particularly in the areas of critical thinking and fine motor coordination. Occupational therapy can help identify areas where a child may need additional support and enhance the necessary skills, such as fine motor coordination to improve handwriting or gross motor coordination to improve participation in gym or other athletic activities.
Anger Management
Occupational therapy can help kids learn anger management skills, such as how to express their anger without screaming or hitting. Both manic and depressive episodes can manifest themselves as feelings of extreme irritation or anger, making anger management especially important for children with bipolar disorder.
Self-Esteem
Especially helpful in treating the depressive stage of bipolar disorder, occupational therapy can help "rewire" negative self-talk that often accompanies depression and can lead to lower self-esteem. In addition, occupational therapy can improve a child's social skills, problem-solving skills and time management skills, all of which lead to greater success in the child's life, increasing his self-esteem.
Setting Goals
Occupational therapists work with their clients to outline specific goals the child or the child's family would like to meet. Children with bipolar disorder often display high levels of distractibility, and setting goals can be the first step in laying the groundwork for a stable routine. This stability can help pull a child through depressive episodes and constructively structure activity during manic episodes of bipolar disorder.
Foster Creativity
A 2005 study at the Stanford University School of Medicine found that children who had bipolar disorder or who were at risk for bipolar disorder scored higher on tests of creativity than children without the disorder. Occupational therapy can constructively utilize this creativity by fostering crafts, journaling, drawing and other creative activities that can help children with bipolar disorder express their feelings.
Reduce Stress
Children with bipolar disorder are more likely to feel stressed and overwhelmed than their peers, and occupational therapy can teach breathing techniques, exercise and visualization to help manage stress. Children can draw upon these techniques in school, during manic or depressive episodes, and at home throughout their lives.
Part of an Overall Treatment Plan
Occupational therapy can be an important component of an overall treatment plan aimed at helping a child manage her bipolar disorder. Talk with your child's doctor or a mental health professional to see whether occupational therapy, medication and/or traditional therapy should play a role in the management of your child's bipolar disorder.
OT Strategies for Children With Bipolar by devotedtohealth.com