Parenting is a difficult job and a juggling act no matter what. It requires balancing your own needs with those of your child. It involves managing your time, having adequate resources and supporting your child.

For parents coping with a mental illness, “these issues are amplified,” said Ryan Howes, Ph.D, psychologist, writer and professor in Pasadena, Calif.

“When you’re living with any kind of chronic or severe illness, like mental illness, diabetes or cancer, there are times when your functioning will be compromised by that illness,” said Joanne Nicholson, Ph.D, a psychologist who directs the Child and Family Research Core of the University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Mental Health Services Research.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a healthy family. Here are some pointers to help you overcome common challenges.

Parenting with a Mental Illness Challenges

Depending on the particular condition, parents with mental illness have the added challenges of decreased energy, irregular sleep, trouble concentrating, sustaining attention, irritability and moodiness — all of which can contribute to a less available parent, said Nicholson, who also coauthored Parenting Well When You’re Depressed: A Complete Resource for Maintaining a Healthy Family.

According to Nicholson, research has shown that mothers with depression are less likely to interact with their children in active ways. And this has an “impact on your relationship with your child and capacity to parent,” she said. With a lack of stimulation, young kids tend to lag behind in language development, emotional behavior and maturity.

Consistency is key for kids, but with the ebbs and flows of mental illness, this also can be compromised. Kids can feel lonely, become confused and blame themselves, according to Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D, clinical psychologist and director of the Family Mental Health Program at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“The biggest challenge is stigma,” Nicholson said. Because our society tends to hold negative attitudes and beliefs about mental illness, it can be difficult to acknowledge that you’re struggling and to seek treatment. Stigma also adds more pressure on parents to be the perfect caregiver. “Parents feel as if others are watching them a little more closely and may have negative assumptions,” she said.