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Most parents learn the art of parenting skills before their very first child. These parents are taught beforehand but when their child is met with a symptoms they do not know or understand, most parents press the panic button. Believing that it is an attitude problem that must be controlled whatever the cost, verbally or physically abusing their child. Bipolar symptoms may come out gradually or appear suddenly in a child with known cases of bipolar children diagnosed as young as age 5.
Not in the Description
Intensive research has been done on this mental illness. We are just starting to know more about this illness and also understand that children and adolescents can contract bipolar disorder without reason. This bipolar disease can be defined as, the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood referred to as mania or, if milder, hypo mania. But with some severe mood swings the textbook definition does not fit because they do not have a distinct episodes or clear periods of wellness between each mood swings. Those doing researching have not come to a decision yet whether children with chronic annoyance and clear mood swings, but without mania symptoms, should come under the name bipolar.
Only Knowing
Little is known about children and adolescent bipolar, because when the DSM-IV was first published in 1994, the entire focus was on adult-symptoms. It was only later that intensive research developments in every area of science, especially the brain, have answered many old questions and opened doors to new questions which was not even thought of before. While on the surface the visible symptoms happen to be behavioral; however, this illness sometimes has less visible, but serious, mental, chemical reactions, and heart effects.
Difficult to Diagnose
The disorder does not affect every child in the same way because it is a neurodevelopment disorder which can be accompanied by other psychiatric disorder symptoms. What this means is parts of the brain mature at different rates and times and some brain complete their maturation not until they reach 25 years or so. Symptoms and diagnosis of a psychiatric illness may change as the child grows, is a known fact. Perhaps the most problematic issue facing families today, is doctors have difficulties or an accurate diagnosis of a child or teen presenting with severely troubled behaviors.
The Reality
While some people have no cure for their disorder, there are others who have been managed. We hope that genetic discoveries will add more light to more accurate diagnosing, better treatments, and perhaps a cure for this dreaded disease. Parents must always, be prepared for the worst but expect the best, because not every bipolar child will react the same way on medication. The ultimate truth is what works for some may not work for others.
Be Ready in mind and Body
Families with children or adolescent who have the disorder must learn where the road ahead may lead and expect the unexpected. Develop strategies and emergency plans while staying flexible and positive in the present. Finally, try to network with other parents, because it may be the only way of keeping you in the right peace of mind.