Is Your Young Adolescent Child Bipolar?
Bipolar Children at a very young age have shown symptoms which only later were diagnosed as bipolar. Some have their first symptoms of this illness identified during childhood, and others develop them later in life. This illness can be genetic, especially for those children s parents who have the illness compared with those whose parents are not with the disease.
Some Symptoms to Look out for
The common signs of this mental illness in children are the severe mood swings from high to low in a few minutes. They can experience high followed straight after by low, calm then extreme anger in a matter of a short time. Children with severe mania symptoms are bad tempered and liable to destructive tantrums than to be very happy. When compliant to their drugs, they can be terrific children but without their prescribed drug they become extremely angry and irritable very easily.
Other Signs
Trying to diagnose children s bipolar can be quite difficult because of other problems and emotional changes occurring within these age groups. Bad temper and hostile or forceful behavior can indicate the illness; but they can also be symptoms of other mental health illness like oppositional conduct, attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder and even defiant disorder. Schizophrenia or depression can also be found in these age groups. Drug abuse can also lead to symptoms close to that of bipolar. As you get older in adolescents you have a much closer link to the adult-type episodes and its symptoms than those at a younger adolescent age.
Physical Signs
Those with this disease are moody and irritable and get angry more often than normal. The illness has seen children bad mouth their parents, run away from school, dishonest and disobedient. Their self-esteem, confidence and ambition can take a turn for the worse when they are going through the symptoms.
Final Words
Like any other mental disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a patients life. Appropriate diagnosis for those with the disorder is needed for an effective treatment. If your child is showing emotional and behavioral symptoms do not hesitate to let them be evaluated by a mental health professional. On the other hand if they start talking about suicide or become suicidal, take them seriously and refer them to the health specialists in your area.