Overview of Bipolar Disorder in Adolescents
Bipolar disorder affects many millions of people throughout the world. Many assume these millions of people are exclusively adults. However, a significant percentage of those struggling with bipolar disorder are adolescents. This adds an enormous complexity to their lives. In addition to dealing with the common struggles that all teenagers must deal with, they must also contend with the serious symptoms of bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Disorder Defined
Originally named manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder refers to severe swings in mood. Such mood swings may range from an elevated sense of euphoria (mania) to a severe down cycle known as the depressive phase. Trite and non-professional definitions of the condition look at euphoria as excitement and minor anxiety and the depressive phase as mere sadness or fatigue. In actuality, both phases are serious and they can greatly affect cognitive function, energy levels, decision-making, concentration, and other critical faculties needed to perform the essential functions of life.
While bipolar disorder is a serious psychiatric condition, it is not untreatable. Often, outpatient prescription therapy and counseling can help alleviate many of the negative effects of bipolar disease. However, this can be a challenge for adults. For adolescents, bipolar disorder brings further complexities.
The Starting of Bipolar Disease and Adolescent Bipolar
In general, most people develop bipolar disorder late in their teens or their early adult years. While the development of bipolar disorder in children and younger teens is rare, it does occur. Called Early Onset Bipolar Disorder the mood swings may occur more frequently. Also, the symptoms may very well be more severe than what an adult may manifest. This may be due to the lack of emotional development in the adolescent.
How Can a Parent Detect Adolescent Bipolar Disease and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder?
Adults will display many of the same symptoms that adolescents will as well. Symptoms which are common and noticeable on both of them include lacking a clear attention span, lethargy, severe mood swings, extreme excitement and talkativeness, and displaying a very depressed or sad mood which are all signs of the disorder.
Adolescents behavior at school may also be affected. Ever wonder why your adolescent is having trouble making and keeping and friends? Are their grades starting to slip? Have they been involved in a few disciplinary incidents? If so then these situations may point out the possible presence of bipolar disorder.
A parent will not know for sure whether their adolescent has bipolar disease until they are accurately diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional. A highly recommended reliable source for a diagnosis would be a board certified psychiatrist. It is important, however, for parents not to make the decisions to whether their adolescent has had a serious mental disorder. By doing this, the youth may be inhibited from obtaining the proper treatment.
Knowing Which Treatments Will Work
Combination of medical treatment and therapy is generally what treatment for bipolar involves. Prescribed medications such as anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety prescriptions are usually given. The treatment for adolescent bipolar may last for many years and will most likely be carried into adulthood. Regardless of this, the primary concern here is not the duration of the treatment. Patients should rather focus on utilizing their treatment to establish a normal life with the least amount of problems that come from the condition. For both adults and adolescents, this is true.