Spotting the Symptoms: Identifying Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens

Introduction

Bipolar Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by periods of extreme highs (mania) and extreme lows (depression). While typically associated with adults, children and teenagers can also suffer from bipolar disorder. However, it can be challenging to identify bipolar disorder in children and teens as the symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions. In this article, we’ll explore some common signs of bipolar disorder in children and teenagers.

Changes in Mood

One of the key symptoms of bipolar disorder is increased activity levels and unusually high mood, which is also known as a manic episode. Children and teenagers may seem hyperactive, excessively happy, and full of energy. On the other hand, the depressive episode of bipolar disorder can present in children as sadness or irritability. Children and teenagers who withdraw from their daily routines or social activities, lose motivation, find difficulty to concentrate, and withdraw attention from people or things can also be signs of bipolar disorder.

Emotional Turmoil

Along with rapid changes or extremes in mood, bipolar disorder in children can cause emotional outbursts, explosive behavior, mood swings, and episodes of irritability, frustration, and anger that are difficult to control or manage. Children with bipolar disorder might feel hopeless, worthless, guilty or have fears and anxiety accompanied by physical and certain behavioral symptoms.

Disruption of Sleep Patterns

Sleep plays a substantial role in overall health and can have a profound effect on mood regulation. Children or teenagers with bipolar disorder often find difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep, or reducing due to excess motor activity or poor self-regulation control. They might experience changes in energy and sleep other than the recognized pattern for their age group, which can cause significant disruption in daily activity participation including school going.

Behavioral Instability

Impulsive risky behavior or poor decision-making skills can be another sign of bipolar disorder in children and teenagers. These behaviors can hurt others physically or emotionally, leading to peer rejection, regulatory involvement or punishment as well as leading exposure to legal consequences. While rash behavior or decision making alone isn’t enough to indicate bipolar disorder, it can be an additional factor when paired with the symptoms mentioned above.

Conclusion

Diagnosing bipolar disorder can be challenging in children and teens as these symptoms might be typical for their age group or might be induced due to different circumstances among family or school environments. If you notice significant changes in activity patterns or mood-swings that disrupt their “normal” routine, it’s essential to consult a mental health professional. A thorough evaluation can improve the child’s life outcomes as they can provide an adequate interpretation of the observed behaviors to make a proper decree of initiating quick steps for treatment interventions leading higher chances towards ending the pain of sufferers.