Living with Mental Illness » Children with Bipolar Disorder

Children with Bipolar Disorder

Posted on March 22, 2009
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According to World Health Organization (WHO), the sixth leading cause of disability in the world is bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar. And the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has confirmed that a staggering number of 3.4 million children and adolescents may actually be suffering from depression, an early- onset of bipolar disorders, in the United States alone. Bipolar disease which is a mental illness has been discovered to cause a lot of problems both in how people live and their individual health.

Probable Causes of Adolescent Bipolar

The primary cause of bipolar disorder is when the chemical in the brain becomes imbalanced. Stimulating the neurotransmitters in the brain is needed for the brain to be able to control emotions, perform decisions, make tasks and control physical activities. When chemical imbalance occurs in the brain, untold damage can happen both in the mind and the human body. The norepinephrine, a chemical in the neurotransmitters, rise to its abnormal level which can cause bipolar disorder. Genetics also play an important part in the causes of the disease. For example; children from parents who have bipolar are also at risk of catching the disease. Bipolar disease does not happen with a single gene but a combination of genes. Other factors like environment can play an important part in promoting the onset of bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar symptoms. Drug use, experiencing periods of stress, illness and other events can stimulate the brain to trigger bipolar symptoms. Even anxiety in children can develop into bipolar disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms and Signs The primary characteristic of bipolar in adolescent is the intense mood swings. There are generally three phases in bipolar; mania, depression and manic depression. Common signs and symptoms of mania include; an unusual feeling of “high” and optimistic OR extremely irritable, grandiose, and unrealistic beliefs about one’s abilities or powers, very little sleep, jumping quickly from one idea to the next, easily distractible, unable to concentrate, acts recklessly without thinking about the consequences, hallucinations and delusions (in severe cases). Common symptoms of bipolar depression include feeling sad, hopeless or empty, very irritable, unable to experience pleasure, easily tired or loss of energy, physical and mental sluggishness , change of appetite or weight changes, problems with sleeping, concentration and memory problems. A mixed episode of bipolar disorder features symptoms of both mania or hypomania and depression.This combination of high energy and low mood makes for a particularly high risk of suicide

Treatment available for Adolescent Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder in adolescent is curable. Proper treatment plan and early diagnosis is the most effective way of treating this illness. It is very important that when children are showing signs of the symptom such as personality change, their mood swings are constant and extreme, and suicidal, you must advice that the patients seek medical treatment immediately.

To treat bipolar disorder, patients are put under certain medications and advised to go under therapy. In terms of medication, children may need to take more than one drug depending on the complexity of their bipolar condition. The kind of therapy or psychotherapy designed for children and teens is often called talk therapy were they are coached to manage their symptoms and deal with their disease.

Helping your Child

Bipolar disease developed by children at their early stage can be more severe than those experienced by children at older ages. The mood swings seen in young children is more severe than that compared to teens and adults. The mood swings can go for days, weeks, months or can even stay with the person for the rest of his/her life. Parents must take the proactive role in facing and understanding the nature of early-onset of this disease. The disease must not be taken lightly because of the extreme risks and behavior the disease can inflict on the person.