Your Bipolar Child – How to Deal With This Challenging Disorder

by Neil Dorgan

Your Bipolar Child – How To Deal With This Challenging Disorder

Do you recall when your son or daughter were born? Do you remember when you counted his or her little fingers and toes? Then their teenage years hit and they are acting like a maniac. What is this? Where did this person come from? You take him to the doctor and there you learn the news… your child has Bipolar disorder.

It’s not a death sentence, true. But it is still frustrating none the less. Bipolar Disorder is a severe illness that can be treated. It is recognized by intense swings in energy, mood, behavior and thinking. Believe it or not, what was once your little boy or girl, has always been your little boy or girl. Doctors who study bipolar have said that it can even be seen in infancy and even early childhood.

Most often children who are Bipolar do have ADHD (Attention Defeict Hyperacitivity Disorder). And with everything going on, parents are desperate to obtain information and get support.
Studies have shown 3.4 million children or young adults with depression are actually having an early onslaught of bipolar disorder. Though the manic stage is never experienced.
In children with bipolar disorder there are changes in energy and moods. They also have serious agitation or become elated with he high energy surge. This is called mania. Persistent conditions of irritablity/sadness followed by low energy is called depression.

Remember that adults and children vary for how the disease inflicts them. Since children are naturally hormonal, the disease makes it harder for them to control their behavior so ongoing mood disturbances with episodes of depression and mania. It rapidly changes, leaving many to feel chronic irriability.

What some parernts say to look out for?

Parents say ome of the signs to look for include:
* lack of play enthusiasm
* rages that are lengthy,explosive and destructive
* seperation anxiety
* bed wetting
* agitation
* night terrors
* extreme sadness
* strong cravings for junk food such as sweets or carbohydrates
* dare-devil behavior
* delusions
* sleeping too little or too much; and
* too much self confidence for which defys logic or laws.

In infants, that were later diagnosed with bipolar, parents reported extreme temper tantrums that would occur with the word “NO”. Even to those that seemed like common sense, save your lives “nos”.

In children, bipolar disorder can be triggered by an event that’s very tramatic for them which sets off either the manic high or manic depression. Later on, the episodes can come about on their own when they are stressed out. Puberty is a major risk factor for the illness especially when girls have their menstrual cycle. Studies have shown a parents’ lack of treating their child can have the disorder disrupt life for another 10 years before anything is done. It is in the parents and child’s best interest to undergo an evaluation if there seems to be four or more symptoms present.

Teens who have this disease and are left untreated can be lead towards drugs and alcohol. Teenagers who seemed “normal” up until their recent years and are suddenly experiencing onsets of the disease are also more inclined to do drugs and alcohol. Environmental factors as well as genetics influence the illness.

With early preventions or treatments, children have the ability and the chances of getting well, while achieving stability and enjoy life as “normal” children typically do. With aqequate and the right treatment adverse effects are greatly reduced.

Studies are still being done to explore children’ characteristics with the illness. So far reports have been promising in the safety and its effectiveness for both children and adults.

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