Bipolar disorder, often associated with adults, can also affect children and teenagers. This mental health condition is characterised by intense mood swings, seen as extreme highs or lows, impacting daily functioning and relationships. While diagnosis in young people can be challenging due to differing symptoms from adults, understanding and early intervention are important for effective management. In this blog, we'll explore the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for bipolar disorder in teens and children, offering support and insight to caregivers, educators, and families navigating this condition.
What is Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens?
Bipolar disorder is commonly associated with young adults, but it can also manifest in teenagers, which presents a challenge due to differences in symptom presentation compared to adults. Unlike adults, children may not always exhibit the typical symptoms associated with bipolar disorder, and their mood fluctuations may not meet standard diagnostic criteria. This discrepancy often leads to uncertainty about whether certain behaviors warrant mental health intervention. However, bipolar disorder in teens is characterized by pronounced and unprovoked mood swings, ranging from manic or hypomanic highs to severe depression.
Other symptoms of bipolar disorder in teens include:
- Alterrations in sleep patterns
- Fluctuations in energy levels
- Difficulty focusing and the ability to think clearly
- Children may find it hard to perform well in school
- Difficulty socialising
- Thoughts of self-harm or attempts to commit suicide
In case of a manic episode, your child may experience:
- Phases of over-excitement and happiness.
- Bursts of energy
- Unusually frequent tantrums or irritability
- Be unusually silly compared to others of similar age children.
- Destructive and stubborn behaviour.
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Impatience, irritation and restlessness
- Reckless behaviour
In case of a depressive episode, your child may:
- Feel frequent and unprovoked sadness.
- Be uninterested in things they used to love doing earlier.
- Cry often.
- Be irritable.
- Have low energy energy.
- Not eat properly.
- Have suicidal thoughts.
- Trouble in remembering things or bad memory
- Find it difficult to socialise
Sometimes, the symptoms of bipolar disorder overlap with symptoms of other common disorders that occur in children, such as:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Disruptive mood regulation disorder.
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Conduct disorder
- Major depression
- Anxiety disorders
Because of this, diagnosing bipolar disorder with similar symptoms in children can be challenging and requires medical attention from trained and experienced medical care professionals to evaluate the proper diagnosis and treat the patient at the earliest. It is always recommended to buy health insurance plans to meet your expenses cost-effectively in networked hospitals.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a certified medical and/or nutrition professional for any questions. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.