Bipolar in Children Can Be Treated

In the past bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression was only recognized in adults. Recently psychiatrists are finding that bipolar is just as likely to occur in children as adults and teenagers. Many children were diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), when in fact they were bipolar kids.

This discovery will make it easier for bipolar disorder children to get the help they need at an early stage and have a normal life when they become adults. The proper treatment for bipolar in children is a source of dispute among professionals. Some want to use medications and therapy combined for treatment but parents and some mental health experts disagree with this method.

Bipolar in Children – Medication Downside

Parents do not like the effect bipolar medication has on their child’s personality. They seem to lose certain traits that make them enjoyable as a person. Both children and adults when medicated to excess or unnecessarily do not seem like the same person. A child may appear to be “zoned out” or unresponsive to things children normally react to. This is worrisome for a parent and makes them wonder if it is doing more harm than good to put their child on medication.

Many use play therapy to treat bipolar disorder children. This helps them to live a happier and more normal life. The technique is to present a situation to the child in which he or she must come up with a sensible and normal healthy solution. This may not work well for every child. They may need additional help. The mood swings and other bipolar children symptoms are sometimes severe enough to cause uncontrollable actions and unpredictable reactions to certain events.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT

Another useful therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients with bipolar disorder are taught to realize when they have symptoms and learn what triggers these symptoms. They learn alternatives for inappropriate behavior and mood swings. The patient will also learn what to do to avoid having episodes of mania or depression and better ways to deal with an episode if they have one. This treatment works very well in adults with and without medication.

It may be difficult to use cognitive behavioral therapy in children as it involves using thinking and problem abilities that are unlikely to be present in children. It is not considered for use in bipolar disorder children for this reason. Once a child reaches a certain age or age level, this method is used with success. If this type of therapy were brought down to the child’s level it could be used effectively some believe. This would likely be difficult to do.

Seek Advice for Bipolar in Children

Options for treatment need to be discussed with your child’s doctor, psychologists, parents, teachers, or anyone else involved your Childs life. This will help ensure better success in treating your child’s bipolar disorder. If anyone involved notices a problem or has concerns about any treatments for bipolar children symptoms, they should come forward immediately as changes may have to be made in treatment. If a child does not seem to be improving with treatment or medication, the parent may want to consider changing physicians.