The Real Test for Those with Adolescent Bipolar Children

"Your child is on top of the world laughing, excited and full of confidence, the next thing you know they can be talking about suicide. There might be tantrums, crying, even threats of violence, what could be possibly be happening. Well the answer might be bipolar disorder which used to be called manic depression. That diagnosis in children has increased in the past ten years, but there are still some questions of what exactly the symptoms are?” These were the words of Winnie King hosting the program called “Keeping Kids Healthy”.

The Two Angle Approach

These bipolar symptoms can be looked at from two different angles. One is through the eyes of the bipolar adolescent child and the other from those on the outside, especially those who have to deal with the patient on a daily basis. These can include parents or immediate families, teachers, doctors or psychiatrists and other relevant stake holders.

Symptoms from the Victim

When explaining their bipolar symptoms, children will usually describe the emotional highs and lows of the illness. Their experience could be summed up in this quote “It is a cycle I go with it every day, I start with a high and go down to low but normal in between, crash and start all over again.” Usually the mind is the one they have to go against with one side saying to get better yet on the other side they do not want to get well. It is a battle raging within and no matter what we say or do from the outside we cannot alter the situation. In most cases it makes it worse when we try to intervene. One effective way to intervene and control those electric neuron transmitters running wild in the brain is to use bipolar medication which has proved successful for many.

Bipolar from an Onlooker

As an onlooker we can only see the actions and emotions exposed by a child with the disease.  Common complaints from parents are; “He would be banging his head against the wall, saying things like I want to be dead, give me a knife. Sometimes just the word NO or DON’T can set up a set of angry reactions with things flying and angry words being spoken.” Some parents even experience constant verbal abuse from their children.

Act and Do not React

SO, what can you do as a parent? As a parent or caregiver you can, beside the usual medication, give your Adolescent child a break, just give them time to think and evaluate their actions. It is important to remember that what is happening in your child is something they have no control over. Since your child does not have any self control they get frustrated and those disappointments could lead to other unruly actions or behaviors.

Difficulties in Diagnosing Adolescent

Diagnosing adolescent bipolar children can be complex for any doctor, especially at this stage of physical and mental human development. Bipolar symptoms in young adolescent may be similar to that of young children, and older adolescent (young adults) is closer to that of adult symptoms. At times you may think you child is suffering from bipolar when really it may only be a phase of growing up. If you really do think his/her moods are extreme beyond normal then seek an evaluation from a doctor.

Hope

While we all hope and pray that one day our child will get better, sometimes our hope can turn to despair. This has happened in many cases but yet bipolar parents continue to fight the good fight. Even though your ill child may or may not get better you can only promise to give the best when things look bleak. Ultimately, your love for your adolescent bipolar child is being tested and sometimes they need you to hang on just as much as they are.