Bipolar disorder was once thought to be a condition that was confined to adults only. However, recent evidence indicates that bipolar disorder in children may be as common in young people, ages 14 to 18, as among adults. Adolescents, teenagers and even bipolar in children as young as five are being diagnosed with the illness. Children and bipolar disorder symptoms are a different breed than their adult counterparts. The condition affects children differently and that symptoms of bipolar often mimic other disorders. For instance, a doctor may diagnose a child with ADHD, when they actually suffer from bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder in children need to be observed by doctors who have experience in these types of mental health issues so that an accurate diagnosis can be made early.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Children

Symptoms of bipolar disorder in children can present themselves in the form of explosive tempers, tantrums, marked irritability, hyperactivity, impulsivity and restlessness or fidgetiness. As you can see, many of the symptoms mimic those of ADHD, and this is the dilemma that many physicians face. A child comes in with the parent complaining of these specific symptoms and the tests used to confirm a diagnosis of either condition are not one hundred percent fail proof because the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children and ADHD are so much alike.

As a parent, observing behaviors in your child such as racing thoughts, a depressed mood, low self esteem, social anxiety, difficulty getting up in the morning, frequent mood swings, rages, oppositional behavior, night terrors and compulsive behavior could be indicative of bipolar disorder and you should have him or her evaluated. Other common symptoms include social anxiety, oversensitivity to emotional triggers, easily distracted, hyperactivity, silly or giddy, racing thoughts, aggressiveness and lethargy.

Symptoms that you may not readily associate with bipolar disorder in children are carbohydrate cravings, bed wetting (this is more prevalent in boys with the disorder), night terrors, excessive daydreaming, rapid speech, bossiness, manipulative behavior, destructive (to property), paranoia. Hallucinations and delusions as well as motor and vocal tics are also hallmark traits of bipolar in children.

Getting a Diagnosis

If you suspect that your child has bipolar disorder, you should understand that getting a diagnosis can be a rather long process. Your child will have to be observed carefully over a period of time to establish consistent behavior patterns. You can aid in this process by keeping a daily log, noting your child’s mood and behavior. Note eating and sleeping patterns, any unusual events that occur either with the child or within the child’s environment and record any statements that your child makes that concern you or you feel may be relevant to their condition. Share this log with your child’s physician or psychiatrist when you begin the diagnosis process.

When you choose a physician for your child who is showing symptoms of bipolar, it is important that you try to find a doctor who is knowledgeable about this mental illness. They should also have a strong understanding of psychiatric drugs and should be current in their knowledge of treatments for mood disorders. It is very important that the doctor you select view you, your child and themselves as a team working to help your child. In short, you want someone on your side, to work with you and who is well versed in bipolar disorder in children

Information on Bipolar Disorder in Children

There are many websites available that offer good information regarding bipolar disorder and child bipolar disorder. If you are concerned that your child may have bipolar disorder, then getting good information through research is a very good start.

Bipolar Disorder in Children Treatment

Medication

Diagnosing bipolar in children enables treatment to be enacted early enough so that as adults they can lead normal lives. But the treatment for children with bipolar is very controversial. Many physicians prefer to use medication to begin with and then work therapy around the medications. But many doctors and parents do not agree with this approach.

The fact is that many parents notice that when their bipolar children are placed on medication,  the children's personality seems to be altered and lose some of the traits that are so familiar to the parents. Adults and children alike, who get unnecessarily medicated or over medicated lose themselves to a certain extent. Some of the medications can cause the children to be spaced out, very despondent, or out of it. This makes the doctors and parents very concerned, and makes them wonder if medication is the answer for children.

Bipolar in Children – Play Therapy

It has been proven that play therapy can be helpful with bipolar disorder in children. This also assists them to have a happier childhood. This type of therapy usually has the children placed in hypothetical scenarios that help them to learn how to figure out an emotionally healthy and logical solution. For some children this play therapy is quite successful, but for others it does not work. In particular cases of bipolar disorder in children, the symptoms and mood swings can be so severe as to make the child not capable of controlling their reactions emotionally or their actions to situations or other things that could stimulate them.

Bipolar in Children – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A pretty new kind of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy helps the patient learn what may trigger inappropriate behavior and mood swings, the alternative to this inappropriate type behavior, and also learning to recognize the symptoms to their disorder. With cognitive behavioral therapy, the patient is allowed to see if they can avoid having depressive or manic spells, and also how to control the spells better when they do have them. With adults, this option for treatment is very possible. It is successful in some cases without medication and does work well with medication.

This type of therapy though does call for critical thinking and problem solving skills at a level not usually present with children. So because of this, it is not normally used with children having bipolar disorder who are under a particular maturity or age level. Some do believe that if the cognitive behavioral therapy techniques were changed to accommodate children, they could be equally effective on the children. However, this would be a very difficult task to accomplish.

Involvement of Parents and Teachers of Bipolar Children

Treatment options should always be discussed with parents, medical professionals and teachers. Anyone who is involved with the children should be involved in the course of treatment for the maximum success. If the teacher or the parent has questions about the effects of the treatment for the bipolar disorder in children or students,  they should be asked in the beginning so that if the treatment needs to be altered it can be. Parents also should not be afraid of going to other doctors if they feel the treatment or medication is not working for their bipolar children.