Overview of Bipolar Disorder in Adolescents
Bipolar disorder affects many millions of people throughout the world. Many assume these millions of people are exclusively adults. However, a significant percentage of those struggling with bipolar disorder are adolescents. This adds an enormous complexity to their lives. In addition to dealing with the common struggles that all teenagers must deal with, they must also contend with the serious symptoms of bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Disorder Defined
Bipolar disorder refers to severe mood swings and was originally named manic-depressive disorder. These swings of mood range from a higher sense of euphoria (mania) to a critical down cycle known as the depressive phase. People normally take the euphoria phase as a stage of excitement and minor anxiety where the depressive phase is seen as plain sadness or fatigue. Both phases are serious in reality and they can seriously affect decision-making, concentration, energy levels, cognitive function, and other critical abilities needed to carry out the necessary functions of life.
Although being a serious psychiatric condition, bipolar disorder is treatable. There are many negative effects brought about by bipolar disease but they can all be alleviated with the help of counseling and outpatient prescription therapy. This can be a challenge for adults, however, and it also brings about further complications for adolescents.
The Onset of Bipolar Disease and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder
In fact, most people start developing bipolar disorder in their early adult or late teen years. Development of bipolar in children and younger teens does occur even though it is very rare. This is known as Early Onset Bipolar Disorder and the mood swings here may occur more frequently. The cause of this may be the lack of emotional development in the adolescent.
How Parents Can Identify Adolescent Bipolar Disease and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder
Adolescents share many of the same symptoms that an adult will display. Noticeable symptoms common in both of them include lacking a clear attention span, severe mood swings, lethargy, extreme excitement and talkativeness, and displaying a very depressed or sad mood are all signs of the disorder.
These symptoms can also affect behavior at school. Is your adolescent having trouble making or maintaining friends? Have his or her grades started to slip? Has the adolescent been involved in a number of disciplinary incidents? All of these situations could indicate the potential presence of bipolar disorder.
Of course, a parent will not know for sure unless the adolescent is properly diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional. Usually, a board certified psychiatrist would be the most reliable source for a diagnosis. However, it is critical that parents do not make decisions as to whether or not an adolescent had a serious mental disorder. Doing so would only inhibit the youth from receiving the proper treatment.
Knowing Which Treatments Will Work
Treatment generally involves a combination of medication treatment and therapy. Prescribed medications often include anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety prescriptions. No matter what type of treatment plan is enacted, there are no short-term fixes for bipolar disorder. Treatment may last many years and well into adulthood. The duration of the treatment, however, is not what should be of primary importance. Instead, patients should concentrate on using their treatment as the basis for living a normal life with minimal problems deriving from the condition. This is true for both adults and adolescents.
