Bipolar disorder, otherwise known as manic depression or bipolar depression, is a life-threatening mood disorder that affects a significant 2.6% of the American population, ages 18 and above. However, the symptoms of bipolar can start early in life and that bipolar in children is most likely to occur when parents have the illness. Furthermore, unlike adult bipolar disorder, bipolar in children are difficult to recognize. As such, it is advantageous to keep abreast with updated information about the condition and become attentive to the signs.

Symptoms of Bipolar In Children

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that adversely affects the persons thoughts, mood, energy, behavior, and social interactions. Individuals with the condition display unpredictable mood swings characterized by manic episodes (increased energy, restlessness, and distractibility) as well as depressive episodes (empty mood, pessimism, feeling of fatigue, suicidal thoughts and attempts).

With children, these dramatic changes in mood can go very fast and therefore go unnoticed in daily activities. The constant mood disruptions though result in extreme irritability. Parents whose children have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder based on the DSM IV criteria found the following signs and symptoms to be prevalent are lack of interest in play, destructive and prolonged anger outbursts or tantrums, disrupted sleeping patterns, bed wetting and nightmares, impulsivity and irrational thoughts, defiance of authority, tendency to get absorbed in multiple activities, hunger for carbohydrate and sugar-rich delights, involvement in risky or dangerous behaviors, hyperactivity and anxiety, delusions and hallucinations and thoughts on death and suicide.

Other Developmental Disorders and Bipolar In Children

Taking a look at some of the bipolar symptoms in children makes us realize that they are also characteristic of other common pediatric illnesses. These include the hyperactive-impulsive behavior that is also apparent in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The tangential thought patterns and delusions of major depression and schizophrenia and the rebellious and damaging actions associated with conduct and oppositional defiant disorder. A proper diagnosis for bipolar in children is a must to carry out the best treatment strategies for the disorder.

Acquiring Help for Children with Bipolar

It is evident that bipolar disorder in children is a challenging task which needs pressing attention. Achieving mood stability can be increased and other adverse effects significantly reduced by taking on early interventions. Parents are advised to actively work with mental health professionals by providing them with accurate observations and notes of the childs behavior. A licensed and well-experienced child psychiatrist should be considered to carry out proper diagnosis using two or more sessions, if possible.

The family may also confer with an adult psychiatrist who has extensive background in mood disorders and have also experienced treating adolescents and children. Other sources that are helpful in acquiring initial assessments for the child are medical professionals such as pediatric neurologists and developmental pediatricians. These experts can help implement the type of therapy that will be effective for the child before its too late and this is why they are important to seek.

Thus, the next time you hear children talk about death or suicide at a time when he or she is displaying all the other symptoms of bipolar in children, take it seriously and get help as soon as you can.