Bipolar Children- How Do You Know?
Bipolar children can be difficult to diagnose, and is usually more prevalent in teens and adults. However bipolar children have been diagnosed as early as 6 years of age, and symptoms have been seen as early as infancy.
Infants exhibiting constant restless behavior and sleep disorders, or throwing seizure like tantrums in anger were later diagnosed as being affected with bipolar disorder. Bipolar children will often show extreme cycling between moods, rapidly moving from extreme energy or mania and irritability, to lethargic like lows. They also experience neutral periods of “normalcy” in between cycles.
Most bipolar children are suffering because someone in their family has suffered. Things like bipolar disorder and depression have been shown to travel down the chain in families. One thing to keep in mind is that while adults usually have clearly defined cycles of mania and depression, bipolar children are typically all over the map, and can experience extreme highs and lows several times a day, often leading to a misdiagnoses of their symptoms.
Some things to look for in bipolar children are things like hyperactivity, destructive anger, rebelliousness, clingyness, and even bed wetting can be a symptom of bipolar disorder in children. Also irregular food habits are common, and irregular hunger pains, as well as mood changes, lack of interest in outdoor playtime, and hallucinations or delusions.
There are other symptoms that you can look for as well, but I just wanted to cover the basics. Bipolar children can also become ill due to environmental factors such as physical abuse, or broken families. If you fear your child is suffer from bipolar disorder, the earlier you can get him or her diagnosed, the better their chances of leading full and healthy lives. Bipolar children don’t have to suffer and feel sad or out of control all of their lives. It starts with you as their parent, seeking treatment and staying on top of it!
Tags: bed wetting, bipolar children, bipolar disorder in children, broken families, destructive anger, environmental factors, highs and lows, hyperactivity, sleep disorders
