Bipolar Disorder

Does your child go through intense mood changes? Does your child have extreme behaviour changes like getting really silly or excites sometimes and at other times are they really sad. Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) is a serious but treatable medical illness. It is thought to be a chemical imbalance in the brain marked by extreme changes in mood, energy, thinking and behaviour. Symptoms may be present since infancy or early childhood, or may suddenly emerge in adolescence or adulthood. When diagnosed in a child it is labelled as early-onset Bipolar Disorder. Until recently, a diagnosis of the disorder was rarely made in childhood. Doctors can now recognize and treat bipolar disorder in young children.

Evidence shows that more children with anxiety can develop bipolar disorder. Early intervention and treatment offer the best chance for children with emerging bipolar disorder to achieve stability, gain the best possible level of wellness, and grow up to enjoy their gifts and  build upon their strengths.  Proper treatment can minimize the adverse effects of the illness on their lives and the lives of those who love them.

Everyone has ups and downs in mood. Feeling happy, sad and angry is normal. Bipolar Disorder, or manic-depressive illness, is a serious medical condition that causes people to have extreme mood swings that affect their entire outlook in all areas of life.  These swings affect how people think, behave and function. In children, however, the two emotional states (highs and lows) may not alternate. Instead there may be long periods of depression. In children and teens, the primary symptom is often irritability and feeling very important and able to do anything.

Bipolar disorder in children and teens can co-exist with other problems.  These would include substance abuse; ADHD; anxiety disorders and other mental illnesses, like depression.

How to Recognize Bipolar Disorder