subject: Understanding Bipolar Child [print this page] Does your child cycle through moods from high to low quickly? Is he or she inconsolable one moment, and hyper the next? This may be a sign that you have a bipolar child.
Early adolescent bipolar disorder is characterized by rapid or mixed cycling through emotional states. The bipolar child has rapid cycling that occurs when the cycles between depression and mania occur quickly, sometimes within the same day or the same hour. When the symptoms of both mania and depression occur simultaneously, mixed cycling occurs.
For a bipolar child, there are often other psychiatric disorders present in addition to bipolar disorder. These other diagnoses may be concurrent problems or could possibly be misdiagnosed bipolar disorder. For example, a bipolar child may be mistakenly diagnosed with depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, or Tourettes syndrome.
Misdiagnosis of a bipolar child can lead to incorrect medication, which is very detrimental to a child. Incorrect medications can trigger mania and can sometimes spark suicide attempts in children and teens. The energy, impulse control difficulties, and lack of maturity in a bipolar child can make suicide a serious risk. Even children under age eight have been known to attempt suicide if they are bipolar.
In addition, during severe mania and mixed state episodes, a bipolar child may suffer from psychosis. This can be something negative, like thinking a photo in their room is staring angrily at them, or it can be positive, like the child thinking a special movie star is coming to visit.
There are many medications that can help a bipolar child, but finding the right mediation or combination of medications is not easy. The problem is compounded because as children grow, their weight, metabolism, brain structure, and hormones all change, making medication loose effectiveness. Medication adjustments are required more frequently with children than with adults.
Bipolar children are often bullies and victims of bullies. They dont understand how their actions, ranging from highs to lows in mood, for example, are troubling for peers and even teachers.
by: DMCA
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