Diagnosis Of Bipolar Disorder

The proper diagnosis of a bipolar disorder in teens is challenging because of the fact that the normal hormonal physiological changes of the teen often resemble the symptoms of those that suffer from bipolar disorder, yet are considered normal for this age group due to peer influence, school influence, and other influences such as various types of media, but with a thorough evaluation which is done over an extended period of time, a professional in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry is able to appropriately diagnose the condition.

Common Symptoms Associated with Bipolar in Teenagers

If you are the parent of a teenager, then you know how difficult these teenage years can be and you may be wondering if what your child is going through are just the normal teenage "growing pains" or whether something more serious may be going on. This guide will explain the most common symptoms associated with a mental illness which includes that of a bipolar disorder which will help you in determining whether or not a medical assessment may be needed.

In the "manic" stage of a bipolar disorder teenagers can exhibit symptoms which include extremely euphoric or happy, extreme silliness, irritability, and anger. These moods are typically much more intense and last longer than those which are just the normal happy or angry moments that we all sometimes have.

As an example, a child in an angry state with bipolar disorder may act upon their anger in a very destructive way with the intent of doing damage or harming someone as opposed to causing damage carelessly or accidently. The state of depression in a mental illness such as bipolar disorder can also be very extreme as they may exhibit great sadness with excessive crying and isolate themselves from family and friends.

They may even verbalize or have frequent thoughts of suicide or death.  You may also see extreme changes in their eating or sleeping habits such as under or over eating, insomnia or oversleeping.

Bipolar Treatment in Teenagers

It is essential if you notice any extreme changes in your child that could indicate any form of mental illness you schedule an appointment immediately with a physician who will advise on the proper course of action. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be successfully treated with medications such as mood stabilizers and psychotherapy along with group therapy which educates the parents as well as the teenager about this disorder and how to recognize and gain control of the symptoms of this illness.