do you think it is possible for a 2 year old child to be bi polar ?

Question

my foster child is adorable and sweet and then for no reason whatso ever he begins hitting himself and goes into uncontrolable rages!!! serious answer only please !!

Answer 1

I suppose anything is possible, but I tend to doubt it.

I did find this on the net:

"Aggression, Ages 1 to 3"

"Aggressive behaviour is a normal part of emotional and behavioural development, especially among toddlers. Almost every child hits, kicks, and yells; toddlers and even young children often bite when they're overwhelmed by strong emotions. Generally, you can expect your child's aggressive behaviour to taper off by age 7 as he becomes better at expressing himself verbally, using newly acquired words and grammatical skills. Children also abandon physical aggression as they learn social skills and that biting, kicking, and hitting are more likely to get them into trouble than get them what they want.

Some children, however, have trouble developing language skills or have behavioural, emotional, or learning disabilities that stir up intense anxiety, fear, frustration, or anger. These strong emotions can erupt in a variety of aggressive behaviours, including biting, teasing, temper tantrums, and relentless whinging. Once the source of such behaviour is determined, parents and counsellors can help these kids, and their reactions become less explosive.

The most common reason children become aggressive, though, is because they've witnessed aggression. If your child has been exposed to violence, whether at home or in a place where you have less control over what happens, take steps immediately both to ensure it doesn't continue and to help him understand that it shouldn't have occurred.

If your child's aggressive acts are frequent and severe, or your efforts to curb them have no effect, you'll need to consult your general practitioner or a trained health professional, such as a child psychologist or psychiatrist."

Answer 2

I think it's possible for a 2 year old to be bipolar, as it's a disorder caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Bipolar disorder has been shown to run in families and so it's entirely possible that an infant could exhibit an early onset of such hereditary legacies so to speak.

Of course, I am no professional, but I have family members and close friends who are bipolar and it seems that they've always been this way so it's probably best to check with a family doctor and do tons of research on the subject. It's also possible that your child could simply be reacting to something else that isn't a mental condition at all. The terrible twos are world famous, after all, but if there is physical violence that could almost be considered "self mutilation" hitting, scratching, or what have you, it may not be bipolar disorder at all, but some other condition that is easily treated if caught soon enough. Again, the best advice I can think of would be simply to watch the child's behavior, map it out by writing (as best you can) when the mood changes occur and if they're sudden or gradual and even see if there are correlations between mood changes and times of day, or mood changes and other activities within the house and then see a medical professional who would then be able to have something to work with and will probably be able to provide you with ways to lessen the strain of the situation.

Answer 3

It seems very unlikely to me, although I'm not a professional. Things like depression or bipolar disease are only manifested by behaviors you're likely to see in adults or teens, not 2 year olds.

At 2 your foster child is still exploring his emotional capabilities. Quick switches between behaviors in a 2 year old are much more likely to be his exploring and testing of the boundaries of his emotions than anything else. You can help by carefully executing the consequences of reaching or exceeding what most of us consider to be normal boundaries of emotional behavior.

Answer 4

Unfortunately that sounds like pretty normal 2 year old behavior. That's why it's called the 'terrible two's'

I am sure it's complicated by the fact that he is a foster child. They can have emotional problems. I doubt he is bipolar.

Answer 5

Sure--it's a physiological issue. It has nothing to do with age. Although it is more common in older people because the symptoms are more pronounced and they can communicate better.

Answer 6

Maybe. But i am not sure. You should have him checked out thou.

Answer 7

anything is possible, ask your doctor right away

Answer 8

i've never heard of that... check the MDV-IV (is that how u spell it?)