Bipolar Disorder with Teenagers?

Question

Hi there,

If an adolescent has Bipolar Disorder, how can you distinguish just another "teenager mood swing" to a state of mania? What signs should I look for?

Thank you very much for any help! Bye x

Its not for me, its for an essay I am writing at the moment, and I was wondering a teenager who has Bipolar is bound to have teenage strops over nothing, just like any other teenager, but how can you tell when they are just being moody, or if they are in a manic or hypermanic state.

Answer 1

My daughter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 7. There are two websites I've used to help educate myself, family, and teachers that you might find useful for your paper. The first is www.BPChildren.com. It has resources for teenagers with bipolar disorder and their parents. The second is www.bpkids.org. That is the home page for the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, so it's geared more for adults. Good luck with your paper!

Answer 2

First of all, to the person that said bi-polar is just a label to make doctors look intelligent, you are a fool. Bi-polar is a real problem and a real diagnosis. I have been diagnosed and have been and am still being treated for the disorder. I started my treatment at the age of 13 and was orginially misdiagnosed with ADHD which tends to happen in teenagers. For a doctor to actually determine bi-polar disorder, there are certain tests and things they can do to see if there are not only ups, but also downs as well, because bi-polar people do not only have the mania, they also have depression, and the mood swings go from high to low, sometimes drastically, sometimes not very noticible. Occasionably with mania they can be violent or very hyperactive, they may not be able to keep their thoughts in order, or they may go on spending sprees, do things that are highly unusual for them at other times, etc. In a depressed state, they may not get out of bed, if they do, they may not change out of their pajamas, they may need to be reminded to eat, brush their hair or teeth, any type of general hygenic things, etc. Only a doctor can make a true diagnosis, and then medication can be given and adjusted until the right amount is found to help the person feel better and function in so called "normal" society. Adjustments may still be needed from time to time, and there will still be swings, they just won't be as frequent or as drastic.

Answer 3

When a person is bipolar they have cycles of highs and lows. My ex husband was bipolar and here are some of the things that I noticed with him (little changed for him between his teenage to adult years.)During his manic phases he would stay up for days painting or skating, he was in constant motion, he was very easy to agitate, he would spend way more money than we had, he would become very egocentric, he would tell constant lies, he would hurt others on purpose to boost his ego (he had no problems admitting to this), he would disappear and not tell anyone where he was going or when he was coming back, he would do things that could endanger himself or others (extremely reckless driving, etc.) When he was depressed he would sleep all of the time, he wouldn't shower, brush his teeth, or change his clothes, he would call into work or would be late because he could not get up, he would complain of being sick or having pains, he would have low self esteem and become suicidal. These all are typical symptoms. He would go from one extreme to the other at the drop of a hat.
Also sometimes people with bipolar are delusional and hallucinate.

Answer 4

First of all, bi-polar is just a term used to describe symptoms...it's not a category for a human. Just because some psych-person attached the label, doesn't mean there's a set formula for further diagnosis or treatment. It's merely a guide and that's all. The problem is that most of the psych-industry fails to recognize this fact--naturally because it only makes them look really intelligent and important. The more scientific they can make themselves appear, the more they can charge for services. To answer your question, mania is common for any teenager, so don't go fretting over "bi-polar".

Answer 5

thats very sad if a teenager is afflicted with bipolar disorder, and also my aunt is bipolar. if some one is bipolar then u should ask them if there on any medications and if there taking them. if they havent taken any then u should try to convince them to. mood swings are usually more subtle than bipolar symptoms also so if they get over it soon then its probably just a mood swing.

Answer 6

The only labels useful to anyone is 'loved' and 'understood' and 'accepted' etc. If you cannot love the anger, rage, whatever, then try to understand where it comes from, and talk it through, accepting only respectful, peace-seeking attidude, returning the same. Love. Signs of so called bi polar, is months of perhaps solitary depression, distinct lack of motivation, poor eating and sleeping, interspersed with spells of high energy, pronounced insomnia, inchoherent thought patterns betrayed by abstactions of speech, this is evidence of mania, or the beginnings of. The love of Jesus will heal all who call on Him. May He bless you now.

Answer 7

Like many mental illnesses, the commentary surrounding bipolar disorder is saturated with myths--it's hard to tell what's true and what's not.

1. Everyone has their ups and downs, so mine aren't that serious.

Yes, everyone has good days and bad days, but when these ups and downs seriously interfere with your ability to work, relate to others and function effectively, it is advisable to seek out a psychiatrist.

2. Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder.

Half true. Bipolar disorder certainly affects mood, but it also affects cognition and the ability to perform mental tasks. Some days we can out-think Stephen Hawking. Other days we make Forrest Gump look like an intellectual.

3. Yes, but bipolar disorder is still a mood disorder.

Granted, but for most of us it is also part of a package deal that may include anxiety, substance and alcohol abuse and sleep disorders. Also, researchers are finding smoking guns linking the illness to heart disease, migraines and other physical ailments.

4. Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings ranging from severely depressed to wildly manic.

Not necessarily. Most people with bipolar disorder are depressed far more often than they are manic. Often, the manias are so subtle that they are overlooked by both patient and psychiatrist, resulting in misdiagnosis. People with bipolar disorder can also enter long periods of remission.

5. Mania is like being on top of the world—if you could only put it in a bottle and sell it.

You wouldn't want to with most manias. True, some forms of mild mania are characterized by feelings of elation, but other types have road rage features built in. More severe mania turns up the heat, resulting in different kinds of out-of-control behavior that can ruin your career, relationships and reputation.

6. Bipolar disorder is caused by a chemical imbalance of the brain.

This is the simpler explanation—what you tell your family and friends. What you need to know is our genes, biology and life experience make us extremely sensitive to stress. Various stressors, such as personal relationships and financial worries, have the potential to trigger a mood episode if not effectively nipped in the bud.

7. Medications are all you need to combat bipolar disorder.

False. While medications are the foundation of treatment for bipolar disorder, recovery is problematic without a good lifestyle regimen (diet, exercise and sleep), effective coping skills and a support network. People with bipolar disorder also benefit from various forms of talking therapy and religious/spiritual practice.Whatever path you may follow

8. Medications don't work for me.

For some people this may be true, but we all need to give our meds a chance. Treatment guidelines anticipate initial failures, and while no two guidelines are in agreement they are all based on the premise that eventually you will find a medication or combination of medications that will help you.

9. Lower quality of life and sluggish cognition are fair trade-offs for reducing mood symptoms.

False, big time. In the initial phase of treatment, meds overkill may be justified to bring your illness under control. But full recovery is based on improving your overall health and ability to function, not just eliminating mood symptoms. Over time, the side effects of medication tend to go away, so patience is advised. You may choose to live with minor side effects such as mild hand tremors. But if major side effects persist, you should work with your psychiatrist in adjusting doses or switching to different meds. The onus is on you to alert your psychiatrist to major side effects and to insist he or she take appropriate action.

10. Once you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you can forget about leading a normal life.

False. Living with bipolar disorder is a challenge, and you may have to change your expectations, but you should never give up on living a rewarding and productive life.

Answer 8

bipolar is when you have a depressed and a manic stage. your manic stage can be anger or you can be very hyper. a mood swing is generally a lot shorter lived than being bi-polar.

Answer 9

When they are in a manic episode many are unable to get their head clear enough to come out of it. So they are usually restrained and sometimes locked up in a mental institution for children to pull themselves together.

Answer 10

my friend is 14 and shes bipolar. she flip sout everyday about something btu she takes medicine everyday over and over. i have to help her alot cuz im a good friend but i try my best to be a good guy to her