Bipolar Disorders and Young People

           

    Growing up is hard, especially for today’s youth. There are changes in environment, pressure to go to college, friends coming and going like rolling clouds, and all of those hormonal shifts. Entering your teens is not easy. Adding to that mix is a growing amount of teenagers and young people being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Although bipolar disorder is very rare in young children, many people develop bipolar disorder in their teens.
    There are plenty of signs that a teenager is developing bipolar disorder. The first thing to recognize is that bipolar disorder is characterized by manic behavior and depressive behavior, and the two can fluctuate at any time. Such signs of manic behavior include:
High amount of self-esteem considered unrealistic, such as someone thinking they have a special connection with God
High risk-taking behavior without fear of consequences
Extreme distractibility
Significant spikes in energy, and the ability to go day at a time without sleeping
Increased talking to the point where the person changes topics too frequently, or talks too fast
Severe changes in mood compared to most teenagers
Signs of depressive behavior include:
Loss of enjoyment in activities that appeal to the teen
Persistent sadness, depression, crying fits
Constant complaints of physical illness, such as headaches
Major change in sleeping and eating patterns
Low energy levels

It is hard to simplify a bipolar diagnosis in a teenager because these behaviors could be a sign of another mental issue, such as drug abuse, schizophrenia or ADD. A proper diagnosis can only be made through careful observations over a prolonged period of time. Usually with the help of an adolescent psychologist or a psychiatrist, or someone who has an expertise on treating mental disorders, a teenager suffering from bipolar disorder can be identified, and from there a way to treat it can be determined.
Bipolar disorder can be treated very effectively. Educating the teen and its family about the disorder is especially helpful so that everyone affected by a young person’s bipolar disorder can understand the context of the illness. Bipolar is typically treated with medications, such as lithium, which often reduces the number of manic-depressive episodes, and often helps in the prevention of depression. Psychotherapy is another method typically used by medical professionals, as psychotherapy can help a patient understand oneself, improve relationships, mend one’s self-esteem, and adapt to various stressors. Treating bipolar disorder, especially within a young person, is a major challenge, and one that should not be taken lightly. It can affect young people in a plethora of ways, and young people are already impressionable and confused. Adding bipolar disorder to the mix can be very difficult for a young person, but with effective treatment and understanding, it doesn’t have to be harder than it already is.