Understanding Bipolar Disorder in Children: Signs & Treatments

Bipolar disorder, a psychological disorder is common in children and adolescents. Sadly, many parents overlook the symptoms, crediting their ward’s behavior and attitude as “normal” or the process of growing up. Don’t make this mistake. If your child is showing signs of bipolar disorder, ensure they get proper treatment at the earliest. If left unchecked, bipolar disorder in children can worsen, affecting their personality, grades, and overall social attitude. At Cadabam’s Hospitals, we offer child psychiatric services and specialised bipolar treatment. Our multispeciality team of experts has extensive experience in treating many children with bipolar disorder. Get connected today and take your first step towards ensuring a healthier future for your child. Call us at +91 97414 76476 or +91 7353226622. You can also send us an email at info@cadabamshospitals.com. 

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder (BP) is actually a psychological disorder. Individuals  with this disorder may experience sudden mood swings without any reason. 

At times, they may experience a euphoric high that is termed as mania, while at times they may get extremely low or depressed. In such a situation, patients have difficulty in managing their day-to-day activities. 

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Children

The symptoms of bipolar disorders in adults are much dissimilar to the signs of bipolar disorder in children. But the onset of the condition can be noticed in teenagers or even at a young age that can progress into  adulthood. 

The child’s mood can alternate between episodes of mania and depression. Whenever such a condition starts, it can last for as many as 2 weeks or even more. 

When the child is under a manic episode, some of the symptoms that you can notice are:

• Extremely happy about unusual things
• Extremely short-tempered
• Insomnia
• Lack of focus
• Involved in risky activities

On the contrary, if the child is going under an episode of depression, you can notice these symptoms:

• Extremely sad
• Insomnia
• A sense of pain in the stomach or head
• Lack of appetite
• Lack of energy
• Feeling guilty unnecessarily
• Thinking about death

What is bipolar disorder in children mainly and how is it different from the disorder in adults?

The symptoms can have a heavy impact on the overall growth and development of the children. They are not able to mix with their friends or actively participate in different activities. While adults are able to learn how to control their situations, children are not able to manage the conditions and often may create an invisible cocoon around them that they do not wish to break.

Causes of Bipolar Disorder in Children

So, what causes Bipolar Disorder in Children? Here are some of the common causes.

• Genetic Causes:

Though this is not always necessary, a family history of bipolar disorder can increase the chances of a child developing the disorder. . 

• Biological Causes:

At times, imbalances in the brain’s chemicals called neurotransmitters can also cause bipolar disorder in children. 

• Environmental Causes:

Environmental causes such as an extreme level of stress, an extremely traumatic experience, a serious physical illness can also cause bipolar disorder in young children. 

How to Manage Bipolar Disorder in Children?

There are several things parents can do to manage bipolar disorder in children. Ideally, they should seek intervention from an expert who specializes in treating bipolar disorder in children. Family therapy is one of the highly recommended measures because while your child learns how to manage this condition, the family collectively should also be on the learning curve on how they can help their child and create an infrastructure that promotes improvement. Also, therapeutic and pharmacological measures are other ways to manage bipolar disorder in Children. Based on their diagnosis and analysis, the mental health specialists will outline the correct treatment plan.

Caregiver’s Role in the Treatment Process

Your child’s journey with bipolar disorder can get stressful for you too. But it is the parent’s responsibility to understand the child well and listen to them carefully each time. Often listening to what the child wishes to convey can help a lot in controlling the depressive episodes. You should take suicide threats very seriously and should take extra care and handle every situation with love and support. 

Why Cadabams?

At times, handling the bipolar disorder of the child alone is not possible. This is where you require the help of some experts. Cadabam’s Hospitals is a multispecialty team of different experts to help you in this. The team will listen to the entire case and will try to diagnose the cause to start treatment. While the psychologist will start with family therapy, the psychiatrist will prescribe medications for the treatment. Getting proper help and listening to the suggestions offered by the experts can help the child in getting better and getting back to normal life soon. Call us at +91 97414 76476 or +91 7353226622. You can also send us an email at info@cadabamshospitals.com. 

Disclaimer: We strive to treat our patients with dignity and utmost sensitivity. We understand that bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder and that it is not a sign of weakness. Several terms used to describe or refer to the condition are used not in a derogatory way but to remain relevant to user search trends and common usage. It is important to note that bipolar disorder should be referred to with utmost sensitivity to better address the effects of this psychological condition. Insensitive words  should be avoided. In case you or your loved ones are struggling with bipolar disorder and share a unique viewpoint on how we can improve this content for our readers, please reach out to us.

FAQs:

Q1. Can Bipolar Disorder in children be fatal?

If not treated on time, children dealing with bipolar disorder can commit suicide. In fact, they are at a greater risk of committing suicide if they are not getting treatment. The risk factors of suicide may include having friends or family members at home who have committed suicide, having family history of sexual or physical abuse, keeping firearms in home, or history of mental or substance abuse disorder. 

Q2. Is family therapy really useful in Bipolar Disorder in children?

Family therapy with medication is the best way to treat BP in children. Many diseases are made worse by a dysfunctional family. Close family relationships prove to be vital in this case as it provides a strong support to the individual suffering. Family therapy is about teaching members of the family about the disease to change any negative ideas and implement positive reinforcement. Overall, it focuses on establishing a proper family structure where the child feels safe and appreciated. 

Q3. How to know if my child has bipolar disorder?

You can look for several signs or symptoms. They include, severe mood swings, hyperactive or socially inappropriate behavior, and even suicidal thoughts. Further, if you have reasons to believe that your child is experiencing mental health problems, get in touch with an expert and go for thorough diagnosis.