Bipolar illness or manic depression is a disorder of the brain and it is serious. The illness has a good chance of being managed if treated. Usual signs of this disorder are extreme energy, mood and behavioral changes. Bipolar disorder can be treated at a young age but very often it is diagnosed during adolescent and later stages.
Bipolar illness may look different in children than in adults. Bipolar children usually have an ongoing, continuous mood disturbance that is a mix of mania and depression. However, in some adolescents, a loss may trigger a first episode of depression or mania. Later episodes may occur independently of any obvious stresses, or may worsen with stress. Once the illness starts, episodes tend to reoccur and worsen without treatment.
Substance Abuse in Adolescents and Bipolar Disorder
Adolescents who seemed normal until puberty and experience a comparatively sudden onset of symptoms are thought to be especially vulnerable to developing addiction to drugs and alcohol. Substance may be readily available among their peers and teens may use them to attempt to control their mood swings and insomnia. If addiction develops, it is essential to treat both the bipolar disorder and the substance abuse at the same time.
Bipolar in adolescents causes dramatic mood swings – from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of high are called bipolar mania, the low bipolar depression and the middle between high and low is called hippomania.
The bipolar symptoms in adolescent that are usually seen during the manic stage or mania episodes are irritable and expansive mood, unusual happiness, trouble falling asleep but does not feel tired, rapid and non-stop talking, trouble concentrating, pressured speech that is usually hard to interrupt and increased physical activity. During the manic stage, grandiose delusions are also evident wherein the affected person shows delusions of inflated knowledge, power, worth and identity. In severe cases, hallucinations may be experienced and the person may engage in risky activities.
Treatment Options
Several methods of treating bipolar disorder are:
Through Medication
There are several types of bipolar medications. Doctors usually prescribe medications according to the symptoms and the severity of the condition. Sometimes, a combination of medications may be necessary to show desirable effects. Parents, however, should be aware that abruptly stopping these kinds of medication can harm the patient. So a doctor's advice should always be sought.
Bipolar Therapy
Therapy that is commonly used for bipolar disorder in adolescent is “the talk therapy” known as psychotherapy. It is a good and effective therapy. The aim of this therapy is to change teen’s life style especially their daily routines and behaviors. To show any improvements patients require many sessions attending psychotherapy.
Bipolar Support Groups
Bipolar support groups can help the affected teenager manage their disorder by communicating and opening up to others with the same illness and by learning from them. It will also encourage them to take up further treatment knowing that there are also others suffering with the disorder and that they are not alone.
Appropriate action must be taken if your teenage child is showing signs of bipolar disorder. Adolescent bipolar must not be taken for granted because it is very dangerous. This is not a normal ups and downs that teens go through it is abnormal and more powerful. Some may try to commit suicide or harm themselves. Because of these problems, bipolar medication, therapies and support groups are all important in helping patients cope with the illness.