Coping With Bipolar Disorder in Children
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Ever noticed sudden and extreme mood swings in your child? Does he often show high levels of excitement and activity only to be unusually irritable and irrationably angry or enraged the next minute? Are your child's tantrums exceptionally long and easily provoked?
If you answer yes to all three questions, your child may have a condition known as a bipolar disorder or manic-depression. It is a brain disorder that causes frequent and extreme behavior changes in a person. Until, recently children have not been known to acquire or develop bipolar disorders but several doctors agree that children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD may actually be experiencing the early symptoms of a full-blown bipolar disorder.
While considered a very serious condition, this genetically acquired brain disorder is treatable. With early detection and proper diagnosis, monitoring and medication, children with bipolar disorders can lead normal and productive lives.
Early detection and proper diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children can only be successful with involved and observant parents. Try to observe sleep patterns as children with bipolar disorders to tend to feel no need for sleep during mania or highs and thus sleep very little or on the other hand sleep too much during depression. Children who also tend to believe themselves to have super powers and thus figure in dare devil stunts during periods of extreme high while engage in prolonged tantrums during extreme lows may also have bipolar disorder. During depression, children will have no interest in play or socialization.
If you suspect your child to have bipolar disorder, consult with a pediatric psychologist or a psychiatrist. Keep a journal of his mood swings and his hyper active behavior before scheduling an appointment with the doctor. That way, the doctor will be given a good background on the child's behavior and will thus be able to properly diagnose the existence and the extent of the disorder.
If positively identified to have bipolar disorder, start considering alternative school accomodations for your child. Special education facilities may be necessary in order for your child to adapt and eventually learn to manage his condition. Get your child involved in creative play, arts and music as a form of therapy. Have the teacher carefully monitor his behavior and the development of his socialization skills in relation with other children.
Moreover, children under medication may suffer from side effects such as frequent thirst and urination as well as a heated feeling. They may also feel fatigue and sleepiness during lows while becoming agitated the next. Constantly consult with your child's teacher on his development in school.
At home, make sure that siblings and members of your family are made aware of your child's condition. This will help the rest of the family adjust to the mood swings and understand your child's unusual behavior. This will help ensure that despite their condition, children with bipolar disorder are given the love and care they need.
With proper guidance, medication and care, children with bipolar disorder will eventully learn to cope with their condition, manage their mood swings, live normal and happy childhoods and consequently develop into productive adults.
Labels: bipolar disorder
posted by cat pats @ 7:01 PM,
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