Bipolar in Adolescents
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar disorder is considered the sixth leading cause of disability in the world. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry confirms that a staggering number of 3.4 million children and adolescents suffering from depression in the United States may actually be experiencing early-onset of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar disorder is now a psychiatric illness that was discovered to cause major disruptions in lifestyle and health.
Probable Causes of Adolescent Bipolar
The primary cause of bipolar disorder is when the chemical in the brain becomes imbalanced. Stimulating the neurotransmitters in the brain is needed for the brain to be able to control emotions, perform decisions, make tasks and control physical activities. When chemical imbalance occurs in the brain, untold damage can happen both in the mind and the human body. The norepinephrine, a chemical in the neurotransmitters, rise to its abnormal level which can cause bipolar disorder. Genetics also play an important part in the causes of the disease. For example; children from parents who have bipolar are also at risk of catching the disease. Bipolar disease does not happen with a single gene but a combination of genes. Other factors like environment can play an important part in promoting the onset of bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar symptoms. Drug use, experiencing periods of stress, illness and other events can stimulate the brain to trigger bipolar symptoms. Even anxiety in children can develop into bipolar disorder.
Signs and Symptoms
The adolescent bipolar disorder is primarily characterized by intense mood episodes. The symptoms of the disease are generally classified into three phases. The manic phase are generally described by symptoms such as feeling unusually happy and silly, short temper, talking very fast about a lot of subjects, trouble sleeping, difficulty to maintain focus and fondness of doing risky things. Children and teens who manifest depressive episodes were observed to feel very sad, often complain about pain, sleep to little or too much, feel guilty and worthless, suffer eating disorders, lose interest of the things the they used to like and think about death and suicide a lot. The mixed episode refers to the mood episodes that exhibit both the symptoms of the manic and depressive bipolar phases.
Treatment available for Adolescent Bipolar Disorder
Adolescent bipolar disorder is in fact curable. The key to effectively treating the disease is immediate diagnosis and proper treatment plan. It is crucial for children and teens that are showing signs of changes in personality due to extreme moodiness, manifest symptoms of depression along with eating disorders, severe mood swings and suicidal tendencies to be subjected to a recommended treatment plan fast.
Certain medications and therapy are usually given to patients to treat bipolar disorder. Depending on the complexities of bipolar in children; they may need to take more than one drug. Therapy or psychotherapy made especially for children or adolescent are also known as talk therapy. This treatment is designed to help patients deal with their sickness.
Helping your Child
The early-onset bipolar disease, the bipolar disorder developed by children, can be more severe than those experienced by older teens and adults. They are more likely to manifest intense mood swings than that observed from adults suffering the disease. The episodes of mood shifts can last for days, weeks, months, years or even in a lifetime. Because of the extreme and often risky behaviour elicited by the disease, it is imperative that parents take the proactive role in facing and understanding the nature of early-onset bipolar disorder.
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