Bipolar disease is often thought of as only affecting adults, children too can have this condition.  Bipolar kids are often misdiagnosed and struggle with discovering just what is happening to them.  Early intervention is always a key in helping to treat this disorder.

Bipolar Kids and Misdiagnoses

Bipolar disease is a condition where a patient experiences changes of moods between extreme highs and then deep lows.  These changes in emotions can play out in a person by them appearing “maniac” or agitated, hyper.  The lows can appear to be extreme depression, lack of enjoyment in activities.

Bipolar kids also experience these same symptoms, but can sometimes have more periods of stable emotions in between.  In bipolar kids, their maniac stage may appear to be hyperactivity or ADHD.   Bipolar kids may in fact be diagnosed as having ADHD, when in fact they are bipolar.

Bipolar kids and kids with ADHD both can have short attention spans, impulse control issues, and be easily distracted.  It is important to get a proper diagnosis in order to effectively treat any type of disorder.  Since both ADHD and bipolar disorder have similar symptoms it is really important to take note of when and how often symptoms occur.

Symptoms of  Bipolar

When in the hyper stage, bipolar kids will have symptoms that are stated above, that often look like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  In the low phase of the disorder, bipolar kids will often appear severely depressed.  They will talk of death; have physical complaints such as stomachaches or headaches.  Bipolar kids will also appear very lethargic in this stage of the illness.

One way to keep track of symptoms to get a clear picture of a child’s behavior is for a parent to keep a journal documenting the child’s daily emotions.  With this journal, a Psychiatrist can put together a clear picture of how a child is reacting to day to day life and what if anything is going on with them.  Some teenagers are depressed, some have ADHD and some have a bipolar disorder.

Bipolar kids can be treated with both medication and learning techniques that can help them cope with their rapidly changing moods.  Intervention is important and a complete and thorough workup needs to be done to properly diagnose a child with a mental disorder. 

If it could be consideration that your child has bipolar disease, talk with a physician, begin a journal charting your child’s emotions and then take the next steps to ensure that the proper care is given.  Bipolar kids learn to live with their disease and can be very productive and accomplished adults.
 

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