bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder used to be known has manic depressive disorder. It is a serious illness if left untreated. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood from mania to depression. Between these mood swings a person may experience normal moods.
Manic is described as an increasing restlessness, energetic, talkative, reckless, powerful euphoric period. Then at some point, this high-flying mood can spiral into irritation, confusion, anger, and feeling trapped. Children in a manic episode may exhibit more irritability than normal.
Depression describes the opposite mood, sadness, crying, a sense of worthlessness, loss of energy, loss of pleasure, and sleep problems. During this phase, children may complain more of physical aches and pains.
Because the patterns of highs and lows vary for each person, bipolar disorder is a complex disease to diagnose. For some people, mania or depression can last for weeks or months. For others it takes the form of rapid, frequent and dramatic mood shifts. One of the most notable differences between children and adults is that children cycle much more quickly. Cycles can happen within in a single day.
Bipolar disorder is equally difficult for families of those affected. The condition is the most difficult to accept because the person is sometimes productive then becomes unreasonable or irrational. It wreaks havoc on the family, and seems more like bad behavior.
If this rings true either for you or a loved one, the first step is to get help from a trained medical professional. Effective treatments are available. It’s very important that you recognize the problem and start looking for help.
Manic is described as an increasing restlessness, energetic, talkative, reckless, powerful euphoric period. Then at some point, this high-flying mood can spiral into irritation, confusion, anger, and feeling trapped. Children in a manic episode may exhibit more irritability than normal.
Depression describes the opposite mood, sadness, crying, a sense of worthlessness, loss of energy, loss of pleasure, and sleep problems. During this phase, children may complain more of physical aches and pains.
Because the patterns of highs and lows vary for each person, bipolar disorder is a complex disease to diagnose. For some people, mania or depression can last for weeks or months. For others it takes the form of rapid, frequent and dramatic mood shifts. One of the most notable differences between children and adults is that children cycle much more quickly. Cycles can happen within in a single day.
Bipolar disorder is equally difficult for families of those affected. The condition is the most difficult to accept because the person is sometimes productive then becomes unreasonable or irrational. It wreaks havoc on the family, and seems more like bad behavior.
If this rings true either for you or a loved one, the first step is to get help from a trained medical professional. Effective treatments are available. It’s very important that you recognize the problem and start looking for help.