Bioplar Disorder Symptoms in Teens

Teens with bipolar disorder face significant challenges as they struggle to cope with the illness in addition to the regular trials of adolescent life. Some teenagers may even have the disorder without realizing it, wondering why life is so particularly hard for them. Thus, recognizing and evaluating the symptoms of bipolar disorder as soon as possible will help the teen adjust and manage the condition.

Manic Symptoms

• The manic symptoms displayed by teens with bipolar disorder manifest in mood, perception and physical behaviors. These signs include major mood swings, from extreme irritability to being overly silly and ecstatic. A higher energy level and reduced need for sleep is another common manic symptom. Some teens with bipolar disorder may develop an inflated sense of self-esteem and invincibility and can become easily distracted or talk too much. Compared to adults, teenagers with manic symptoms are much more likely to be irritable than elated, and may manifest these feelings in destructive fits of emotion.

Depressive Symptoms

• Symptoms typically seen in depressed patients also commonly arise among teens with bipolar disorder. A continuous sadness or irritable demeanor, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, loss of energy, and considerable changes in appetite or weight are just some depressive signs. More severe symptoms of this kind include feelings of worthlessness and recurring thoughts of suicide or death.

  Teens with depressive symptoms may complain of head or body aches and fatigue and are more prone to extreme sensitivity, recurrent absences from school or declining academic performance, frequent and unexplained crying, and social isolation.

Time Frame

• Scientific evidence shows that people who develop bipolar disorder in their early teens may have slightly more symptoms and irritability. These symptoms may occur at the same time as other behavioral disorders such as ADHD or conduct disorder.

  When bipolar disorder begins during the late teen years, symptoms generally appear all of a sudden, frequently beginning with a manic episode. In these cases, signs of the illness tend to have a more predictable pattern, with periods of stability between manic and depressive episodes. If the disorder starts before or just following puberty, there will frequently be a mix of rapidly cycling episodes. Teens who develop bipolar disorder later are less likely to have co-existing ADHD or similar illnesses.

Considerations

• It may be more difficult to detect the symptoms of bipolar disorder in an adolescent because the signs do not always match the adult symptom criteria. Also, the symptoms normally classified as signs of bipolar disorder are sometimes similar to those of other childhood-onset mental health problems. Many parents can mistake the symptoms of bipolar disorder for the normal behaviors and feelings most teens experience, or for symptoms of drug use.

Prevention/Solution

• While there is no known way to prevent bipolar disorder, there are specific actions to take in order for the patient to cope with the illness. A teen should see a mental health professional if he seems depressed and shows symptoms similar to those of ADHD (difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity) plus emotional outbursts and significant mood swings.

  The patient should be evaluated by a doctor who has experience with bipolar disorder, especially if there is a family history of the condition. The doctor may prescribe therapies and medications to ease the teen's symptoms and help him cope with the obstacles bipolar disorder presents.