Childhood Bipolar Symptoms

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a paralyzing mental illness that causes the afflicted person to cycle between extreme highs (mania) and extreme lows (depression). According to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, although bipolar disorder affects adults and children in the same way, it usually presents itself differently in children. Children typically experience rapid cycling; that is, they experience a continuous, mixed episode of mania and depression, with very little leveling off to normalcy in between.

Irritability or Anger

• If your child is bipolar, she may be extremely irritable and argumentative while in a depressive cycle. According to Keep Kids Healthy, your child may be quick to anger-- often in a rage that is out of proportion to the provoking incident--and she may engage in long, drawn-out, even seizure-like tantrums. Your bipolar child may cry excessively and behave in an extraordinarily clingy manner.

Loss of Interest

• When depressed, your bipolar child may lose interest in people and activities that once motivated him. He may have no desire to play with his siblings or friends, and he may be apathetic toward his life and and the world around him. His school work may begin to suffer. Ironically, though he displays this disinterest in life, he may complain of being bored. He may begin to isolate himself and constantly complain that he is tired and needs to sleep. He may feign illness.

Low Self-Esteem

• Your child may begin to show signs of self-loathing when depressed. She may make negative remarks about herself, basically labeling herself as worthless, stupid or a bad person. She may also begin to feel as if her parents, family and friends hate her, too. She may make comments alluding to the idea that you don't love her and that others think she is ugly or stupid. Your bipolar child may even go as far as to contemplate her own death, thinking that she and those around her would be better off if she were gone.

Elated Mood

• On the flip side, during a manic cycle your bipolar child may exhibit an extraordinarily joyful mood. He may display disproportionate happiness and laugh hysterically, even in inappropriate situations such as school or church. He may suddenly become extremely sociable and chatty, needing to be the center of attention, even with strangers. His energy may soar to the point that he is constantly active and playing with his games and toys. He may need very little sleep and seemingly never tire.

Grandiose Behavior

• According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, the manic cycle could produce grandiose behavior, when children believe that normal rules and expectations of good behavior do not affect them. Your child may begin to give instructions to you, her teachers and others in authority, believing that she knows better. Grandiose behavior can, in fact, become dangerous, as a child in this state may believe that she can accomplish extraordinary feats such as flying out of a window or driving a car.

Hypersexuality

• This phenomenon--common during a manic cycle--can occur even in children who have not been subjected to sexual abuse. When in this state, your bipolar child may give sudden attention to sexual or gender issues. He may become precociously flirtatious, use foul, explicitly sexual language, or attempt to touch the private areas of others, even adults.

Psychosis

• Your bipolar child can experience psychosis (disconnect from reality) in both the manic and depressive phases. In children, psychosis will typically present as irrational fear. Your child may have an inordinate amount of fear for her own well-being. She may complain to you that she is seeing or hearing monsters or other terrifying entities.