About Manic Depression in Teens

Manic depression is a relatively common psychological disorder with which many teenagers struggle. Those who do not suffer from manic depression often do not realize that these teenagers are truly struggling to control their behavior and oftentimes need professional help. Psychiatric medicines can help stabilize a manic depressive teenager, but many of these teenagers believe that they no longer need their medication and stop taking it. Because of this, psychotherapy plays an equal or even greater role in helping teenagers overcome manic depression.

Mania Symptoms

• In a mania stage, teenagers can seem very giddy. But not all giddiness is a sign of manic depression. Teenagers often have excess energy and this energy is released through over activity. Teenagers with mania have unrealistic confidence, tremendous energy and a feeling of being invulnerable.

Depressive Symptoms

• Teenagers in the depressive cycle are depressed and suicidal. All the symptoms of mania vanish. Teenagers often feel pain, exhaustion and excessive sleepiness. But some depression, growing pains, and oversleeping are common with teenagers. Therefore, parents and friends should rely on a mental health specialist for diagnosis.

Causes

• Teenagers usually inherit MD, but some teenagers suffer mania after an epileptic attack or brain infection. Other teenagers might develop MD in response to high stress. Pressures put on teenagers by school, friends and family can cause a teenager to create delusions of unlimited energy in order to cope with the stress. This seems adaptive, since those suffering from mania might get several tasks done before suffering crashes. But some tasks might also be difficult since manic cycles impede a teenager's ability to concentrate.

Treatment

• Some MD can be fought with mood stabilizing drugs, but teenagers will mostly need psychotherapy in order to learn coping strategies. Teenagers can reduce the risk of depression if they can control their mood during a manic phase. Teenagers can also benefit from learning stress-management techniques.

Adults vs. Teenagers

• Adults typically experience intense happiness during their manic phases. Contrastingly, teenagers engage in behaviors that are hostile, destructive and possibly criminal. This makes both manic and depressive phases potentially dangerous. Judgment is also more severely impaired with teenagers.