QUOTE(samantha @ Jun 20 2009, 05:24 PM)
My younger sister is bipolar, along with my father, grandfather, and uncle. My mother seems to keep insisting that my oldest daughter is acting EXACTLY like my younger sister did. She is worrying me because I odnt see anything but the terrible twos... my daughter is 23 months, is this way to young to diagnose her with it?
QUOTE
Bipolar Children - Adolescent Bipolar Diagnosis and Symptoms
Bipolar Disorder in ChildrenAdolescent Bipolar and Bipolar disorder in children is being diagnosed as early as the age of 6 years old today. Some doctors think that this diagnosis is overused for many children while other doctors think it is the truth. To some this is just a meeting of the minds, while others who know bipolar children, they are not happy with the fact that these doctors disagree. You have to look at all areas of this disorder to totally understand it. Adolescent Bipolar has become a serious matter in today's world.
Bipolar Children and Adolescent Bipolar Diagnosis
It is a hard thing to diagnose for sure. Often times bipolar disorder in children seems like ADHD, or normal active behavior for the child. Many times children go from depression to being manic and then to normal behavior very quickly, only taking a matter of days or weeks to transition.
Many times suicide can occur suddenly and with no previous warning. This differs from older adult age people, who usually have long depressions and the suicide is often times premeditated. This fact makes it crucial that bipolar in children be properly diagnosed and the correct treatment given.
Bipolar in Children Symptoms
Often the symptoms of bipolar in children show up as mania. This can be in the form of hallucinations (visual and auditory). It may appear to be hard to tell these from just a young child's ordinary imagination. The truth is that it really is at times. Other times though the voices that are heard and the visions that are seen are much more terrifying or disturbing than a normal child without bipolar can possibly imagine.
Adolescent Bipolar Dangers
When it comes to adolescent bipolar, their symptoms are more towards what the adult's symptoms are. The big complication with teens is if they are using alcohol or drugs. This is often done to control the different moods that can happen with this disorder, adults and teens both do this self medicating. This is so dangerous because it can cover up the disorder's actual symptoms. Adolescent bipolar should always be suspected when they are using drugs.
When it comes to bipolar disorder in children, who are in their teenage years, it is harder than adults because the teens are still minors. These teens are often at odds with authority figures and they can be hard to get to conform to treatment options.
But there are a few methods for minimizing the confusion. Consulting with the teachers that the child has, gives the parent an idea of what goes on daily with the child. It also allows the parent to know how the child does away from home.
Consult a Doctor
Since many doctors out there disagree about bipolar in children, it is wise to get a second opinion. Once the second opinion has been received, a totally informed decision about treatment can be made and how to go forward with it. A second opinion helps clear things up in the event that one doctor can be wrong diagnosing bipolar in children. A guardian or parent should always closely listen to know if the doctor's decision sounds plausible. But it does fall to the parents to make the final decision. A wrong diagnosis leading to wrong treatment would be hard to think of, but in the event that bipolar disorder in children is the right diagnosis, it is advisable to accept it and go forward. It is always important to take care of bipolar children.
