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Teen Bipolar Disorder What Causes Teen Bipolar Disorder? - How Can I Help? - How Have I Been Able To Relate? What is Teen Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder is an illness that can have serious impacts on teens and their families. Teen bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, causes teens to experience extreme moods, known as mania and depression. Mania causes a teen to feel overly energetic and irritable, while teens suffering from depression feel sad, tired, and unable to do anything. Scientists do not yet fully understand teen bipolar disorder, but it seems to be caused by chemical imbalances in the teen's brain. Teen bipolar disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated with therapy, and sometimes medications.
Teens with bipolar disorder experience intense moods, often without a clear cause. They may change rapidly from mania to depression, or experience one extreme or the other with long periods of normal or less extreme moods in between. These mood changes are more severe and extreme than the normal ups and downs that every teen experiences. Sometimes stress, medications, or environmental factors can trigger a manic or depressive episode, but the exact causes of bipolar disorder are not yet known. Bipolar disorder seems to have a genetic component, and teens whose close family members have bipolar disorder are more likely to develop bipolar disorder.
Common Signs Of Mania:
Common Signs Of Depression:
Other Signs Of Teen Bipolar Disorder:
What Causes Teen Bipolar Disorder? Doctors and scientists don't know the exact cause of bipolar disorder, but they think that biochemical, genetic, and environmental factors may all be involved. It's believed this condition is caused by imbalances in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. If the neurotransmitters aren't in balance, the brain's mood-regulating system won't work the way it should. Genes also play a large role. If a close relative has bipolar disorder, a person's risk of developing the condition is higher. This doesn't mean, though, that if you have a relative with bipolar disorder you will automatically develop it! Even in studies involving identical twins raised in the same home, one twin sometimes had bipolar disorder whereas the other did not. Researchers are now working on identifying the gene or genes involved in bipolar disorder. Environmental factors may play a role in bipolar disorder. For some teens, stresses such as a death in the family, their parents' divorce, or other traumatic events could trigger a first episode of mania or depression. Sometimes, going through the changes of puberty can set off an episode. In girls, symptoms can be tied to their monthly menstrual cycle. How Is Teen Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed? Most people with bipolar disorder can be helped, but a psychiatrist or psychologist must first diagnose the disorder. Sadly, many people with the condition are never diagnosed or are not diagnosed properly. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, the disorder can become worse. Some teens with undiagnosed bipolar disorder can end up in a psychiatric hospital or residential treatment center, in the juvenile justice system, abusing drugs, or committing suicide. Because children and teens with bipolar disorder do not usually show the same patterns of behavior as adults who have the condition, a mental health professional will observe a teen's behavior carefully before making a diagnosis. This includes getting a complete history of a person's past and present experiences. Family members and friends can also provide helpful insights into the person's behavior. The doctor may also want a teen to have a medical exam to rule out other conditions. Diagnosing bipolar disorder can be difficult. As of yet, there aren't any laboratory tests like a brain scan or blood test that will diagnose it. In teens, bipolar disorder can sometimes be mistaken for illnesses like schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other depressive disorders. That's why a complete, detailed history is so important.
How Can I Help My Bipolar Teen? Families can help teens with bipolar disorder by:
Some things teens with bipolar disorder can do to reduce symptoms include:
How Have I Been Able To Relate? I have not personally dealt with Teen Bipolar Disorder, but I have experienced it through my friends and family. I have witnessed first hand the mania and depression. It's very hard to watch your loved ones become so frustrated one second and then so depressed the next. And also know that they're feeling so hopeless and useless, and how I can't do anything about it. My friend, Laura* has just recently been evaluated and told that she suffers from Teen Bipolar Disorder. I didn't really notice it until her family told me what had happened. I mean, I realized she got angry very quickly, and then depressed the next second. But I just thought that that was the way she has always been. You know? Like her personality. But that wasn't the case at all. Her mother did the right thing by sending her away for a few days to a residential treatment center, just until they figured out what they should do and how they should go about doing it. But if you know anyone that has any of these symptoms, just calmly confront them about it. And try to make it as less stressful as possible. *Remember, teens with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for suicide. A teen who is having suicidal thoughts or actions should get medical help immediately, or call 911 or a suicide prevention hotline, such as 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), check your phone book for local suicide prevention hotlines or mental health centers. Sources & Links On Teen Bipolar Disorder:
Remember, I'm here to help you the readers, with everyday problems and situations. If you have any ideas for an article, that you want addressed, feel free to e-mail me! Love, Christina |
