BEAUTY KLINIC

Millions of people all over the world are affected by bipolar disorder. It is assumed that out of these millions, majority of them are adults. On the other hand, adolescents hold a significant percentage of those struggling with bipolar disorder and this adds a massive complexity to their lives. This is due to the fact that not only do they have to deal with the common struggles that every teenager goes through but they also have to contend with the serious symptoms of bipolar disease and adolescent bipolar disorder.

Outlining Bipolar Disorder

Severe mood swings are the usual reference given when mentioning bipolar disorder which was originally named manic-depressive disorder. The mood swings usually range from an elevated sense of euphoria (mania) to a severe low cycle of the depressive phase. Common knowledge of the euphoria phase is seen as a stage of excitement and minor anxiety whereas the depressive phase is seen as utter sadness or fatigue. In reality, both these phases are extremely serious and are known to affect energy levels, decision-making, cognitive functions, concentration, and other critical capabilities needed to carry out the essential functions of life.

While bipolar disorder is a serious psychiatric condition, it is not untreatable. Often, outpatient prescription therapy and counseling can help alleviate many of the negative effects of bipolar disease. However, this can be a challenge for adults. For adolescents, bipolar disorder brings further complexities.

The Onset of Bipolar Disease and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder

It is a fact that bipolar disorder starts developing in the late teen or early adult years in most people. Although it is rare for bipolar to develop in children and young teens, it is possible and has happened a lot. Early Onset Bipolar Disorder is what it’s called and the mood swings are more frequent because of the lack of emotional development in the adolescent.

How Can a Parent Detect Adolescent Bipolar Disease and Adolescent Bipolar Disorder?

Adolescents share many of the same symptoms that an adult will display. Noticeable symptoms common in both of them include lacking a clear attention span, severe mood swings, lethargy, extreme excitement and talkativeness, and displaying a very depressed or sad mood are all signs of the disorder.

Behavior at school can also be affected by these symptoms. Is your adolescent having trouble making and maintaining friends? Have their grades started to slip? And has he/she been involved in a few disciplinary incidents? These situations could indicate the possible presence of bipolar disorder.

Of course, a parent will not know for sure unless the adolescent is properly diagnosed by a qualified mental health professional. Usually, a board certified psychiatrist would be the most reliable source for a diagnosis. However, it is critical that parents do not make decisions as to whether or not an adolescent had a serious mental disorder. Doing so would only inhibit the youth from receiving the proper treatment.

Getting to Know Which Treatments Work

Combination of medical treatment and therapy is generally what treatment for bipolar involves. Prescribed medications such as anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, and anti-anxiety prescriptions are usually given. The treatment for adolescent bipolar may last for many years and will most likely be carried into adulthood. Regardless of this, the primary concern here is not the duration of the treatment. Patients should rather focus on utilizing their treatment to establish a normal life with the least amount of problems that come from the condition. For both adults and adolescents, this is true.

The definition of Bipolar disorder or bipolar disease is that of a person that has one or more episodes of abnormally manic or elevated moods. It is a mood disorder suffered by numerous people. It is followed by symptoms and depressive episodes. Bipolar disease also causes a person to experience mood swings quickly. Mixed episodes are where they experience both extremes at once and this is not uncommon.

Bipolar Disorder Types

There are several different bipolar disease types. First of all, and most commonly, a person will have mood swings that cause them to experience very high moods - or manic episodes. During these phases of their bipolar disease, they will feel as if they can do anything, and they will often rush from one thing to another, in extremely happy frames of mind. They make rash decisions while in these states, and often do things that they would not normally do while they are manic.

In the second of the bipolar disease types, the person experiences these manic episodes, but also experiences periods of depression that are intermingled with them. Most of the time, people with this bipolar disease type will find that they are moving between episodes of extreme happiness and extreme depression quite often.

A Mixed Episode

The third is known as a mixed episode. They will find that they are experiencing both the manic and depressive states at the same time. It will cause them to feel quite agitated and confused. They will be torn between being manic and happy and still showing signs of depression.

Problems with Bipolar Disorder

A disrupted life is the biggest problem and symptom for anyone with bipolar. It can be quite difficult for them to make and keep relationships, they find themselves alternating between excessive sleeping and not being able to get enough sleep. They are simply not able to exist in the same world as everyone else.

Also, many relationships are strained when a person has bipolar disease. Because of the abrupt and swift changes in mood, a person with bipolar is often drawn to people who are at either end of the spectrum when it comes to moods of their own. They are often hard to deal with, irrational and upsetting to those around them. This, in turn, causes people to pull away from them, which end up causing more bouts of depression.

Treatment

Although it is often something that runs in families, it can be treated with the proper types of drug therapies. Because bipolar disease is caused by inconsistencies in brain function, correcting the function of the brain is the best way to begin dealing with bipolar disease, and this can be done through medication.