Helping children with bi polar disorder channel creativity
Bipolar disorder is a serious, but is treatable, medical illness. This mental illness affects the patient’s behavior as it changes their mood, the amount of energy they have within them and the way they think. Symptoms may be present and noticeable from early childhood or the symptoms may come on suddenly during the teen years, into the 20s and sometimes even later in life. Diagnosis of bipolar disorder used to be rare in children but doctors now recognize and treat bipolar disorder in young children.
Early Intervention in Children
Early intervention and treatment are key for children who are suffering with bipolar disorder. If treatment is started early, the child can easily achieve stability, gain the best possible level of wellness, enjoy their childhood and build a future. Effective treatment can not only reduce the adverse effects of the illness on their lives but also on the lives of their family members and friends. Families of affected children and adolescents face tough times with early-onset bipolar disorder and are quite keen for authentic information and support.
Symptoms
Bipolar disorder leads to changes in mood and energy. Extended periods of incredible euphoria or even irritation coupled with a feeling of high energy are called mania; extended periods of extreme misery coupled with low energy are called depression. This mental illness shows up differently in children than adults; with oddball symptoms. It is possible for children to have a continuous mood combination of mania and depression or a rapid cycling between the two.
Cycling such as this can cause persistent irritability with limited intervals of wellness that are barely long enough to notice. It is often reported after diagnosis that the mothers of bipolar patients noted that their child was really difficult to calm during tantrums and often that they were poor sleepers. These children tended to be clingy and had tantrums that went far out of control and anger that seemed more like rage even when the situation did not call for such an extreme reaction.
Family history
Bipolar disorder tends to be genetic, but there are environmental factors that have significant bearing on whether the illness will arise in a child. It is believed that bipolar disorder may even skip generations and it is known to behave differently in different individuals in the same family.
How can parents help
Parents who are worried about their child's behavior, especially suicidal talk, should have the child seen by a doctor who has expertise in treating bipolar disorder. This is very important because there is no a blood test or brain scan that can diagnose bipolar disorder.
Parents who believe their child is suffering from bipolar disorder or any sort of psychiatric illness should take daily notes of their child's mood, behavior, sleep patterns and attitude to br shared with the health care provider. These notes can help him immensely in making the judgment as well as in the treatment of the child. Some parents fax or e-mail a copy of their notes to the health care provider before each appointment.
Board certified psychiatrist
It is very important that you opt for a board-certified psychiatrist who can diagnose and treat your child. A child psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has finished two to three years of an adult psychiatric residency in addition to two years of a child psychiatry fellowship program. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of brilliant child psychiatrists and only a small number of them have extensive experience in treating early-onset bipolar disorder.
Teaching hospitals affiliated with medical schools are an excellent place to start your search for an experienced child psychiatrist. You can also take the advice of your child's pediatrician for a referral. If your community does not have a child psychiatrist with proper experience in mood disorders, it is advisable that you start looking for an adult psychiatrist who has broad expertise in mood disorders and hands-on experience in treating children and adolescents.
