Some mood changes are typical for adolescents, but you might become worried as a parent if your child goes through extreme shifts in behavior and emotional responses. If you’ve noticed cycles of extreme high and low or some significant mood changes that affect school or how they act at home, you might be witnessing the signs of bipolar disorder in teens.
Bipolar disorder is considered a serious mental illness, but catching it early is helpful for its successful management. This is not a mental health problem that one can overcome on their own, and as a parent of someone struggling, you will probably need support as well. Time Wellness Georgia has experience working with teens and individuals struggling with bipolar disorder. Our individual and family programs have helped many.
Here, we will share some common symptoms of bipolar disorder in teens, hoping it will help you recognize them and react so to help your child have the best quality of life possible. Experienced experts who specialize in mental health for young adults can be your most important ally in this mission.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder in Teens
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. Its main characteristics are unpredictably magnified emotions. Individuals with bipolar disorder can quickly swing from extremes of happiness, energy, and clarity to sadness, fatigue, and confusion. Abnormally elevated or irritable moods that last for at least a week are known as manic episodes. Some people will experience a depressive episode after it, but not necessarily.
There are three types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclotomic disorder.
- Bipolar I disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences a manic episode. Some people also experience depressive or hypomanic episodes, and most people with bipolar I disorder also have periods of neutral mood.
- Bipolar II disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode. With bipolar II, it is common for people to return to their usual functioning between episodes.
- The cyclotomic disorder is a milder form of bipolar disorder involving many “mood swings,” with hypomania and depressive symptoms that occur frequently.
Teens with bipolar disorder can have manic, depressive, and mixed episodes.
Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms in Teens
Recognizing symptoms of bipolar disorder in teens poses an especially difficult challenge. The period of adolescence is, due to all the hormonal changes a teenager is going through, a period of mood swings, changes in behavior, experimentation, and often tempestuous relationships. This makes it difficult to separate usual changes from those triggered by bipolar disorder.
Parents are advised to pay attention to several signs of bipolar disorder in teens:
- Signs while in a manic episode:
- Showing intense happiness or silliness for long periods.
- Having a very short temper or seeming extremely irritable.
- Talking fast about a lot of different things.
- Having trouble sleeping but do not feel tired.
- Having trouble staying focused and experiencing racing thoughts.
- Seeming overly interested or involved in pleasurable but risky activities.
- Doing risky or reckless things that show poor judgment.
- Having an inflated sense of ability, knowledge, and power.
- Signs of a depressive episode:
- Feeling frequent and unprovoked sadness.
- Showing increased irritability, anger, or hostility.
- Complaining a lot about physical pain, such as stomachaches and headaches.
- Starting to sleep a lot more.
- Having difficulty concentrating.
- Feeling hopeless and worthless.
- Having difficulty communicating or maintaining relationships.
- Eating too much or too little.
- Having low energy and no interest in activities they usually enjoy.
- Thinking about death or having thoughts of suicide.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis
It has been reported that half of mental health disorders start by age 14. Catching early signs of bipolar disorder in teens has a serious impact on their quality of life. The main benefit of identifying bipolar disorder early is its better illness management. This also means a reduction in the severity of episodes. With a proper and customized treatment that includes skills and healthy coping development, the odds of having bipolar disorder under control are much higher.
Early recognition also leads to preventing dysfunctional coping mechanisms. Teens with bipolar disorder often experience academic decline and might slip into maladaptive behaviors like substance abuse or self-harm.
Although you might be noticing changes in your teen, it´s highly recommended to be thoroughly evaluated by professionals. Not every change in mood or behavior is a sign of a disorder. Experienced professionals in mental health hospitals in Georgia can recognize fine signs of a problem and help you overcome it.
Finding the Right Treatment for Bipolar Disorder in Teens
According to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Georga’s kids and youth face a mental health crises. Typically, a parent will seek professional help for their child. Still, the teen needs to be involved in this search and decision-making. Your child should feel comfortable with your choice of an adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist.
Bipolar disorder treatment centers in Georgia conduct evaluations before offering you any treatment. The diagnostic process can include interviews, questionnaires, and possible medical tests. Additionally, some centers may rely on innovative approaches to understanding one´s disorder.
Once a diagnosis is established, your teen should receive a specialized and customized treatment for bipolar disorder. Frequently, this involves medications (like mood stabilizers and antipsychotics), but the role of psychotherapy is significant. At TimeWellness Georgia, we rely on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and aim to involve families with family therapy.
Supporting a Teen with Bipolar Disorder
Other than ensuring professional help for your teenager, you can also take some additional steps to make them feel comfortable and accepted:
- Educate yourself and others on bipolar disorder.
- Create a safe and supportive environment.
- Monitor your child´s progress and adjust treatments if needed.
If you ever feel overwhelmed, you can reach out to the mental health hotline in Atlanta and seek advice or support for yourself or your child.
Support Your Teen with Professional Help
Caring for a child who shows symptoms of bipolar disorder in teens is usually a burdensome task. You will need much support, especially in the beginning when you are showing support yourself. Rely on your loved ones but also on professionals who have experience helping people in similar situations.
Call Time Wellness Georgia, and let us guide you through this challenging time in your life. We provide genuine care and support tailored to your needs and circumstances.
Michelle Rubio is our Clinical Director at Time Wellness in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a passion for helping those in need.
If you or a loved one need mental health treatment in Atlanta, we’re here to help. Contact Time Wellness Centers today to get started.
