Early Onset Bipolar Disorder - Does Your Child Suffer From Bipolar Disorder?

Early onset bipolar disorder occurs before the age of 21. While most people develop bipolar disorder as they enter puberty, the average time to diagnosis is ten years and will take three different doctors, on average.

How do you know if your child is suffering from early onset bipolar disorder? Here are the symptoms.

Changes in Mood

Severe changes in mood, such as huge swings between being happy, called mania, and sad, called depression.

High Risk Behavior

A common symptom of early onset bipolar disorder involves bad behavior, such as promiscuity, or using drugs and alcohol. Typically, teens with manic depression will act out, and be particularly difficult and rebellious.

Distractibility

Concentration will be difficult for a teen with bipolar disorder. They will have difficulty focusing in class, and may be reprimanded for bad behavior. Usually, teens with bipolar will suffer from poor marks in school, and may be wrongly diagnosed as having attention deficit disorder.

Thoughts of Suicide

A teen with early onset bipolar disorder will have dark thoughts, contemplating their own death, and either planning to or attempting to commit suicide. Sadly, suicide is a leading cause of death on teens, so it is important to know the health of your child.

Oversleeping or Overeating

A child with manic depression will have a difficult time getting up for school, and will have erratic sleep patterns. Obesity is common in those with the disorder, as food can be used in an attempt to self medicate the disorder. Alternatively, anorexia is less common, however, negative body image frequently occurs in those with the disease.