Bipolar Disorder in Teens

Though the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder may often overlap, these conditions are each quite different and may require different varieties of treatment. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar disorder is something that is currently experienced by approximately 2 percent of younger teenagers and 3.1 percent of older teenagers. When compared to other mental health disorders, the number of teenagers who are suffering from the symptoms of bipolar disorder is something that is relatively high. This article will examine the existence of bipolar disorder in teens, its causes, symptoms, and what parents of teens with bipolar disorder can potentially do to help them.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is one of the most common varieties of mood disorders. Individuals who experience bipolar will demonstrate intense changes in mood in a short amount of time. Typically, the two distinctively different moods—or, in other words, “poles”—that may be demonstrated by an individual with bipolar disorder are known as mania and depression.

Depression is characterized by an individual having a low mood, lack of motivation, low self-esteem, and possible patterns of self-harm. Mania, on the other hand is a mood that is essentially the exact opposite of depression. Individuals who are experiencing mania will typically have a high amount of energy, make decisions rather impulsively, and often choose to do things for no apparent reason at all.

Having bipolar disorder is distinctively different than the “moodiness” that is typical to most mentally health teenagers. Bipolar disorder is systematic, experienced over an extended period of time, and changes in mood are often triggered by things entirely unrelated to what is occurring in your teenager’s environment. Bipolar disorder can be found in roughly 1 in 40 teens, meaning that although a given individual is unlikely to experience pervasive symptoms, it is still something that should be recognized as a distinct possibility.

What are the different types of bipolar disorder?

Currently, most clinical psychologists will identify an instance of bipolar disorder as one of two subtypes.

• Bipolar I is characterized by alternating between extreme states of depression and mania. The mania experienced by those who have Bipolar I—which is likely to persist throughout their life—can often be quite reckless and include things such as hallucinations, psychosis, grandiose delusions, paranoia, and rage.
• Bipolar II is characterized by alternating between depression and a less extreme form of mania that is referred to as hypomania. Hypomania is less intense than ordinary mania and can sometimes be associated with positive traits such as striving to be a high achiever.

It is important to note that even though Bipolar II is often easier to cope with than Bipolar I, the rapid changes in mood that are associated with both of these conditions present a wide range of challenges that can be difficult to overcome.

What causes bipolar disorder?

There is still a significant amount of debate in the scientific community about what causes bipolar disorder. But if there were anything that seems to be universally agreed upon in the community, it is the fact that bipolar disorder is something that seems to have many different potential causes.

• Genetics play a very strong role in the likelihood of experiencing bipolar disorder—individuals who have a parent suffering from bipolar disorder are claimed to be nine times more likely to experience it than their peers
• Environmental factors such as abusive relationships and other traumatic experiences also seem to play a major role
• There is a strong correlation between individuals who experience symptoms of bipolar and also experience other mental health issues (PTSD, ADHD, eating disorders, etc.)

Substance abuse is another variable that may relevant. However, it can be very difficult to determine whether substance abuse triggers bipolar disorder or if individuals who experience symptoms of bipolar disorder (such as the impulsivity experienced during mania) are more likely to abuse various substances. Because of lack of clarity regarding causes and effects, many clinical psychologists prefer to use an approach to treatment known as dual diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?

If you are concerned that your teenager may be experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder, it is important to monitor their mood over time and seek professional help if needed. In general, bipolar disorder is defined as rapidly changing from experiencing mania to experiencing depression. However, the ways in which individuals experience both of these states of mind will often vary by individual circumstances.

Symptoms of mania include a wide range of different behaviors. Individuals experiencing mania will often have very high energy, excessive irritability, increased activity, and a decreased need for sleep. They may also experience feelings of grandiosity, have an inflated sense of self-importance, and engage in a very wide range of reckless behaviors. Individuals experiencing mania will likely have a very difficult time with delayed gratification.

The symptoms of depression, naturally, can be considered to be the polar opposite of mania. Individuals who are depressed will usually have a loss of interest in things they once enjoyed, have a much more difficult time experiencing pleasure, and may have a general loss of energy that makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. Other signs and symptoms include, decreased grades, thoughts of death, changes in eating/sleeping habits, and general feelings of worthlessness.

How can bipolar disorder in teens be effectively treated?

One of the things that makes bipolar disorder difficult to effectively treat is the fact that—because it is characterized by two seemingly opposite sets of symptoms—balancing an individual’s emotions and brain chemistry can be incredibly challenging. Though there is a significant amount of research being conducted on bipolar disorder every day, there is still not one specific “cure” that can be applied to every teenager who is suffering.

Fortunately, there has still been a substantial amount of progress made on the subject and there are many different things that parents can do to help.

• Have the empathy to understand that what they are experiencing is not their fault—they aren’t refusing to get out of bed in the morning because they are “lazy” and they aren’t making reckless choices because they “don’t care about you”
• Offer yourself as an unconditional source of love and support
• If symptoms persist or worsen over time, be willing to reach out to a source of professional help

With the help of a licensed professional, you may be able to get your teenager the kind of help they need to live a more stable life. Common prescriptions that are written for individuals with bipolar disorder may include lithium, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, anti-depressants, and medications designed to help those with ADHD. Non-medication treatment modalities might include things such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, individual counseling sessions, and numerous others. Experiential treatment—where individuals learn to manage their emotions through positive experiences such as art, music, hiking, yoga, and others—may also be effectively employed.

Being the parent of a teenager who is suffering from bipolar disorder can often be quite frustrating. But if you are willing to develop the empathy to understand what they are experiencing and connect them with the resources that can properly help them, you will certainly be moving in a positive direction.