| Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes | | | | - Increased energy, activity, and restlessness |
| extreme mood swings. This condition is also called | | | | - Persistent sad or irritable mood |
| manic-depressive illness. It may be caused by a | | | | - Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed |
| chemical imbalance in the brain. Bipolar disorder is a | | | | - Significant change in appetite or body weight |
| brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's | | | | - Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping |
| mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from | | | | - Physical agitation or slowing |
| the normal ups and downs that everyone goes | | | | - Loss of energy |
| through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are | | | | - Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt |
| severe. | | | | - Extreme irritability |
| Psychotic features are often present during the | | | | - Poor judgment |
| manic phase of bipolar I disorder. Aspects of | | | | - A lasting period of behavior that is different from |
| psychosis may also manifest during extreme episodes | | | | usual |
| of depression. They are also present in schizophrenia | | | | - Increased sexual drive |
| and schizoaffective disorder. | | | | - Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior |
| Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence | | | | - Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide |
| or early adulthood. However, some people have their | | | | Both children and adolescents can develop bipolar |
| first symptoms during childhood, and some develop | | | | disorder. It is more likely to affect the children of |
| them late in life. It is often not recognized as an | | | | parents who have the illness. |
| illness, and people may suffer for years before it is | | | | Unlike many adults with bipolar disorder, whose |
| properly diagnosed and treated. | | | | episodes tend to be more clearly defined, children |
| Bipolar disorder may be a frequent co-morbid | | | | and young adolescents with the illness often |
| condition among children who have experienced early | | | | experience very fast mood swings between |
| chronic maltreatment, such as physical and sexual | | | | depression and mania many times within a day. |
| abuse or neglect. Bipolar teenagers can have dramatic | | | | But there is good news: bipolar disorder can be |
| mood changes within a single day and may have | | | | treated, and people with this illness can lead full and |
| different symptoms than adults. | | | | productive lives. It's extremely important for parents |
| There is a strong genetic component to this disorder, | | | | to get a professional evaluation if they have any |
| and parents who severely maltreat their children are | | | | suspicion. The consequences for a lack of treatment |
| themselves likely to suffer from significant mental | | | | can be great: suspensions from school, sexually |
| health issues, such as bipolar disorder. | | | | transmitted diseases, depression and even suicide. |
| Signs and symptoms of Bipolar Disorder: | | | | For Professional help log on : |
| Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings-from | | | | So it's very important, especially in families with a |
| overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and | | | | history of bipolar disorder or depression, for parents |
| then back again, often with periods of normal mood | | | | to seek professional help at the first sign of any |
| in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior | | | | suspicion. |
| go along with these changes in mood. | | | | |