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