Bipolar In children And Adolescent Is Quite A Complex Disease
Most parents learn the art of parenting skills before their very first child. These parents are taught beforehand but when their child is met with a symptoms they do not know or understand, most parents press the panic button. Believing that it is an attitude problem that must be controlled whatever the cost, verbally or physically abusing their child. Bipolar symptoms may come out gradually or appear suddenly in a child with known cases of bipolar children diagnosed as young as age 5.
Not in the Definition
There has been intensive research done on this mental disease. We now are able to know more about this illness and also understand that children and adolescents can contract bipolar disorder without reason. Bipolar disease can be defined as, the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood referred to as mania or, if milder, hypo mania. But some others especially with severe mood swings might not meet the textbook definition because they do not have a distinct episodes or clear periods of wellness between each mood swings. Researchers have not come to a decision yet whether children with chronic annoyance and clear mood swings, but without mania, should be named bipolar.
Only Knowing
When the DSM-IV was first published in 1994, the entire focus was on adult-symptoms, that is why little is known about children and adolescent bipolar. Only later that intensive research developments in every area of science, especially the brain, have answers been answered and doors to new questions which was not even there before are raised. This illness sometimes has less visible, but serious, mental, chemical reactions, and heart effects, and on the surface the visible symptoms happen to be behavioral.
Why Its Difficult to Diagnose
Because it is a neurodevelopment disorder which is accompanied by other psychiatric disorder symptoms, the disorder does not affect every child in the same way. This is due to parts of the brain maturing at different rates and times and some brain maturation are not complete until adulthood age 25 years or so. It is a known fact that symptoms and diagnosis of a psychiatric illness may change as the child grows older. Many doctors have found it difficult to have an accurate diagnosis of a child or teen presenting with severely troubled behaviors, which can be a big problem issue facing families now.
The Reality
While some people have no cure for their disorder, there are others who have been managed. We hope that genetic discoveries will add more light to more accurate diagnosing, better treatments, and perhaps a cure for this dreaded disease. Parents must always, be prepared for the worst but expect the best, because not every bipolar child will react the same way on medication. The ultimate truth is what works for some may not work for others.
Be Ready in mind and Body
Families of children or adolescent with the disorder must expect the unexpected and learn where the road ahead may lead them to. Developing strategies and emergency plans while staying flexible and positive in the present is important. And network with other parents, because it may be the only way of keeping you mentally sound.