Bipolar Disorder Facts And Information For Parents And Teens

By Morgan Lee


Most people know someone who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. There are many bipolar disorder facts that can be found by doing a simple search online. Symptoms are usually prominent just before, during and after puberty. Many people are not diagnosed until they are in their late twenties or thirties. If they are not diagnosed and treated sooner, they could be at great risk. Diagnosis is often delayed because many teens and parents feel their mood swings and other symptoms are typical teen behavior.

Whenever teenagers suffer from this disorder, they will exhibit more aggression than typical teens. They may get in a lot of fights or get in trouble at school frequently. The issues may not have a physical effect on their body but it can cause them to drop out of school, destroy their relationships and get in trouble with the law. Their parents would be wise to look up as much information as they can when it comes to dealing with the teen.

Some of the symptoms that should be looked for are severe mood swings, bouts of depression and hypomania. One moment, the person will be happy and hyper to the extreme while plummeting into a deep depression within moments. The symptoms will fluctuate, giving the person a feeling of fear, confusion and disorientation.

When parents want to help their teen, they will watch their behavior, keep a journal and report the symptoms they see to the psychiatrist. The doctor can look for a pattern and take a measurement of the severity of the issue by using these journals. Both parents and doctors can discuss possible triggers for the symptoms.

Many people who suffer from BPD do not realize they even have it. They do not realize that the symptom includes times of great joy. When someone feels happy, they do not take it as a symptom of a condition. The opposite, however, will be reported to doctors and psychiatrists mistaken as depression. When a person is misdiagnosed and it takes longer to pinpoint the actual problem, they may go through a lot of unnecessary hardship.

When a patient goes untreated, he is not able to maintain solid relationships with anyone. They tend to be physically and verbally abusive, cruel, manipulative of others and hurtful. If they are able to keep a journal on their own, they might find patterns in their behavior that they can alter.

Despite the latest efforts in fighting this condition, many patients still have trouble with episodes, even while on medication and during treatment. Hospitalization and institutionalization have not proven successful for patients with this disorder. Getting bipolar disorder facts is not difficult, as there are many websites developed specifically about the disease. Anyone diagnosed with or who has a loved one who has the disorder should look up as much information as they can so that they know what they are dealing with.




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