Tips to Help Your Teens Who Have Bipolar Disorder
Mood swings are considered a normal part of a teenager’s life. However, ‘normal’ mood swings can be quite different from the intense mood swings of bipolar disorder. Formerly called manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder is a serious lifelong psychiatric illness. Although onset typically occurs in early adulthood, it can also develop in childhood or teenage years. As a parent, it is challenging to determine what is normal and what’s not when it comes to a teen’s emotional health. This brief blog is crafted to help you know which signs to watch out for and steps to take if your teenager has bipolar disorder . Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Teens There are two main things to remember: Watch for drastic changes in your teen’s normal mood Symptoms of mania and depression differ in teens than in adults Signs to Look For Mania and hypomania – Manic episodes can cause elation, euphoria or extreme irritability. In teens, irritability is more common than elation. Other signs