Depression is often experienced in those that have this condition and symptoms that may surface include loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable, feeling like life is hopeless, feeling guilty, changes in sleeping habits, changes in appetite, problems focusing or making decisions, and thoughts of suicide. Bipolar disorder in teenagers can be seen through behavior changes. Parents should watch for extreme changes in teens, such as, agitation, violent behavior, impulsive tendencies, relationship problems, and substance abuse.
Living with a person who has the symptoms of mania and depression can be very difficult, at times. It is important that the entire family receive counseling and therapy so that they can learn to deal with adolescent bipolar disorder. Since this condition can be an inherited condition there is probably someone else in the family gene pool that has suffered with this condition and may not have understood or realized that it wasn't normal. The most important thing to realize is that treatment is available and is usually very successful. Parents need to be patient with treatment because oftentimes several different types of medication may be tried before finding the right one and anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication may take a while to become truly effective. It may take more than one medication and include a combination of different kinds of treatment.
Counseling helps the person make sense of all the different thoughts and feelings that are experienced by talking about the situation with a professional. Since there aren't any blood tests that are helpful with diagnosing bipolar disorder in teenagers, a physician will make a diagnosis based upon historical behavior of the patient. Most physicians will recommend participation in an ongoing support group for the patient because even with treatment there may be times when episodes are still unbearable. Since adolescent bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness, parents and patients need to understand that even though there will be times when the adolescent is feeling better, medication and therapy shouldn't be stopped. Long-term uninterrupted medicating is very important and should be maintained even when the patient thinks they no longer need to do so.
Participating in religious activities may help patients with this condition. Being involved with church activities including fellowship with other believers, prayer, daily Bible reading, and participating in church support groups give the patient other ways to cope and perhaps a new perspective on the illness. Learning to trust in God by making His promises personal, and believing in the hope that scripture offers can relieve the stress of trying to understand why things happen. "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79). Learning to pray for guidance and then trusting that the Lord is indeed in control may help tremendously when the adolescent feels overwhelmed by mania episodes and depression. With adolescent bipolar disorder there are times when life is just too overwhelming and there seems to be no hope. Trusting in an omnipotent God helps the individual realize that there is someone who has all the answers and though people are limited in their understanding, He is not.
Keeping a journal to record thoughts and feelings is very helpful to a patient with this mental illness. It can also be helpful for the physician in making a diagnosis and deciding on treatment. It might even be helpful to record sleep habits and try to find some correlation to disturbances with sleep patterns. A big meal late at night or too much caffeine could be playing a part in sleep disturbances. Any info that can be provided to the physician can be helpful with therapy and treatment options for bipolar disorder in teenagers. Since extreme mood swings can affect behavior, doctors may recommend maintaining as much of a balance as possible with a regular exercise program, healthy diet, and being ritualistic on sleep times. It may be difficult for a person with bipolar disorder to do things in moderation. It can be very effective if the patient can work towards having a plan everyday that stays the same throughout the week, this helps to curb the mood swings that may be triggered by unexpected events.
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