Approximately 1 percent of children and teenagers experience bipolar disorder at some point in their lives, according to KeepKidsHealthy.com. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that occurs when a person has fluctuating moods that consist of extreme euphoria or mania and intense feelings of despair or depression. The characteristics of bipolar disorder vary from child to child, but most children will experience mood swings ranging from intense joy to feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
Intense Mood Swings
A common characteristic of bipolar disorder in children is fluctuating and intense mood swings, according to KeepKidsHealthy.com. These children tend to alternate between sadness, anger, irritability and frustration for no explainable reason. When these children become frustrated or irritated, they exhibit out-of-control behavior such as tantrums, excessive whining or hysterical crying. Many times something as simple as not being chosen to answer a question in class can cause a child with bipolar disorder to spiral into intense mood swings. These children may also express intense anger, aggression and/or disruptive behavior when they do not get what they want. These children tend to argue with their parents when they are asked to do simple household chores, such as making their bed or hanging their clothes up in the closet. In addition, some bipolar children experience of hopelessness and helplessness. They often feel like no one cares about them and they may be overly critical toward themselves.
Diminished Interests
Children with bipolar disorder tend to lose interest in the things that used to excite them. These children may suddenly lose their playfulness or adventurousness. Children who are usually curious and active may suddenly appear to be indifferent to what is happening around them. In addition, these children often lose interest in extracurricular activities or childhood friends in preference of more reckless activities and rebellious friends.
Changing Eating Habits
Bipolar disorder can be characterized by abrupt changes in eating habits, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Children with bipolar disorder tend to eat too much or too little, resulting in a noticeable weight gain or weight loss. Many times children with bipolar disorder do not understand what is happening to them so they use food to deal with their confusing feelings. These children often feel like they have no control over their lives so they turn their attention to something they can control—the amount of food they put in their bodies.
Problems Sleeping
Bipolar children are characterized by their inability to fall asleep or stay awake, according to the website Athealth.com. Some children with bipolar disorder have trouble falling asleep. These children usually stay up all night or they fall asleep only to wake up several times during the night unable to fall back to sleep. These children may do poorly in school because they are always tired. Bipolar children who do not get enough sleep at night have a hard time concentrating and focusing in school. Many times the children lack energy and often fall asleep during class, resulting in a decline in grades. Other children with bipolar disorder may sleep too much. These children usually spend most of their day in bed asleep. They also complain of tiredness and fatigue. They no longer spend time with family and friends, preferring to spend their free time alone and in bed. Children who sleep too much also have problems in school. Even though these children tend to sleep the majority of the time they still lack energy, prompting them to fall asleep or daydream during class.
Extreme Happiness
Bipolar children usually exhibit extreme happiness and euphoria when they are in the manic stage of the disorder. These children may appear to be extremely giddy and/or silly, according to the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation. They may try to convince their peers that they have some special gift that makes them superhuman. These children crave the spotlight and will do anything they can to get people’s attention. During this phase, bipolar children tend to be very sociable and the “life of the party.” In addition, these children behave impulsively when they experience euphoria. They may make impulsive and rash decisions on a whim because it makes them happy without thinking of the possible consequences.
Excessive Talking
Excessive talking is a common characteristic of bipolar disorder in children. Bipolar children tend to talk nonstop when they are experiencing mania. Their speech is usually hasty and sometimes hard to understand. These children like to be the center of attention so they talk to anyone who will listen. When children with bipolar disorder are conversing with peers, they often take over the conversation, preventing their peers from contributing to the conversation. In addition, bipolar children have a hard time listening to what someone else is saying, according to The Mental Health Association of Westchester, which is located in Elmsford, New York. They often switch subjects in the middle of the conversations because their mind is constantly racing. These children usually get in trouble in school for incessant talking. Bipolar children are often out of their seats talking to other students.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
- KeepKidsHealthy.com: Bipolar Disorder
- Athealth.com: Bipolar Disorder FAQs
- Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation: About Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
- The Mental Health Association of Westchester: Bipolar Disorder: Children and Adolescents
