Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that affects a person's mood. In the manic phase he may be unable to control his impulses. This lack of control over impulses can lead to intense bouts of anger that becomes explosive and/or violent. In children and teens diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the experience of explosive anger may be more intense and occur more often when compared with adults.
Signs
Signs of bipolar disorder in children are often confused with other disorders that include aggressive behavior problems, such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. Children with bipolar disorder often display intermittent and erratic behaviors that include agitation and belligerence rather than euphoria, notes the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
According to Hara Estroff Marano in a 2003 article published in "Psychology Today," when a person experiences mania his symptoms will include depression, anger and irritability. The experience of euphoria is rare. Depression includes hopelessness, sadness, fatigue, lack of pleasure, change in appetite, change in sleep and suicidal tendencies.
Children
In their book "The Bipolar Child," Dr. Demetri Dimitri and Janice Papolos report that children with bipolar disorder can experience angry rages that last for several hours and happen several times throughout the day. These rages of anger can result in physical destruction, harm to the child herself or harm to others.
Considerations
Substance abuse is a significant problem for people with bipolar disorder. According to the AACAP, alcohol or drug abuse occurs for 60 percent of people with bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder are told to avoid the use of drugs and alcohol because they intensify and worsen the symptoms. Therefore, when a person is experiencing episodes of bipolar disorder with explosive anger as a symptom, it is important to consider that he may be using or abusing drugs and alcohol. If drugs or alcohol are being abused and they are stopped, the symptoms are easier to control.
Consequences
Bipolar disorder has negative consequences by itself, but when the person with the disorder experiences explosive anger as a symptom, the consequences may intensify. Children who experience this will have problems with friendships, dealing with issues of rejection and rules enforced by adults.
As an adult, relationship problems may persist and conflicts within the workplace will become apparent, notes the AACAP. Marano reports that 90 percent of marriages where at least one partner has bipolar disorder end in divorce and 15 to 25 percent of people with bipolar disorder die by suicide, accidents or altercations that occur while they are in a manic phase.
Treatment
When emotional and behavioral issues are present, the most effective treatments for bipolar disorder involve the use of medications and intensive behavioral therapy, notes the AACAP. People with bipolar disorder learn about their disorder, learn ways of controlling angry outbursts and learn to identify and deal with circumstances that trigger the symptoms.
References
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: FAQs on Bipolar Disorder
- Psychology Today: Managing Bipolar Disorder
- Great Schools: Anger Overload in Children Diagnostic and Treatment Issues
- "The Bipolar Child"; Dr. Demetri Dimitri and Janice Papolos; 2007
