Bipolar - What does it feel like for a child?
All of us experience different moods throughout our lives, feeling sad, happy, or angry. Sometimes more than one mood at a time. When kids feel too good, too mad, or too sad, it could be a sign of a mood disorder. A mood disorder is an actual condition. The results of a mood disorder can cause problems in a child’s life.
For a child, being bipolar can feel like they are out of control. In some cases they feel like they are ‘trapped in a hurricane’. In extreme cases, being bipolar children can act in ways that they know are wrong, ways that cause injury to others or themselves. These thoughts and/or feelings are caused by the illness and will go away. When children hear they are diagnosed ‘bipolar’, they can feel afraid, asking “why me?!” They also feel sad, “will I ever get better?” One of the most important way we as adults can help them with coping skills is to help them understand that there other kids experiencing the same anxiety. If your child or a child you know is bipolar, the best website I have found is; www.bpkids.org. On this site you will learn more ways to help talk with a child about their illness.
A child who is bipolar can experience episodes of over excitement, or unprovoked agitation. These behaviors, or moods, in a bipolar child can be recognized as mania and depression. Some individuals can have both happen at once which is called a mixed state. It’s important to remember that during mania, (excited or angry), a child can feel abnormally happy or mad. This can include uncontrollable laughing at something no one else thinks is funny, or being over talkative. A bipolar child can cause disturbances in school when they become angry for no reason. During mania, some bipolar children will experience persistent thoughts of having special powers- like they can fly. Restlessness is another symptom of mania, wanting to stay up all night, or not being able to sit still. Bipolar in its severity can cause a hallucination of hearing voices, or seeing things that aren’t there.
Concerns we face in a bipolar child also include the opposite of mania, depression. So how does depression feel in a child? Symptoms like feeling hopeless or lonely, feeling no one cares about them. A child might begin oversleeping, or feel like their body is too heavy to move. Another obvious sign for a parent to notice the child withdrawing from others, not enjoying things that used to be pleasurable.
Don’t fear hearing the word ‘bipolar’. Knowledge is the key for you and your child. Monitoring you bipolar child’s mood, energy, and behaviors in stressful situations will give you both coping skills during times of depressive and mania. Avoid loud noises, bright lights, any situation which can be over-stimulating. A bipolar child’s moods can vary greatly throughout the day, so staying calm and flexible is essential. Find a doctor with knowledge of early onset mood disorders in children. Learn about what medications that could possibly work for your child. Find a support group and talk with other parents who understand, and always trust your instincts when it comes to well meaning advice. You know your child better than anyone.