12 Signs of Bipolar in Teens

You expected the mood swings with puberty. After all, you were a teen once. But what if your child’s moods are more extreme than what you remember from adolescence? What if they are displaying symptoms of bipolar in teens?

Don’t despair; more people are open to talking about mental health than in the past. Bipolar in teens may sound scary, but it is a treatable mental condition. The key is getting professional help as soon as you recognize the signs.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a depressive-type mental condition. It is marked by extreme highs and lows. It can last months or even years without treatment. Researchers are still studying the causes of bipolar in teens. It could stem from family mental health history, genetics, brain chemistry imbalances, abnormal brain function, environment, and alcohol or drug use.

Bipolar disorder typically appears during the teenage or young adult years. However, some people may not receive treatment until they are older adults if they never seek help or if there is no intervention at a younger age.

In the past, people attached a stigma to specific mental disorders, including bipolar disorder, and many people suffered in silence or were labeled by their friends and family. Thankfully, society has learned that mental health is as important as physical health and is all part of the total package (emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health).

There is no reason to be embarrassed about your child’s diagnosis. Mental health practitioners will diagnose almost three percent of teens aged 13 to 18 with bipolar disorder. Your child is not alone.

Signs of Bipolar in Teens

What are the signs of bipolar in teens, and is your child exhibiting the behavior? Bipolar disorder has two phases: manic episodes and depressive episodes.

Manic Symptoms

Manic episodes are on one end of the spectrum. Mania is marked by overly happy, uncontrollable laughter and quick movements. It is as if your child doesn’t know how to slow down. This may be a period where he or she tackles every assignment and project for school and even works ahead in his or her classes. Or your teen might engage in risky or impulsive behaviors as if he or she is not thinking through his or her actions or the consequences.

The following is a list of manic symptoms.

Acting Immature and Displaying Quick Movements

A teenager in a manic episode may act immaturely in behavior and speech. He or she might jump around much like a preschooler would while having fun. However, he or she might start fights with siblings and friends, and you might have to call him or her down. Your child’s movements also seem quicker, and he or she might fidget more and be unable to sit still.

Insomnia

During manic episodes, your teen may have trouble falling asleep. He or she might nod off only to wake up again in the middle of the night, unable to fall back to sleep. This can lead to poor academic performance. Unlike sleep disruptions in the depressive state, children in the manic state may have less sleep during the night but still have an overabundance of energy for the next day.

Lack of Focus

Your teen’s mind may have trouble focusing on one thing, preferring to quickly jump from thought to thought. You may see a drop in his or her grades if a lack of focus is a problem. Your child may describe his or her symptoms to you as one with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Your child’s counselor may assess his or her symptoms against bipolar in teens and ADHD as the manic stage of bipolar can mimic the latter.

Engaging in Risky Behaviors

Teens in the manic state may engage in risky behaviors, such as shoplifting, unprotected sex, drinking alcohol, experimenting with drugs, and acting seductively toward others. These are dangerous behaviors with real consequences that teens may be unable to comprehend at this point in their lives.

It may take bringing in a third party, like a counselor, to make your child see the danger in his or her actions. However, for some teens, the danger is the driving force behind their behavior.

Speaks Quickly and Moves through Subjects at Rapid Fire

Have you tried to hold a conversation with your teen when he or she is in the manic stage of bipolar disorder? Your child may speak quickly with words tumbling out while cycling through topics in rapid-fire succession.

For example, he or she may ask you about your day, then follow that up with a question about dinner, launch into a story about what happened in science class, and tell you what he or she wants to watch on television that evening. You may have been unable to finish answering the first question before your child fired off another one.

Depressive Episode Signs

On the other end of the spectrum is the depressive episodes. If your teen experiences the highs of manic episodes, then the emotional drop into a depressive episode will be noticeable. Your teen may slow down, seem sad, and complain of aches and pains. He or she may withdraw from the world.

The depressive episode can be frightening not only to the family but to the child. It can seem as if these emotions will go on forever. Seek help right away if you suspect your teen is depressed.

The following are signs that your teen might be in a depressive episode.

Slower Movements and Fatigue

Unlike the quick movements from the manic stage, the depressive episode brings about fatigue, slower movements, and reaction times. Getting out of bed in the morning can be a struggle. Your teen will not feel like doing anything and may grow angry when you make him or her take care of chores. You may hear your child complain about fatigue, even if he or she gets more than enough sleep. His or her tiredness feels more like weariness.

Sleep Problems

Instead of insomnia (which could still happen), your teen may sleep more than usual. Your child may stay in bed, sleep, or watch videos at home. Unfortunately, even with sleeping more, he or she is not receiving restorative sleep, so he or she ends up fatigued the next day. This tiredness contributes to fatigue and the inability to concentrate.

Headaches, Stomachaches, and Unexplainable Pain

When a child is anxious or depressed, emotions can manifest in physical conditions. Your teen may complain of headaches, stomachaches, or upset stomach. He or she may have muscle or joint pain that he or she has never had before, which is unexplained from a medical standpoint. Have your teen see the pediatrician or family doctor about any pain he or she is experiencing to rule out a physical condition.

Pervasive Sadness

When we think of depression, we think of the hopelessness, emptiness, and pervasive sadness accompanying the condition. Teens seem to feel emotions more intensely than adults, so the sadness that refuses to lift can feel like an unbearable burden. Let your child know that the sensation is temporary and that you will find help for him or her.

Suicidal Thoughts

The overwhelming sadness that bears down from a depressive episode can feel permanent. To a teen, this sensation is more acute. It can lead him or her to have suicidal thoughts. If your teen is talking or hinting about suicide or harming himself or herself, seek help immediately.

It is better to act now than to wait and see what happens. In this case, it is perfectly acceptable to overact. You want what is best for your child, and he or she needs to be in a good headspace to thrive as a teenager and young adult.

Seek help as soon as possible. Bipolar disorder is treatable and manageable. Find a counselor with whom your teen connects well to get him or her on the road to recovery.

Want to speak to a counselor about your teen’s mental health?

Wondering if your child is exhibiting signs of bipolar in teens? Contact our office today by completing the form or giving us a call to book an appointment with a counselor. Your child will receive several assessments, and you will have input on his or her mental health care plan.

We want to see your child thrive while managing bipolar disorder. Give us a call today.