Bipolar in Teens: How to Know The Signs

Does your teen have dramatic mood swings that cycle between periods of extreme highs and periods of extreme lows? Are they causing noticeable changes in the way they normally think or act? It could be a sign of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar in Teens

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a mental illness that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy level, and behavior. It is characterized by manic episodes during which your teen seems happier than usual, is extremely energetic, and needs little sleep. Those contrast with episodes of depression in which your teen feels sad, apathetic, and fatigued.

These episodes may last for one to two weeks or longer, interfere with your teen’s ability to perform daily tasks and disrupt his or her quality of life.

Bipolar disorder can appear at any age, but most commonly develops during adolescence. Often it remains undiagnosed because the fluctuating moods are attributed to the normal ups and downs associated with teenage hormones.

Early Warning Signs of Bipolar Disorder in Teens

Following are some red flags that should not be ignored. If you recognize several of these changes in your teen’s usual mood and behavior, it is important to follow up with a licensed mental health professional experienced in treating bipolar in teens. Bipolar in teens is highly treatable and manageable. The earlier the intervention starts, the better the outcome will be.

Common signs of a manic episode. During a manic episode, your teen may feel wired and euphoric and have an inflated sense of self-esteem, grandiosity, and power. Feeling invincible, your teen might exhibit poor judgment, act impulsively, and engage in risky behaviors. Likewise, they may experience racing thoughts and trouble concentrating, talk fast, or jump from topic to unrelated topic.

You may notice that your child is more irritable than usual. Your teen may stay up most of the night and not be tired. In some cases, they may have psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions.

Common signs of a depressive episode. During a depressive episode, your teen may feel deep sadness for no apparent reason. They may complain of fatigue, lack energy or motivation, sleep a lot, and have trouble getting out of bed. You may find your teen apathetic and uninterested in activities previously enjoyed. They may even feel worthless and sensitive to any perceived criticism or rejection.

Depressive episodes may even manifest in various aches and pains. Likewise, your child may have difficulty concentrating or making decisions. Deeply concerning, your teen may engage in self-harm or have thoughts of death or suicide.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

There are several types of bipolar disorder, but the following three are the most commonly diagnosed in teens.

Bipolar I disorder A diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder requires the occurrence of at least one manic episode that lasts seven days or longer or manic symptoms severe enough to require hospitalization. A teen with Bipolar I may or may not experience any depressive episodes. If they do have one, it will typically last at least two weeks.

Bipolar II disorder A diagnosis of Bipolar II disorder requires both the occurrence of one or more major depressive episodes that last two weeks or longer and at least one hypomanic episode* that lasts at least four days. In between episodes, your teen will likely act like his or her normal self.

Cyclothymia Cyclothymia is a less severe form of bipolar disorder that manifests as frequent, short, recurring periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not severe enough or last long enough to meet the criteria for a full-blown hypomanic or depressive episode.

Treating Bipolar Disorder in Teens

Bipolar disorder doesn’t go away on its own. It is, however, highly treatable and controllable, especially when detected in its early stages. As stated by the National Institute on Mental Health, “With treatment, children and teens with bipolar disorder can manage their symptoms and lead full, active lives.”

Individual and family-focused therapy can provide support, education, and guidance to teens and their families. Individual therapy provides a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental space in which teens can open up about their struggles and challenges.

They can feel validated, learn about their disease, and be taught how to successfully manage its symptoms. Family therapy, on the other hand, provides support for the whole family, helping them understand what their teen is going through, as well as how best to support him or her.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches teens how to identify and challenge negative thought patterns that contribute to their mood swings and unhealthy behaviors. They are then replaced with more balanced, positive thoughts. Likewise, CBT helps recognize triggers and early warning signs of an episode. It teaches the person to develop coping skills for positively dealing with stress.

Using techniques such as mood tracking and routine building, the person who uses CBT will learn skills that enable them to better regulate their emotions and behaviors.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) Dialectical behavioral therapy is an offshoot of cognitive behavioral therapy that was specifically designed for people suffering from extreme emotional dysregulation. The focus is on learning how to accept and cope with distressing thoughts and feelings rather than trying to escape them.

Teens are taught to manage their intense emotions with strategies such as mindfulness techniques that ground them in the present moment. Furthermore, distress tolerance is learned for handling stressful situations and using emotional regulation to control mood swings. Likewise, effective communication techniques are practiced to have healthy conflict resolution to enhance relationships.

How You Can Help Support Your Teen with Bipolar Disorder

Educate yourself about bipolar disorder so you can understand where your teen is coming from. Be patient and supportive of your child, and act as their advocate. Take part in family therapy as needed and encourage your teen to talk to you about his or her struggles. Listen with an open mind and heart, and build trust by being empathetic, nonjudgmental, and validating your child’s feelings.

Helping your teen stick to his or her treatment plan is important. Guide them in practicing what is learned in therapy to reinforce it. For instance, relaxation techniques like deep breathing, grounding exercises, or progressive muscle relaxation can manage stress and reduce anxiety. Daily practice of these techniques makes them second nature when your teen needs to find relief from their symptoms.

Encourage your teen to develop healthy habits such as eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet; staying hydrated; getting adequate sleep; and engaging in some form of regular exercise. A structured home environment will go a long way. Establishing consistent routines that involve regular bedtimes, waking times, and mealtimes, as well as scheduled activities, can help stabilize your teen’s daily rhythms, which in turn can help prevent extreme mood swings.

Encourage your teen to journal. Writing about his or her thoughts and feelings can help them gain valuable insights into patterns and triggers. As always, it will help to know what aggravates them, so that they can plan for how best to handle or avoid triggers.

Create a mood journal in which you track your teen’s mood. Doing this daily can help you spot patterns and how they correlate with your teen’s diet, exercise, level of stress, and daily life in general. Talk with your teen’s school about their diagnosis and how they can best support your child.

Join a support group for parents of teens with bipolar disorder. It can make you feel less alone knowing others are facing similar challenges. Support groups provide a safe space in which you can talk about your feelings and experiences, share triumphs and disappointments, and receive support and encouragement. It also lends practical advice, suggests resources, and offers connections and friendships. A group can give your hope a boost.

If you have questions or need more guidance on bipolar disorder in teens, reach out to our offices today. We are happy to set up a risk-free appointment for you to meet with one of the faith-based counselors at our location. They can explore with you how they can help you and your teen. You do not have to walk this path alone.

*Hypomania is a milder, more manageable version of mania. Hypomanic episodes have the same symptoms as manic ones do (except for the psychotic symptoms), but they are less severe, last for a shorter period of time, and do not typically interfere with the individual’s ability to perform daily tasks or engage in work or social activities.