Childhood Bipolar Disorder: Understanding Its Onset - Essay Sample

Introduction

The onset of bipolar disorder in children today is among the mental disarray that is significantly enfeebling in a young child. The disease is usually associated with mood changes more so in adults and can bring about changes that get fatal in changes of moods. The Onset of Bipolar disorder gets formed right from childhood with those agonizing from the disease exhibiting swings in their attitudes. Specific changes in mood originate from melancholy to dementia (Biuckians, 2015).

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Patients in the course of the episodes of depression go through sentiments that range from anguish or sorrow, concentration inability, and sleeping problems. Causes of pilot onsets get the same as those of late beginnings; although their symptoms are alike, the ones of pilot onsets can get extra fatal. Onset bipolar disorder can get diagnosed in children at an early age of five years (Biuckians, 2015).

Symptomology

Maniac and depressive junctures get faced by children and are consistent with activities and energy that is out of the ordinary. Furthermore, they also go through the intense sadness, tiresomeness as well as moodiness and despondency. The symptoms can eventually go on for weeks or days preliminary to dwindling. The stages get known as mood interludes (Biuckians, 2015). Furthermore, when depressive and manic features are experienced concurrently by a child, it gets called as differing mood interludes. A child suffering from the disorder may experience lightheadedness and goofiness, outbursts of anger, and crying their eyes out for the whole day.

Symptoms during periods of manic also include distractibility increment as well as rapidly talking more so when it gets hard to make a point in a coerced manner. The children also exhibit agitation and also have the belief that they are invisible and can do an activity that is impossible for other people. In that manner, they tend to have the idea that they exhibit powers like those of superheroes. Children also show decisions that are inferior and end up forming impetuous detrimental choices (Miklowitz, 2017).

Furthermore, during periods of depression, children exhibit symptoms such as hopelessness as well as guilty feelings. Their eating habits change from less or much food consumption; also, children lack regard for activities that they take pleasure in usually (Biuckians, 2015). A child also gets difficulties in reasoning soundly as well as recalls events. They also tend to exhibit poor sleeping patterns, and they may gain or lose weight. A child also shows a high vulnerability when it comes to sadness and hence gets suicidal.

Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

The bipolar disorder gets diagnosed by getting the details on the moods, patterns of sleep, levels of energy and actions of the child by a health care practitioner. To diagnose the disorder, there are no tests related to blood or scans of the brain that are needed. Besides, the practitioners may require the results of the criteria to determine if the symptoms incurred by the child are of some other disease (Miklowitz, 2018)

Conditions of the Family medically are at times essential like usage of substances or rejections to diagnose the disorder (Miklowitz, 2018).A health practitioner’s analysis complete readings of kids symptoms to come up with a proper diagnosis. An adequate diagnosis aids in knowing what type of treatment best suits the child.

Treatment

The treatment of the disorder in children may consist of different types of drugs such as feelings stabilizers, antidepressants as well as anti-anxiety. It gets recommended by the doctors that children when it comes to the drugs intake they go slow because of their still-developing brain. They are a few components that must be met for continuous development in the treatment of bipolar disorder (Miklowitz, 2018).

One component is a therapy which is significantly important when it comes to the treatment of the bipolar disorder. Children are taught how to go by with the disorder's symptoms and in that scenario help them in maintaining activities that better them health-wise. It also aids in them abstaining from abuse of substances or any other self-harming behaviours (Miklowitz, 2018). Secondly is psychoeducation which also is a significant step in the treatment of the disorder.

A lot of institutions offer materials or education that can get help in understanding the mental illness. Thirdly is the support of the schools where most children with the disorder can get subjected to an individualized educational program that instils knowledge according to their wants. Another one is an alternative treatment which includes meditation and the implementation of the cannabidiol oil where research has proven that the treatments work better and improve the children's health (Miklowitz, 2018).

There are three types of bipolar disorder. One is Bipolar 1, which is also commonly referred to as the manic depressive ailment. This disorder is the most fatal in children. Secondly is Bipolar 2, which the symptoms are quite similar to the bipolar one but mild. Lastly, is the Bipolar Not Otherwise Specified, which is the least eruptive of the three forms of the disorder (Biuckians, 2015)?

Etiology

The disorder cause is not defined clearly; it gets believed that it gets influenced by one's experiences in life as well as factors to do with the individual's biological make. The disorder is significantly turbulent, bringing about severe problems associated with the behaviour, emotional as well as physical (Miklowitz, 2018). Although the disease has no permanent cure, it can be managed and treated via fact-based intercession. The disorder transpires sequentially for periods that range from days to weeks (Miklowitz, 2018).

In children, bipolar disorder gets brought about by the following factors. One is the history of the family. It gets noted that if we have a guardian or kin who had the disorder in the family, then there is a high chance that the children in that family will agonize. The second factor is anxiety disarray, where most bipolar children have exhibited significantly high anxiety levels (Biuckians, 2015).

Thirdly is the neurotransmitter where evidence notes that bipolar disorder is one that associated with the growth of the brain. Environmental factors also play a role in the development of bipolar disorder in children. The triggers for the disease include the death of a close member, trauma, as well as if the child gets violated (Biuckians, 2015).

Impact on Development

As the children grow and are diagnosed with the disorder, some symptoms still carry forward and get complicated. One such sign is an increment in sexual interests. Before they attain a sustainable age to be called a teenager, the child interests are manifested in naked people drawing as well as viewing videos that generate sexual desires. As they grow up, children get rapid fluctuations comprised of their feelings and problems in their behaviours. An adolescent will exhibit episodes of depression and manic that is distinct (Miklowitz, 2017).

Furthermore, most people living with the disorder as long as is treated function highly and grow up to have a personal and professional life that is healthy. In case the disease does not get treated then higher chances are that the condition will become worse and harm their lives

Impact on Family Life

It can get hectic for families that are living under such situations. For instance, as a child with bipolar disorder when they experience mood swings, it gets stressfully for family members. For those families with children that are young, it gets so exhausting. The disease can disrupt families in the following ways (Fristad, 2015). One member can get distresses in terms of emotional with guilt as well as their regular day to day activities get disrupted.

Members of the family have to cope with unusual behaviours some who get dangerous. Financially the family budget gets affected negatively because of hospital bills or care maintenances’ that are mandatory (Fristad, 2015). At times marital relationships get strained, and it gets hard to maintain them. Furthermore, as a result of stress, family members may get health issues.

Formulating measures and ways for the family members to get by the hard times, is one way that members can cope with such a situation. To make sure that each member knows the role, they are to play in case the affected person becomes ill again then members need to have a crisis getaway plan.

Families may also familiarize themselves with the disorder b supporting the effected member. One most important measure is not giving up on the individuals but rather love them more continuously (Fristad, 2015). Individuals living with the disorder will feel more secure when the love never ceases.

Long Term Outlook

In most cases, the bipolar disorder is a fatal chronic condition which demands a lot of care and supervision. Although as long as the child follows the prescribed medications, the challenges can get overcome and the child can grow up to have a healthy life and a normal one provided they get the care and attention they are supposed to get (Fristad, 2015).

Steps for Parents to Take

Parents and the health caregivers when they combine their efforts in helping the child with the disorder can see significant improvement in a long term perspective. At times when symptoms vary over time, the health providers are opted to change their treatment plan (Fristad, 2015). A parent much gets required of them for their Childs health and treatment to be a success. Parents get encouraged to remain patient as treatment can take longer than expected.

Parents also are required to pay keen attention to their kids, encouraging them to be open on whatever they feel or want to do. It’s also essential for parents to take a keen interest in all their kids’ swings in their moods, carefully analyzing any significant changes in their feelings or daily activities. Parents can also fathom what triggers the changes in their kid’s attitudes and develop ways of coping with emotions that get intense (Fristad, 2015).

Parents get also advised to assist their children in enjoying their time like the plan for entertaining activities. Parents should also persist with their treatment and lose hope or want to change because it takes time to better their kid’s health (Miklowitz, 2017). The parents also play a significant role in making known to their kids of the advantages of persisting with the treatment as it would improve their lives in the long run.

Conclusion

Parents or guardians with children who have bipolar disorder experience stressful situations and lives. Mostly the parents or guardians often exhibit abnormality in their immune systems. Furthermore, the child with the disorder is very fragile and without adequate care may succumb to drug abusers or may end up attempting suicide or harming themselves. The disease, although it's a chronic and dangerous one, does not mean an end to a child’s healthy life as the report has shown that many of them survive and go through better lives as well as professional ones into adulthood if adequately treated.

References

Miklowitz D. (2017). The role of the family in the course and treatment of the bipolar disorder. Curr Dir Psychol Sci.

Biuckians, A. (2015).Early-onset bipolar disorder: A family treatment perspective.

Miklowitz DJ. (2018).Psychosocial approaches to the course and treatment of the bipolar disorder. CNS Spectrums.

Fristad, M. (2015).Children with bipolar disorder: How to break down barriers and work effectively together.