Bipolar disorder is diagnosed in 1 percent of all adolescents, it is a lifetime disease. It disables and disrupts all aspects of healthy life, yet it is misdiagnosed frequently. The key to improve the outcome of this disease is to recognize the bipolar symptoms as early as possible, after that seeking professionals help to get a proper diagnosis.

Two Major Bipolar Symptoms

Bipolar disorder is also known with the name of called manic depression, the name itself describes the two major symptoms: mania and depression.  Recurring changes in mood, repeatedly cycling between mania and depression are to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The complexity and length of the manic and depressive episodes may vary but the mood swings should be evident. Professionals use medical manual, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to define the symptoms and make a diagnosis.

Manic Phase

The symptoms of mania according to the DSM are behaving persistently, elevated, expansive euphoric or irritating mood for at least seven days or one week and with one of the following: inflated self-esteem, less need for sleep, more talkative, racing thoughts, distractibility, increased activity or agitation, and daring behaviours to do or die.

Feelings, thinking patterns, and biological functions are affected by mania. Adolescents with mania often pretend themselves as feeling more active, creative, and full of intelligence.

The adolescents suffering from bipolar disorder experiences so many ideas moving through their mind that they cannot even mange to explain exactly what they are thinking. The energy level become so high by which they may not able to remain still for long or unable to sleep properly. They could begin to believe that they are invincible, which causes them to engage in unsafe activities including Disliking and abusing substances. Manic episodes may become delusional or paranoid at its severity.

Depressive Phase

Symptoms of depression are stated in DSM. the following five symptoms must be seen for at least two weeks at the majority of the time,

1. Most of the time irritable or depressed;
2. Sleeping most of the time which is insomnia,
3. Increased or decreased appetite;
4. Movements become slow or agitation, concentration become poor, not able to think; indecision;
5. Low energy; worthless feeling and suicidal thoughts.

On the other side of mania, depressive state is characterized by extremely low energy. Adolescents stop engaging themselves in activities which were normal before and may remain sad unusually. Their minds stop working properly or it works so slow that they are unable to take decisions ,they develop negative thoughts –which are not good enough, such as that they are not good looking ,they are not able to perform any task .with this feeling of depression the teenagers become hopeless and they decided not live any more. Depression is generally accompanied by physical complaints such as headaches or stomach-ache.

Subtypes of Bipolar Disorder

The subtypes of bipolar disorder demonstrate the variation which can be seen in symptoms:

Bipolar I – Basic swings in depression and mania;

Bipolar II –hypomania(slightly less intense mania) but with typical mood swings;

Bipolar Mixed – mania and depression occur (side by side)simultaneously;

Bipolar Rapid Cycling – many periods of mania and depression;

Bipolar with Psychotic Features – hallucinations or delusions with classic mood swing;

Cyclothymic Disorder – hypomania and mild depression.

Normal versus Symptomatic

Fluctuating in the feelings and mood of the adolescence that normally a part of their journey during this period, it’s not easy to judge where the issues become symptoms of a serious disorder. To gauge how much the symptoms interfere with daily functioning is the key. According to the circumstances is their behaviour have some reasons for that? Can they control their behaviour when it becomes extreme with their own? Pay attention towards the intensity and duration of the symptoms, keep record of the activities and look for consistent cycling between mania and depression.

Obtaining a Diagnosis

To aware about the symptoms is the first step. Getting proper diagnosis with the help of a professional is the next step. As bipolar disorder is frequently misdiagnosed it is difficult to obtain professionals help. It can be mixed or linked or confused with other disorders, such as schizophrenia, major depression, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, and anxiety disorders. Diagnosing at the beginning will help to improve the ability to practitioner then don’t hesitate to find a mental health professional.