Bipolar disorder can be difficult to spot. However, it can affect your teen’s life in various ways. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition. It makes teenagers experience intense shifts in their energy levels, mood, and behavior. It causes teens to behave in risky and often unpredictable ways. According to the most recent statistics, bipolar disorder affects around 1-5 percent of teenagers in the United States. These statistics may not reflect the real numbers. Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed and undiagnosed. It is usually confused with depression and schizophrenia. In some cases, parents miss the condition altogether.
This article aims to educate parents and caregivers about what teen bipolar disorder looks like. It will highlight the symptoms of each episode and explore the effects of bipolar disorder on your teen’s daily life. If you would like more information about this mental illness or if you are seeking professional help, contact NexStep Teen Academy. We can walk you through our programs and can go over the admissions process if that is something you’re interested in.
What Does Bipolar Look Like in Teens?
Teen bipolar disorder is a unique mood disorder. Its name suggests that it has two opposing or distinct aspects. Teens with bipolar disorder experience manic or hypomanic episodes, followed or preceded by a depressive episode. These distinct episodes have symptoms that are literally the ‘polar opposite’ of each other.
There are three distinct types of bipolar disorder. These include the following:
Bipolar I disorder: Teens with this type of bipolar disorder experience at least one or more manic episodes. They may experience both manic and depressive episodes. However, to be diagnosed with bipolar I, your teen does not need to experience a depressive episode. They only need to have experienced a manic episode that lasts for at least seven days.
Bipolar II disorder: If your teen has this type of bipolar disorder, they should have experienced at least one or more depressive episodes. What makes bipolar II unique is that your teen should never have experienced mania. They may experience less intense hypomanic episodes. Bipolar II is sometimes considered more debilitating because of its intense depressive episodes.
Cyclothymic disorder: Teens with cyclothymic disorder experience mild depressive episodes and hypomania. Their symptoms do not fit the diagnostic criteria for both bipolar I and II. To be diagnosed with cyclothymic disorder, your teen needs to have had hypomanic, depressive, and euthymic (normal mood) for at least two years.
Bipolar disorder looks different in various teens. However, they experience the following episodes:
Depressive Episodes
Depressive episodes cause your teen to experience a low or depressed mood. They feel tired constantly. They may also lose interest in engaging in activities they once enjoyed. Some symptoms of bipolar depression include the following:
Extreme sadness and fatigue
Anxiety
Difficulty falling asleep or waking up
Sleeping too much
Lethargy
Loss of interest in activities
Feeling like you are unable to complete daily tasks
Becoming forgetful
Lack of motivation
Changes in appetite, such as not eating or eating too much
Difficulty concentrating in class
Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, emptiness, and numbness
Social withdrawal and isolation
Manic Episodes
Manic episodes are distinct periods where your teen will experience high energy levels. They become more talkative and goal-oriented. During these episodes, their mood is elevated, and they feel euphoric. In some cases, your teen may experience psychosis. Psychosis is an intense symptom that causes your teen to experience hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. It is usually experienced in about half of the cases of teen bipolar disorder.
Other symptoms of mania include the following:
Grandiose and feelings of self-importance
Becoming goal-oriented
Not needing sleep or feeling well-rested after a few hours of sleep
Distractibility and difficulty paying attention
Irritability
Focus on achieving goals
Racing thoughts
Talkativeness
Increased libido
Engaging in high-risk behavior, such as risky sexual behavior or substance use
Becoming aggressive
Impulsivity and poor decision-making
Mixed Episodes and Rapid Cycling
Mixed episodes are a combination of manic and depressed episodes. If your teen has a mixed episode, they will experience symptoms of depression and mania at the same time. For instance, they may feel sad but have the energy to pursue their goals.
Rapid cycling is an instance where your teen shifts between mania and depressive episodes quickly. For example, they may be depressed today, and tomorrow, they may be manic. Rapid cycling occurs more often in teen girls than in boys.
Emotional and Behavioral Effects of Bipolar Disorder in Teens
Bipolar disorder can have numerous effects on your teen’s life. These include the following:
Effects on Emotional Health
Bipolar disorder can negatively impact your teen’s emotional well-being. During a depressive episode, your teen will become extremely sad and hopeless. Your teen may start believing that they deserve to be miserable. This makes it difficult to overcome depressive symptoms. Similarly, overwhelming sadness can make your teen engage in self-harm behavior and even attempt suicide. Self-harm is an unhealthy coping mechanism used by teens to overcome their pain temporarily. When your teen self-harms, their bodies release endorphins, which relieve both emotional and physical pain.
Suicidal ideation and attempted suicide are common occurrences for teens with bipolar disorder. Emotional pain due to bipolar depression can be overwhelming. It may cause your teen to contemplate or attempt suicide so that they can end it all. They get sick of feeling like a burden to others and consider ending their lives.
Impacts on Social Life and Relationships
Bipolar disorder can lead to strained interpersonal relationships. Due to stigma, many teens become socially withdrawn and isolated. They do not want to be seen by their peers because they are struggling with their mental well-being. Bipolar depression is the cause of many strained relationships. On the flip side, mania can also cause strained interpersonal relationships. It causes teens to feel self-important and exhibit grandiose behaviors. This may come off as condescending behavior to their peers, leading to a breakdown of relationships.
Effects on Academic Performance
Bipolar disorder makes it difficult for teens to attend school or pay attention in class. They become easily distracted by other things. They may also fail to attend school due to bipolar depression. Eventually, their academic performance will suffer.
How Bipolar Disorder Affects a Teen’s Daily Life
Bipolar disorder can negatively affect your teen’s daily life. Some of its effects include the following:
Challenges in Extracurricular Activities
Fluctuating energy levels can cause your teen to struggle in their extracurricular activities. During a depressive episode, they may lack the motivation to attend practice sessions. They may also feel too tired to practice effectively. This makes it hard for them to maintain a regular practice schedule. Eventually, they may lose their spot on the team. Similarly, a boost of energy during a manic episode can make them overdo their training. This can lead to injuries that may affect their extracurricular performances.
Sleep Patterns and Daily Routines
Many teens with bipolar disorder struggle to fall asleep or sleep too much. It is common for teens to sleep too much during a depressive episode. They feel fatigued and are unable to wake up. This can ruin their daily routine. During a manic episode, your teen may sleep for very few hours. The lack of sleep can negatively impact their mental and physical health. They may experience higher cortisol levels and unexplained body aches. Their risk of cardiovascular issues also increases because of the lack of sleep.
Risk-Taking Behaviors
Teens experiencing manic episodes tend to engage in risky behavior. They become more impulsive and tend to seek out thrilling experiences. Common risky behaviors include unprotected sexual activity, drug use, and getting into fights. Teens with bipolar disorder tend to abuse alcohol and other drugs to control their erratic emotions. For instance, your teen may use alcohol to numb the pain caused by depression.
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder at NexStep Teen Academy
NexStep Teen Academy prides itself on providing comprehensive mental health treatment for teens with bipolar disorder. Our intensive outpatient services ensure your teen receives high-quality treatment without disrupting their daily routine. We are located in a serene environment where your teen can focus on healing. Our highly experienced staff uses both holistic and evidence-based interventions to help teens with bipolar. This approach allows teens to develop healthy coping mechanisms.
If you require further information about bipolar disorder, contact us today.
Normal teenage mood swings cause sudden changes in mood. They are less intense and last for a few minutes or hours. On the other hand, bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health illness. It causes teens to experience sudden shifts in moods, behaviors, and energy levels. It is characterized by two distinct episodes of mania or depression. These episodes are more intense and can last for days, weeks, or months.
Bipolar disorder is both misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed. Many mental health practitioners confuse bipolar disorder with depression. This is attributable to extensive periods of bipolar depression and the absence of mania. It is also commonly misdiagnosed as schizophrenia because some teens experience psychosis.
Differentiating between major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) can be difficult. MDD and depressive episodes of BD share many characteristics. The main difference between unipolar depression and bipolar disorder is the existence of manic episodes. Manic and hypomanic episodes cause teens to experience a sudden increase in their energy levels. They experience elevated mood and activity levels. These symptoms are not attributable to major depressive disorder.
Effects of Bipolar Disorder: What Does Bipolar Look Like in Teens?
Table of Contents
Bipolar disorder can be difficult to spot. However, it can affect your teen’s life in various ways. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition. It makes teenagers experience intense shifts in their energy levels, mood, and behavior. It causes teens to behave in risky and often unpredictable ways. According to the most recent statistics, bipolar disorder affects around 1-5 percent of teenagers in the United States. These statistics may not reflect the real numbers. Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed and undiagnosed. It is usually confused with depression and schizophrenia. In some cases, parents miss the condition altogether.
This article aims to educate parents and caregivers about what teen bipolar disorder looks like. It will highlight the symptoms of each episode and explore the effects of bipolar disorder on your teen’s daily life. If you would like more information about this mental illness or if you are seeking professional help, contact NexStep Teen Academy. We can walk you through our programs and can go over the admissions process if that is something you’re interested in.
What Does Bipolar Look Like in Teens?
Teen bipolar disorder is a unique mood disorder. Its name suggests that it has two opposing or distinct aspects. Teens with bipolar disorder experience manic or hypomanic episodes, followed or preceded by a depressive episode. These distinct episodes have symptoms that are literally the ‘polar opposite’ of each other.
There are three distinct types of bipolar disorder. These include the following:
Bipolar disorder looks different in various teens. However, they experience the following episodes:
Depressive Episodes
Depressive episodes cause your teen to experience a low or depressed mood. They feel tired constantly. They may also lose interest in engaging in activities they once enjoyed. Some symptoms of bipolar depression include the following:
Manic Episodes
Manic episodes are distinct periods where your teen will experience high energy levels. They become more talkative and goal-oriented. During these episodes, their mood is elevated, and they feel euphoric. In some cases, your teen may experience psychosis. Psychosis is an intense symptom that causes your teen to experience hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. It is usually experienced in about half of the cases of teen bipolar disorder.
Other symptoms of mania include the following:
Mixed Episodes and Rapid Cycling
Mixed episodes are a combination of manic and depressed episodes. If your teen has a mixed episode, they will experience symptoms of depression and mania at the same time. For instance, they may feel sad but have the energy to pursue their goals.
Rapid cycling is an instance where your teen shifts between mania and depressive episodes quickly. For example, they may be depressed today, and tomorrow, they may be manic. Rapid cycling occurs more often in teen girls than in boys.
Emotional and Behavioral Effects of Bipolar Disorder in Teens
Bipolar disorder can have numerous effects on your teen’s life. These include the following:
Effects on Emotional Health
Bipolar disorder can negatively impact your teen’s emotional well-being. During a depressive episode, your teen will become extremely sad and hopeless. Your teen may start believing that they deserve to be miserable. This makes it difficult to overcome depressive symptoms. Similarly, overwhelming sadness can make your teen engage in self-harm behavior and even attempt suicide. Self-harm is an unhealthy coping mechanism used by teens to overcome their pain temporarily. When your teen self-harms, their bodies release endorphins, which relieve both emotional and physical pain.
Suicidal ideation and attempted suicide are common occurrences for teens with bipolar disorder. Emotional pain due to bipolar depression can be overwhelming. It may cause your teen to contemplate or attempt suicide so that they can end it all. They get sick of feeling like a burden to others and consider ending their lives.
Impacts on Social Life and Relationships
Bipolar disorder can lead to strained interpersonal relationships. Due to stigma, many teens become socially withdrawn and isolated. They do not want to be seen by their peers because they are struggling with their mental well-being. Bipolar depression is the cause of many strained relationships. On the flip side, mania can also cause strained interpersonal relationships. It causes teens to feel self-important and exhibit grandiose behaviors. This may come off as condescending behavior to their peers, leading to a breakdown of relationships.
Effects on Academic Performance
Bipolar disorder makes it difficult for teens to attend school or pay attention in class. They become easily distracted by other things. They may also fail to attend school due to bipolar depression. Eventually, their academic performance will suffer.
How Bipolar Disorder Affects a Teen’s Daily Life
Bipolar disorder can negatively affect your teen’s daily life. Some of its effects include the following:
Challenges in Extracurricular Activities
Fluctuating energy levels can cause your teen to struggle in their extracurricular activities. During a depressive episode, they may lack the motivation to attend practice sessions. They may also feel too tired to practice effectively. This makes it hard for them to maintain a regular practice schedule. Eventually, they may lose their spot on the team. Similarly, a boost of energy during a manic episode can make them overdo their training. This can lead to injuries that may affect their extracurricular performances.
Sleep Patterns and Daily Routines
Many teens with bipolar disorder struggle to fall asleep or sleep too much. It is common for teens to sleep too much during a depressive episode. They feel fatigued and are unable to wake up. This can ruin their daily routine. During a manic episode, your teen may sleep for very few hours. The lack of sleep can negatively impact their mental and physical health. They may experience higher cortisol levels and unexplained body aches. Their risk of cardiovascular issues also increases because of the lack of sleep.
Risk-Taking Behaviors
Teens experiencing manic episodes tend to engage in risky behavior. They become more impulsive and tend to seek out thrilling experiences. Common risky behaviors include unprotected sexual activity, drug use, and getting into fights. Teens with bipolar disorder tend to abuse alcohol and other drugs to control their erratic emotions. For instance, your teen may use alcohol to numb the pain caused by depression.
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder at NexStep Teen Academy
NexStep Teen Academy prides itself on providing comprehensive mental health treatment for teens with bipolar disorder. Our intensive outpatient services ensure your teen receives high-quality treatment without disrupting their daily routine. We are located in a serene environment where your teen can focus on healing. Our highly experienced staff uses both holistic and evidence-based interventions to help teens with bipolar. This approach allows teens to develop healthy coping mechanisms.
If you require further information about bipolar disorder, contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Normal teenage mood swings cause sudden changes in mood. They are less intense and last for a few minutes or hours. On the other hand, bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health illness. It causes teens to experience sudden shifts in moods, behaviors, and energy levels. It is characterized by two distinct episodes of mania or depression. These episodes are more intense and can last for days, weeks, or months.
Bipolar disorder is both misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed. Many mental health practitioners confuse bipolar disorder with depression. This is attributable to extensive periods of bipolar depression and the absence of mania. It is also commonly misdiagnosed as schizophrenia because some teens experience psychosis.
Bipolar symptoms can manifest at any age. However, they commonly appear between the ages of 12 and 24.
Differentiating between major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) can be difficult. MDD and depressive episodes of BD share many characteristics. The main difference between unipolar depression and bipolar disorder is the existence of manic episodes. Manic and hypomanic episodes cause teens to experience a sudden increase in their energy levels. They experience elevated mood and activity levels. These symptoms are not attributable to major depressive disorder.
No, bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health condition. It has no cure but can be managed using a combination of medication and psychotherapy.