Managing Moods Swings in Bipolar Babies and Young Children (part 1 of 2)

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Bipolar disorder is a condition that is often diagnosed only in teens and adults.  However, there are rising cases of children and babies being diagnosed as bipolars.  In fact, there are very young children who are currently being treated for this illness.  When mood swings are to be expected as a result of this disorder, it can be quite a challenge for parents and caregivers to take care of a bipolar child.

Understanding bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a medical illness that is characterized by marked changes in temperament, behavior and mood swings.  Bipolar disorder is also referred to as manic depression.  It is a rather serious condition but it can be treated through medications and therapy.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

- irritability
- mood swings
- anger or rages
- destructive behavior
- separation anxiety
- melancholia
- no interest in play
- insomnia or difficulty in sleeping
- bed wetting
- nightmares
- restlessness and agitation
- extreme elation followed by extreme depression
- agitation
- food cravings
- uncontrollable tantrums

The most important aspect of treating and managing bipolar disorder is early diagnosis and intervention.  The symptoms of this disorder can appear in infancy and bipolar babies can be checked early by a medical professional so the correct treatment can be prescribed.

Is bipolar disorder common in babies?
There are no studies yet that will show how common the illness is among infants and young children.  What is known, though, is that only as many as 2% of the adult population in the world have the disorder.  It is also observed that children who have ADHD (attention deficit disorder) showed symptoms of bipolar early on in infancy.