Mood Disorders

Introduction

Bipolar disorder is a chronic and serious mood disorder that usually appears in the late teens or early adulthood.

Typically, people with bipolar disorder experience periods of extreme happiness or high energy and activity. These are known as manic episodes. Before or after a manic episode, a person with bipolar disorder may experience periods of intense sadness and depression. These periods are known as depressive episodes.

You can be rest assured that at Skooc, you and your family are in good hands. 

Symptoms

Episodes of mania or depression may happen irregularly and follow an unpredictable pattern, or they may be linked with a manic episode always following a period of depression, or vice versa. 

Keep a lookout for some of the following signs of mania in your teenager:

• racing speech and thoughts

• increased energy

• decreased need for sleep

• elevated mood and exaggerated optimism

• increased physical and mental activity

• excessive irritability, aggressive behaviour, and impatience

• poor judgment

• reckless behaviour, like excessive spending, making rash decisions, and erratic driving

• difficulty concentrating

• inflated sense of self-importance

Keep a lookout for some of the following signs of depression in your teenager:

• loss of interest in usual activities

• prolonged sad or irritable mood

• loss of energy or fatigue

• feelings of guilt or worthlessness

• sleeping too much or inability to sleep

• drop in grades and inability to concentrate

• inability to experience pleasure

• appetite loss or overeating

• anger, worry, and anxiety

• thoughts of death or suicide

If you notice recurring instances of a few of these symptoms in your teenager, we at Skooc recommend a formal evaluation. 

Diagnosis

At Skooc, we help you better understand what you and your teenager are going through. A psychiatrist will conduct a mental health assessment to determine if your teenager has bipolar disorder. Consequently, a medical or mental health professional will take the following steps when assessing a teenager for bipolar: 

• Physical exam: A thorough physical will help a doctor isolate any medical issues that may be contributing to depressive or manic symptoms, such as thyroid problems. 

• Lab tests: Should a physical indicate any medical problems, a doctor may order lab tests to confirm or rule out contributing issues.  

• Interview: A physician or psychiatrist will talk with you about your mood swings, lifestyle habits, and behaviours. This will help identify the likelihood of a bipolar diagnosis, as well as any co-occurring disorders. Anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and eating disorders are common conditions that can occur with bipolar in young adults.

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Next Steps and Intervention

Our team of professional psychologists at Skooc can help you and your family by providing the necessary interventions. Talking with a therapist can help them manage their symptoms, express their feelings, and have better relationships with loved ones. There are a number of different types of therapy treatments:

• Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can help your teen work out the stress associated with bipolar disorder. It can also help them identify issues they can address during sessions. Teens with bipolar disorder can have individual sessions or go to group therapy sessions.

• Cognitive-behavioural therapy can help your teen learn problem-solving skills and ways to turn negative thoughts and behaviours into positive ones.

• Interpersonal therapy is also known as interpersonal and social rhythm therapy. It focuses on minimizing family disputes and disruptions in daily routines or social rhythms that might trigger new episodes.

• Family-focused therapy helps families work through intense emotions and stresses. It also promotes family problem solving and conflict resolution. It’s considered the best type of therapy for children.