Watching your child struggle with the symptoms of bipolar disorder is heartbreaking. You may think that a medication regimen is the only help available, but mental health treatment programs for teens can help your child live a happier, more well-adjusted life even with a serious mental health disorder. Contact the caring team at Imagine Nampa at 888.503.4604 for information about bipolar disorder treatment in Nampa, ID.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings. Teens with bipolar disorder may experience shifts from mania or hypomania to depression. Episodes may occur several times a year or rarely.
No matter how infrequently they may occur, mood swings can affect nearly every aspect of an individual’s life, including sleep, energy levels, judgment, and the ability to think and act clearly.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, but symptoms can be managed with the right treatment plan. Medications and psychological counseling have been found effective, and both are typically included in a bipolar treatment plan. Coping with bipolar disorder is a challenge for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for teens who are already dealing with fluctuations in hormones.
Dealing with the social stigma of mental illness can compound the challenges a teenager with bipolar disorder faces. These extra obstacles make finding effective bipolar disorder treatment for teens especially important.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder in teens can be difficult to recognize because they present very much like “normal” teenage behaviors.
Experts are still unsure of the causes of bipolar disorder. Genetics, brain structure, and the child’s home environment are all contributing factors.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
There are three main types of bipolar disorder – bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder. There is also a grouping of bipolar and related disorders linked to the use of alcohol and drugs or certain medical conditions such as stroke or Cushing’s disease.
Bipolar I disorder is the diagnosis given when a person has had at least one manic episode followed or preceded by a hypomanic or depressive episode. Bipolar II is defined as having at least one major episode of depression and at least one episode of hypomania but no manic episodes.
For teens, cyclothymic disorder is described as having many periods of depression and hypomania in the last year. The criteria for adults are slightly different.
It’s important to remember that bipolar I and bipolar II are separate diagnoses. They are not simply different severities of the same mental illness. Both disorders can cause debilitating episodes of depression. The severity and frequency of symptoms vary and can change over time.
How Does Bipolar Disorder Treatment for Teens Help?
Bipolar treatment for teens considers the unique challenges living with a mental disorder brings to young people. A comprehensive treatment program typically includes:
- Medications
- Psychotherapy (talk therapy)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Interpersonal therapy
- Family therapy
Education is also an essential part of bipolar treatment. With a better understanding of the disorder, the teen and their family members can work together to develop healthy lifestyle habits to help everyone in the family maintain an active, fulfilling life.
Some of those habits include getting enough sleep, socializing, and keeping a daily schedule to remove the stress caused by poor organization.
Find Bipolar Disorder Treatment in Nampa, ID, at Imagine Boise
If your teen is exhibiting symptoms of bipolar disorder or has already been diagnosed, it doesn’t mean they can’t live a full life or meet their personal goals.
Bipolar disorder treatment provides teens and their families with new coping skills and empowers them to take control of their lives. Call Imagine Nampa to learn more about our bipolar disorder treatment program at 888.503.4604.