While you may not know it, children can have many of the same mental health disorders and issues that adults can have. This includes bipolar disorder. It is important that you know signs to to aware of for bipolar disorder in children, especially if you know of any family member having had this mental health issue. Learn some of the signs your child has bipolar disorder. Then, you can be sure you get your child the help they need if they are displaying bipolar symptoms. 

Your Child Is Extremely Irritable

One of the signs that your child may have bipolar is that they have periods in which they are extremely irritable. Now, everybody gets irritable once in a while, but if your child is irritable quite often or if they have patterns in behavior where they go several days being in a "normal mood" and then several being irritable and back again, this can be a sign that they may have mental health issues. 

Your Child Engages in Risky Behavior

Risky behavior is another signs of bipolar disorder in children. If your child, for example, is sending nude pictures of themselves to strangers or something equally as risky, they could have bipolar disorder. Risky behavior can also be things like reckless driving, running out in traffic, playing with matches, or even jumping from tall heights or something along those lines. If they take a lot of unnecessary risks, this is a sign that something is amiss.

Your Child Suddenly Loses Interest in Activities

If your child is usually passionate about or at least enjoys certain activities and then suddenly loses interest in all of them, this is a sign of trouble. Losing interesting in activities that a person once enjoyed is a sign of a depressive episode in bipolar disorder. This lack of interest can last for days, weeks, or months on end. 

Your Child Has Lethargic Periods and Hyperactive Periods

Another sign that your child could have bipolar disorder is that they have alternating periods of lethargic and hyperactive behavior. Bipolar disorder is marked by periods of depression and mania (or in some cases hypomania).

In a depressive episode, it may be hard to get your child to engage in activities or even get out of bed or off of the couch. They may speak and move slower than usual and just seem lethargic. In a manic episode, it may be hard to get your child to sit still or stop talking. They may speak rapidly, jump from one idea to the next, and be bouncing off the walls. 

If you notice any or all of these signs in your child, it is important to get them to a psychologist or psychiatrist as soon as possible. They can answer some questions and talk to the doctor, which will help the doctor to determine whether your child does indeed have bipolar disorder or some other mental health issue.