Introduction
Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that is characterized by mood swings. A child suffering from this disorder may be very happy in one instance and may easily become sad for no good reason. According to Bardick and Bernes (2005), bipolar disorder may be ignored because it is not accompanied by physical pain. However, it brings mental torture that may be unbearable to a child. That is why Guest (2013) suggests that this disorder should be treated before it leads to other serious mental problems. In this study, the researcher seeks to support the argument that bipolar disorder among children should be diagnosed and treated.
Informed Perspective of the Topic
The researcher strongly supports the idea of diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder among children in order to avoid negative consequences it might bring. According to Guest and Fieldman (2011), mood swings is always an indication of mental weakness. Feelings of happiness and sadness should have a reasonable justification. When a person becomes extremely agitated or very sad without a clear reason for it, then it is a sign of mental weakness. Such conditions should not be ignored because they can be symptoms of a serious mental sickness (Tina, 2008). Diagnosis of bipolar disorder should be considered as soon as a child is detected to have abnormal mood swings. As Guest (2013) says, an early intervention may help a child from mental distress that may result into serious health complications.
Discussion
Medical experts have suggested that bipolar disorder among children should be diagnosed and treated because if it is ignored, then the child may develop serious mental illnesses. This suggestion has been supported by a number of studies by scholars in this field. A study by Bardick and Bernes (2005) focused on the consequences of bipolar disorder among the children as they grow into adolescent stage.
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between bipolar disorder among the children and drug abuse. Quantitative method involving 200 participants was used in order to find out if drug abuse among adolescents has any relationship with bipolar disorder. It was found that children who suffered from bipolar disorder were four times more likely to become drug addicts. The results showed that this disorder led to mental suffering that drove adolescents into drug abuse and alcoholism as a solution to their problems.
It was more prevalent among children who were ignored by their parents. As they became adolescents, they developed a feeling that the only way of solving their problem is to engage in alcoholism and drug abuse. These are practices which are harmful to the health of the adolescent. For this reason, the findings of this study support the argument that bipolar disorder should be diagnosed and treated in order to avoid its consequences.
The study by Bardick and Bernes (2005) focused on determining the relationship between bipolar disorder and tendency to have symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsive risky behavior. The study involved 100 youths who had suffered from bipolar disorder when they were children. In this qualitative research, it was established that children who suffered from bipolar disorder were more likely to engage in impulsive risky behaviors, especially if their condition is ignored for a long time compared to their normal counterparts. Such children may develop suicidal thoughts when they get depressed. A feeling of being of limited value to people around them and the society in general may become too painful to bear.
When such feelings are not managed by the affected child with the help from people around it, then such a child can easily commit suicide. Other than committing suicide, such children can engage in other risky behaviors that may harm people around them or destroy properties as a way of expressing their frustration. The findings of this study strongly support the argument of the researcher that bipolar disorder should be diagnosed and treated. This is the only way that such a child’s safety and security of people around it will be assured.
The study by Sutton (2013) focused on determining the relationship between bipolar disorder and anxiety among the children. Anxiety is an undesirable mental problem that medical experts always suggest should not be ignored at all costs, especially among the children. Anxiety has a strong negative effect on a child’s capacity to learn. In this qualitative study, the researcher used 100 participants which included teachers and children aged below 12 years.
The study found out that children who suffered from prolonged bipolar disorder were likely to develop anxiety disorders. This slowed their mental development capacity. Such children performed dismally in their classes and were unsocial. They had few friends and avoided sharing their problems with anyone, the fact that would worsen their condition. This study supports the idea that bipolar disorder among children is an undesirable mental problem that should be addressed to enable them develop as normal children.
Another study that was reviewed focused on how mental sickness is related to bipolar disorder. This qualitative study by Guest and Fieldman (2011) used 180 participants. The participants included medical experts, parents and teachers who have handled children with mental sicknesses. This study found out that most of children who acquired mental sickness had suffered from bipolar disorder. This disorder was ignored when it was detected and it worsened, becoming a serious mental sickness that requires proper medication. In some extreme cases, such a child would become mad. This is an undesirable outcome that should be avoided at all costs. Before it reaches such a stage, it is appropriate to come up with measures that can help mitigate it to help such a child to develop as other normal children.
Conclusion
This research has confirmed that bipolar disorder in children should be diagnosed and treated in order to avoid negative consequences that it may bring on a child. In many cases, this health problem may be ignored by relevant people such as parents and teachers. However, its effect may have serious implications on the normal development of a child. If not handled properly, such a child may be a threat to itself and other members of the society around it. This disorder may develop into a permanent mental sickness.
References
Bardick, A. & Bernes, K. (2005). A Closer Examination of Bipolar Disorder in School-Age Children. Professional School Counseling, 9(1), 72-77.
Guest, A. M. (2013). Taking sides: Clashing views in life-span development. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Guest, M. & Fieldman, S. (2011). Biomarkers of neurological and psychiatric disease. Amsterdam: Academic Press.
Sutton, K. (2013). Childhood Bipolar Disorder: A Difficult Diagnosis. Beyond Behavior, 23(1), 30-37.
Tina, H. (2008). Body and Brain: Possible Link between Inflammation and Bipolar Disorder. Journal of Nursing, 173 (15), 228-229.