  What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder in children?  Bipolar disorder involves marked changes in mood and energy.  In most adults with the illness,  persistent states of extreme elation or agitation accompanied by high energy are called mania.  Persistent states of extreme sadness or irritability accompanied by low energy are called depression.  However,
 the illness looks different in children than it does in adults.  Children usually have an ongoing,  continuous mood disturbance that is a mix of mania and depression.  This rapid and severe cycling between moods produces chronic irritability and few clear periods of wellness between episodes.  SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE:  an expansive or irritable mood depression rapidly changing moods lasting a few hours to a few days explosive,
 lengthy,  and often destructive rages separation anxiety defiance of authority hyperactivity,  agitation,  and distractibility sleeping little or,  alternatively,  sleeping too much bed wetting and night terrors strong and frequent cravings,
 often for carbohydrates and sweets excessive involvement in multiple projects and activities impaired judgment,  impulsivity,  racing thoughts,  and pressure to keep talking dare- devil behaviors inappropriate or precocious sexual behavior delusions and hallucinations grandiose belief in own abilities that defy the laws of logic ( ability to fly,
 for example)  If your child behaves in these ways,  don't assume that they are a bad child or that they have bipolar disorder. take them to a psychiatrist to be evaluated or at least to your family doctor.  Help is out there.
