![]() ![]() “It’s really important to know what your kid’s baseline is,” Stern underscores. Paying attention to sudden changes in a child’s behavior can help parents assess whether they should be evaluated for mania. Because of this, behavioral changes during manic episodes are noticeable and jarring, often seeming totally out of character. While symptoms of those disorders generally don’t go away unless treated, manic episodes come and go over time. Mania’s episodic nature also sets it apart from both ADHD and depression. For instance, they might be staying up all night to write a whole novel or design an entire fashion line. But while kids with ADHD frequently act out impulsively and without a clear purpose, the behavior of manic children tends to be highly goal-directed. High energy levels, frustration and distractibility, risky behavior, and lack of sleep can look like symptoms of ADHD - inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Treating undiagnosed mania with antidepressants is often counterproductive, as it can actually make symptoms more pronounced and extreme. But while people with depression may be prescribed antidepressants to help ease their symptoms, those who are manic and/or diagnosed with bipolar disorder tend to benefit from a different class of medications called mood stabilizers. Knowing the difference can help you make sure that your child gets the right kind of treatment.įor instance, the irritability that many manic children display is also a hallmark of childhood depression. Many symptoms of mania overlap with other mental health disorders. In contrast, during a manic episode, a teenager can go on for days or weeks with little to no sleep and still maintain a high level of energy. Many teens regularly stay up late, but they ultimately get tired and crash after missing enough sleep. ![]() Stern notes.Īnother thing to keep in mind is that having an irregular sleep schedule, which is common for teenagers, is distinct from the decreased need for sleep, which is characteristic of mania. “It’s the child who thinks, ‘I’m the smartest kid to ever live,’ or ‘I can climb up on the roof and jump off into my friend’s pool, and that’s going to be fine because I’m amazing and nothing’s going to happen to me,’” Dr. While it may be typical for teenagers to act like they’re invincible to some extent, the inflated sense of self that comes with mania is much more drastic and can present serious safety risks. Mania can often show up as excessive involvement in activities that have a high potential for painful consequences. In order to separate this normal behavior pattern from mania, paying attention to the degree of change is key. These changes are adaptive and help teens develop a stronger sense of individual identity. They tend to experiment with new behaviors and “try on” different personalities. On its own, this could be seen as normal developmental behavior, especially for teens. Their increased energy level may come out in angry outbursts or tantrums. ![]() But children are more likely to show signs of irritability and aggression. We tend to associate mania with euphoria and other feel-good emotions. Stern, “But mania often looks different in kids and teens.” “People may think of unrestrained buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, or foolish business investments,” says Dr. Identifying mania in kids can be challenging since descriptions tend to be based on adult behavior. What does mania look like in children and teens? If you think your child might be having a manic episode, you should seek medical care at an emergency room, where your child can be evaluated for safety and referred for diagnosis and treatment. But mania comes in episodes, while depression tends to last longer and symptoms of ADHD are ongoing. It is often mistaken for depression, ADHD, or other conditions that are more common in children. Mania is harder to identify in children and teens than it is in adults since kids with mania tend to be more irritable than euphoric. Intense focus on a goal (for example, staying up all night working on a project).Talking much more and much faster than usual.Mania involves extreme shifts in a child’s mood and personality. But mania can be associated with another mental health disorder, a brain injury, or a side effect of medication, alcohol, or recreational drugs. It is not common in children and teens, but when it does occur, it’s important for parents to take action.Ī manic episode, which can last for a week to several months, is most often a sign of bipolar disorder, which usually develops in late adolescence. Mania is a high-energy state that often results in risky and out-of-character behavior. ![]()
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