The Challenge of Bipolar Disorder
Teens struggling with Bipolar Disorder are faced with a challenge that can painfully intensify their interactions with others. Parents, friends, siblings, and others are often at a loss as to how to deal with a Bipolar teen. It is important for parents to realize that this is a disorder, and that their teens aren't merely choosing to "be brats." Often, as parents will attest, troubled teens with Bipolar Disorder will express genuine regret for their negative behaviors, yet will repeatedly fall into an array of intense and sometimes unpredictable emotions, expressions, and behaviors. These are not bad kids - they're troubled, and they can be helped.
Bipolar Symptoms - Depressed
A troubled teen having problems with Bipolar Disorder may display: sadness, problems sleeping, eating, and loosing weight, negative thoughts about oneself (including thoughts about death and hurting oneself), and difficulties with attention and concentration.
Bipolar Symptoms - Manic
When manic, Bipolar teens may display euphoric or irritable moods, inflated self-esteem and over-confidence, increased talkativeness, distractibility, boundless energy, and a decreased need for sleep.
Bipolar Disorder also involves hallucinations (such as hearing voices) and delusions.
Bipolar Disorder and Boarding Schools for Troubled Teens
If your teen is repeatedly in crisis, or if he/she is a potential danger to self, others, or property, and you are "at your wits end," having "exhausted all options," then perhaps we can help. There are quality boarding schools for troubled teens who struggle with Bipolar Disorder. These schools provide 24x7 supervision and support, therapy, and effective academic focus.
It is important to note that some schools are not well-suited for Bipolar students. It is important that both the parent and the school be honest about their needs and resources. We can provide exceptional assistance in this area. Don't "misplace" your troubled teen. Schools that claim to provide solid help for Bipolar students abound, though many provide questionable service, and amount to little more than "teen warehouses."
Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition that manifests by uncontrollable and unpredictable changes in a persons mood. Individuals that are affected by a bipolar disorder usually feel many different emotions at the same time or suffer severe mood changes.
Bipolar students suffer the same reactions as any person with bipolar disorder, but their educational process is affected. At some individuals the illness is harder to be detected. There are many forms of the disorder and it can vary from rapid mood changes to slow changes. There are some extreme cases, with often mood changes, but this happens rarely.
Bipolar students need to be treated specially in order to get the same education as other pupils. They need special and flexible academic program, depending on the gravity of the illness. Bipolar students need to go to schools that have good teachers and skilled therapists or counselors. People that suffer from a bipolar disorder can have mood swings even if they are not used with the geography or any other element from their school. The school must be in the same territory or have similar landscape to their home.
Bipolar students need to feel safe at all time. The best way to make give them a scene of security is to create a special routine for each student. The same room, same classes and some teacher could help a student that suffers form a bipolar disorder. Teachers should be taught everything about how to deal with bipolar students. They need to know all the side effects of the illness and how to control the symptoms in case of an emergency. Bipolar students are sensitive to light and noise, they usually have bad hand writing due to hand tremor and sometimes they gain or loss weight rapidly. When joining a normal school, Bipolar students need to be reintegrated gradual. They need special treatment. Bipolar students usually search for mentors. Special schools assign persons that act as models for the students. This is very important step in treating the disorder.
Bipolar students go trough a phase in which they don't experience happiness. Teacher need to get close to their students and humor therapy is recommended. Bipolar students need to spend the same amount of time to each class. They can develop skills in any area, even if at first they don't evolve equally, with perseveration they can learn anything. Pupils that learn normally, but slower are having the chance to study at a normal school with the possibility of each grade lasting one and a half years.
Parents need to be informed of all changes in their child's education program and they need to agree to each part of the program. This is very important, but with a good plan anything can happen. Bipolar students can learn anything, but they need more time. They did not choose their illness but they can choose what they kind of life they want to have and they have the right to be educated. A good school, teacher, family and counselor can help any teen in trouble to evolve normally and to get the level of education that they need.
Exceptional help is available. Allow us to help you find options that can bring relief to you, and true help to your troubled teen. Give us a call.
