Child Mental Health Disorders: Bipolar Co Morbidity with Separation Anxiety

Bipolar disorder, in children, is often exhibited by complicated fluctuations in mood including sudden temper tantrums, complex hyperactivity behavior, often misdiagnosed as ADHD, and even insomnia or excessive sleepiness. Unfortunately, it is a fact that many children with Bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed or under diagnosed leading to complications in academic, social and personal relationship and performance. For parents, obtaining proper mental health diagnosis in a child can be challenging and, once diagnosed, treatment options for pediatric mental health disorders can be just as complex.

In addition to Bipolar disorder, some children will suffer a co morbid mental health complication involving Separation anxiety disorder. While Bipolar disorder, into adulthood, often leads to the development of anxiety or panic disorders, it is the child who demonstrates separation anxiety symptoms who is found to eventually suffer from more complex mental health disorders into adulthood, often Bipolar disorder.

Separation anxiety disorder, in children, is simply defined as a psychological trait in which a child experiences severe distress when separated from a loved one or a place which is felt to be a comfort zone. In children suffering from Separation anxiety disorder, this emotional distress is often exhibited when the child is separated from a parent or caretaker which, in turn, leads to symptoms, beginning around the age of grade school, ranging from simple complaints of illness to severe complications such as temper tantrums and physical outbursts during and immediately after the child is separated from the parent. As a normal part of parenting, the child's parents are often left frustrated when coping with a child suffering from severe Separation anxiety outbursts.