Living With Healthy Hunger Health Blog
Most parents don’t give enough importance to the mental health issues their adolescent children may be suffering from. Many of them fail to read the likely warning signs until it is too late. They fail to realize that these kids need to get the treatment they deserve. Only a healthcare professional with necessary training, expertise, and experience can cure them in the long-run. Otherwise, it could lead to severe problems as they grow up to become adults. One such ailment which affects a large number of teenagers is bipolar disorder. Most people outside the medical profession refer to diseases as manic-depressive illnesses.
Dr. Jonathan Lauter – Treatment of adolescent suffering from bipolar disorder
Dr. Jonathan Lauter is a popular psychiatrist from New York who specializes in this field. This Yeshiva University graduate has more than 3 decades of experience in handling bipolar disorder cases. His contemporaries in the medical profession consider him to be an expert in this area of adolescent health care. They do not hesitate to approach him for his recommendations when treating patients suffering from this illness. No wonder he gets frequent calls from colleagues living in this part of America. Even the people who visit him to treat their adolescent children say he first give them a patient hearing. Only then does he go about diagnosing their kids and opting for the best course of action? Presently, he is the section chief of the psychiatry department of ‘The Brooklyn Hospital Center.’
Warning signs
This prominent psychiatrist says young children and teenagers who have bipolar disorder show peculiar signs. Generally, it is not very difficult for their parents to identify them. They have distinct mood swings which affect their sleeping patterns and energy levels. At times, they experience feelings of elation and are very energic in whatever activities they are doing. However, on other occasions, suffer from depression and hopelessness. Then they don’t feel like doing any of their normal chores. It is not uncommon for them to be irritable, finding it difficult to concentrate or acting recklessly. In the worst-case scenario, they may eventually become victims of substance abuse or suffer from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. This affects their performance in school and the relationships with people close to them.
Diagnosis and proper treatment
He clarifies there is no reason why adolescences suffering from bipolar disorder can’t lead normal lives. Many of them can become successful in their careers as they become adults. However, for this to happen, early diagnosis of such patients is necessary. Only then can they receive the proper treatment they deserve. Most mental health care professionals use talk therapy to treat such children. People in the medical fraternity refer to it as ‘psychotherapy.’ This helps to control their mood swings. In some case, they may prescribe medicines to help them sleep better at night. Such kids may experience depressions and feelings of uncontrollable mania from time to time. However, they are in a better position to combat such extreme emotions.
Dr. Jonathan Lauter says parents shouldn’t neglect to observe the signs of bipolar disorder in their children. When they recognize the symptoms, they should immediately seek the help of a proficient medical professional. Only such an expert can help their adolescent kids control their mood swings. This goes a long way in helping them lead productive lives.
