What is bipolar rage???

I've talked about 'A's rages but it's so difficult to describe them. I don't wish my worst enemy (well, maybe 1 person)to experience a bp rage. For 'A', I got to a point where I could sometimes see them coming by the wild look in her eyes or her overall mood/actions. I've also learned to be mindful of her triggers. Often, the word "NO" would send her off or not being able to do something that she wanted.

Here is how one book describes a bp rage:
* Often happen at night
* Roars out of nowhere at the drop of a hat
* Takes a predictable course through build-up, explosion, and exhaustion
* Volume of rage is great and could not be imitated
* Gory thinking occurs
* Precious objects are often destroyed
* Child will report the build-up of rage as a sense of heat
* Rage is felt as an entity that takes over the child
* Can be felt as pleasantly energizing for some children
* During rage, child has highly paranoid attitude

Research on bipolar disorder, mainly pediatric bipolar, still appears to be in an early stage. However, they have found that there are differences in certain areas of the brain-mainly the limbic system. This is the primitive system (all animals have this region) of the brain, responsible for recieving sensory information, initiating emotions and sexual behavior which lessens the function of the frontal lobes of the brain (areas of reasoning). Often, "animal" instincts are hightened during certain periods or stimuli which results in a rage. Someone described a rage to me as a primal effect of the brain adjusting the chemical flow. Research has also found that children with Tourettes and Seizure disorders also have the same deficits and overactivity in the brain. This is why individuals with bp are often treated with anti-convulsants because they act as mood stabilizers. There is still so much research to be done!

Here are the stages of a bp rage:

1. DYSPHORIC PHASE- irritation, nothing is comforting, hyper, pestering whining, tormenting others

2. PROVOCATIVE PHASE- Looking for a fight, devilish facial expressing, interrupting phone calls, slamming doors

3. EXPLOSION PHASE- screaming, crying, dilation of pupils, death threats, threatening with objects, wild evasive behavior (This is the point of no return)

4. EXHAUSTION PHASE- child collapses and appears dazed, falls asleep for a period of time, doesn't remember what happened, often remorseful or will not talk about what happened


I'm more than relieved to remark, we only experience phase 1 and 2 now. Although, we've had a setback with the new school year. I hope to get on a routine and with the implemenatation of her IEP (individualized education plan), she will find success and maintain her level of stability.