Could this be magic? Magic is a concept that has fascinated human beings for centuries. It is often associated with tales of wizards, witches, and supernatural powers. Many people are intrigued by the idea of being able to manipulate the world around them with a wave of a wand or a simple incantation. Throughout history, there have been numerous accounts and legends of individuals who possess magical abilities. These individuals are said to have the power to perform acts that are beyond the realm of normal human capabilities. Whether it is the ability to predict the future, heal the sick, or create illusions, magic has always held a certain allure for people.
Whether it is the ability to predict the future, heal the sick, or create illusions, magic has always held a certain allure for people. In today's modern world, the idea of magic is often dismissed as mere superstition or illusion. Science has provided us with rational explanations for many of the phenomena that were once attributed to magic.
Could this be mabic
Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) is a serious but treatable medical illness that occurs in all age groups but is most often diagnosed in the late teens to the early adult years. It is a disorder of the brain marked by changes in mood, energy and behavior that are much more extreme than the normal ups and downs that most people experience. Symptoms may be present since infancy or early childhood or may suddenly emerge in adolescence or adulthood. Until recently, a diagnosis of the disorder was rarely made in childhood. Child psychiatrists can now recognize and treat bipolar disorder in very young children.
Early intervention and treatment offer the best chance for children with pediatric bipolar disorder to achieve mood stability, gain the best possible level of wellness and develop normally. Proper treatment can minimize the adverse effects of this illness on the lives of these children and their families.
Helping a Child with Bipolar Disorder
Parents concerned about their child's behavior, especially frequent, severe mood swings, depression, periods of "hyperactivity" accompanied by decreased need for sleep and hypersexuality, should have the child evaluated by a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist familiar with the symptoms and treatment of pediatric bipolar disorders. There is no blood test, genetic test or brain scan that can establish a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Incidence of Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, community studies estimate the lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder for adolescents ranges from zero to three percent of the population. Prevalence of bipolar disorder during childhood is not well established. It is thought that a significant number of children diagnosed in the United States with attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD) have early-onset bipolar disorder instead of, or along with, ADHD.
Signs and Symptoms in Children
Bipolar disorder involves marked changes in mood and energy. In most adults with the illness, ongoing states of extreme elation or agitation accompanied by high energy are called mania. Ongoing states of extreme sadness or irritability and low energy are called depression.
However, the illness can look different in children than it does in adults. Children often have an ongoing, continuous mood disturbance that is a mix of mania and depression. This rapid and severe cycling between moods produces chronic irritability and few clear periods of wellness between episodes. Children with bipolar disorder typically have four to five severe mood swings a day and are more irritable than euphoric.
Symptoms may include:
- An expansive or irritable mood
- Depression
- Rapidly changing moods lasting minutes to hours
- Explosive, lengthy and often destructive rages
- Sleeping little or sleeping too much
- Excessive involvement in multiple projects and activities
- Impaired judgment, impulsivity, racing thoughts and pressured speech
- Inappropriate or precocious sexual behavior
- Grandiose belief in own abilities that defy the laws of logic (ability to fly, for example)
Signs and Symptoms in Adolescents
In adolescents, bipolar disorder may resemble any of the following classical adult presentations of the illness.
Bipolar I
In this form of the disorder, the adolescent experiences alternating episodes of intense and sometimes psychotic mania and depression.
Symptoms of mania include:
- Elevated, expansive or irritable mood
- Decreased need for sleep
- Racing speech and pressure to keep talking
- Grandiose delusions
- Excessive involvement in pleasurable but risky activities
- Increased physical and mental activity
- Poor judgment
- In severe cases, hallucinations
Symptoms of depression include:
- Pervasive sadness and crying spells
- Sleeping too much or inability to sleep
- Agitation and irritability
- Withdrawal from activities formerly enjoyed
- Drop in grades and inability to concentrate
- Thoughts of death and suicide
- Low energy
- Significant change in appetite
Periods of relative or complete wellness occur between the episodes.
Bipolar II
In this form of the disorder, the adolescent experiences episodes of hypomania between recurrent periods of depression. Hypomania is a markedly elevated or irritable mood accompanied by increased physical and mental energy that last three to four days. Bipolar II disorder is five to 10 times more common than Bipolar I disorder.
Cyclothymia
- Adolescents with this form of the disorder experience periods of less severe, but definite, mood swings between mild euphoria and depression that last a year or more.
Bipolar Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified)
- Significant mood symptoms suggestive of bipolar I, II or cyclothymia but not sufficient duration or severity to meet criteria for these disorders.
For some adolescents, a loss or other traumatic event may trigger a first episode of depression or mania. Later episodes may occur without any obvious stresses, or may worsen with stress. Puberty is a time of risk. In girls, the onset of menses may trigger the illness, and symptoms often vary in severity with the monthly cycle.
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Many teens with untreated bipolar disorder abuse alcohol and drugs. Any child or adolescent who abuses substances should be evaluated for a mood disorder.
Adolescents who seemed normal until puberty and experience a sudden onset of symptoms are thought to be especially vulnerable to developing addiction to drugs or alcohol. Substances may be readily available among their peers and teens may use them to attempt to control their mood swings and insomnia. If addiction develops, it is essential to treat both the bipolar disorder and the substance abuse at the same time.
Genetics and Family History
The illness tends to be highly genetic, but there are clearly environmental factors that influence whether the illness will occur in a particular child. Bipolar disorder can skip generations and take different forms in different individuals.
The small group of studies that have been done vary in the estimate of risk to a given individual:
- For the general population, a conservative estimate of an individual's risk of having full-blown bipolar disorder is one percent. Disorders in the bipolar spectrum may affect four to six percent.
- When one parent has bipolar disorder, the risk to each child is 15-30 percent.
- When both parents have bipolar disorder, the risk increases to 50-75 percent.
Many children who develop early-onset bipolar disorder have a family history of individuals who suffered from substance abuse and/or mood disorders (often undiagnosed).
Diagnosis in Children and Adolescents
The importance of proper diagnosis and treatment cannot be overstated. The results of untreated or improperly treated bipolar disorder can include:
- An unnecessary increase in symptomatic behaviors leading to removal from school
- Hospitalization in a psychiatric hospital
- A worsening of the disorder due to incorrect medications
- Drug abuse, accidents and suicide
It is important to remember that a diagnosis is not a scientific fact - it is based on the behavior of the child over time, what is known of the child's family history, the child's response to medications, and the child’s developmental stage. These factors (and the diagnosis) can change as more information becomes available.
Competent professionals can disagree on which diagnosis fits an individual best. Diagnosis is important, however, because it guides treatment decisions and allows the family to put a name to the condition that affects their child.
It is important that if you are concerned about your child’s behaviors, do not hesitate to obtain a full psychiatric evaluation. Mental health professionals are available to provide information about diagnosis and treatment options and to support you as you care for your child.
While it is difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder in children, some behaviors by a child should raise a red flag:
- Frequent, severe and prolonged mood swings that continue past the age of 4 years
- Frequent talk of wanting to die or kill themselves
- Trying to jump out of a moving car
- Rages lasting for hours
- Sexual behavior in the absence of abuse
Bipolar Disorder Compared to Other Conditions
Correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder remains challenging. Bipolar disorder is often accompanied by symptoms of other psychiatric disorders. In some children, proper treatment for the bipolar disorder clears up the troublesome symptoms thought to indicate another diagnosis. In other children, bipolar disorder may explain only part of a more complicated case that includes neurological, developmental and other components.
Diagnoses that mask or sometimes occur along (comorbid) with bipolar disorder include:
- Depression
- Conduct disorder (CD)
- Oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD)
- Attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD)
- Panic disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Tourette's syndrome (TS)
Last Updated 01/2021
I’ve made verbal agreements with the people I’m close to, to tell me when they see these behaviors. My end of the agreement is to listen to them. Just by hearing feedback from someone else, I snap out of my head and step back, realizing I need to slow down and pay more attention to how I feel. It’s taken me years of practice not to get defensive when reminded by a loved one that I may be acting hypomanic. I know what happens with an unchecked hypomanic episode. I’ve ended up in the hospital as a result of ignoring hypomania and letting it develop into mania. Now, if someone close to me points out that I may be getting hypomanic, I thank them for being patient and gentle with me, I re-examine my thoughts, and I reach out to my mental health care team for help if needed.
However, there are still some who believe in the existence of magic and its potential to affect our lives. The belief in magic is often intertwined with spirituality and the supernatural. Many ancient cultures had rituals, spells, and incantations that were believed to harness the power of the divine. These practices were used to bring good fortune, protect against evil, or heal the sick. Even today, there are individuals who engage in practices such as witchcraft, Wicca, or voodoo in the belief that they can tap into supernatural forces. In addition to these traditional beliefs, there are also those who believe in the power of the mind to create magical effects. This idea is often associated with the concept of the Law of Attraction, which suggests that thoughts and intentions can influence the events and circumstances of one's life. According to this theory, by focusing on positive thoughts and desires, a person can manifest their desires into reality. While the existence of magic may be a matter of personal belief, there is no denying the fascination and intrigue that surround the concept. Whether it is the stuff of fairy tales and legends or a force that can be harnessed in the real world, magic continues to captivate the human imagination. Perhaps, in some form or another, there is a bit of magic in all of us..
Reviews for "Uncovering the Secrets of Famous Magicians: Secrets They Don't Want You to Know"
1. John - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Could this be mabic". The story felt incredibly cliché and predictable, with no originality or depth. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real development. The writing style was also quite lackluster, it failed to immerse me in the story or create any sense of excitement. Overall, I found this book to be a major letdown and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Could this be mabic" but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, with many loose ends left unresolved. The pacing was off, jumping from one event to another without proper explanation or transition. Additionally, the dialogue felt unnatural and forced, making it difficult to connect with the characters. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat for me.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I struggled to get through "Could this be mabic". The writing was mediocre and lacked a strong storytelling voice. The characters were uninteresting and their motivations were unclear. The world-building was weak and left many questions unanswered. The plot seemed to drag on without any clear direction or purpose. Overall, I found this book to be a tedious read and would not recommend it to others who are looking for a captivating and well-crafted story.