i think most children display BP symptoms by purely just being children.

i wouldn't think too much into this, self-fulfilling prophecies aren't impossible.

I recall that I can trace my BP symptoms back to around age 8.
I'd take her to a pdoc for evaluation. Sometimes the early symptoms aren't disruptive but it's good to start support early.

It is possible for children to be diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, especially if they have a mother/father with bipolar. Most docs are quick to diagnose as ADHD only to put the child on stimulants which exacerbates the symptoms of bipolar disorder in the long run. Children seem to act out with bipolar disorder where as adults get manic/depressed. It can be very difficult to diagnose and treat children correctly. If she is having problems at 8y.o., she will either level off as a adolescent or get worse. Keep in mind, the environment plays a big role on a child as well. Just let the pdoc decide. May need a combination of pdoc & tdoc!! If she truly is bipolar, treating it while she is young puts her ahead of the game and increases her chances of success as an adult...in my opinion anyway. Maybe she can skip all that misdiagnosing and self-medicating that goes with bipolar for an average of 10 years!

Mood swings can be pretty normal in children and adolescents. That being said, my bipolar started at age 11, but wasn't properly diagnosed until I was 38. I think anti-depressants made things worse for me.

I suspected one of my kids was bipolar. He is 12 and struggles with mood swings, depression and anxiety. The mood swings aren't too bad yet. I had him evaluated, and he was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Therapy helped quite a bit and he is coping and feeling much better since starting it. We don't want to medicate him as therapy seems to be doing a good job with no side effects. With meds, there are always some risk that they can make things worse. Just my 2 cents.
I hope your daughter is just going through a phase and it will pass. If not, she has a parent who understands mood disorders and will get her the help she needs. Which is great!

Most of the pdoc's i have encountered are reluctant to dx that at so young an age...they generally will say adhd and depression...Then when they turn 18...they say on no it was bipolar all along. This happened to my daughter, who is now 16 after she checked herself into psych hospital for a week last year. And it has happened to several of her friends as well. If you really think she's bipolar, aside from the doc aspects, this would be a good time to teach her coping skills....

The only way you will know is if you take her to a child psychiatrist. Forget what every one is saying, you cannot diagnoses a child based on their behaviour because it is just so much more than just that. Take her to a good child pdoc and let them do the rest.

My oldest will be 8 tomorrow and we have started therapy for him.

I have always wanted to just because of the stuff my boys have been through with me, but last school year, he was getting out of control, just like I did when I was younger.

He is in a gifted school, with a wicked temper.

Hoping it is just childhood behavior, just cannot believe in dx this so early.

But at least with therapy he will have some coping skills if he is, in fact, dx at a later age.

I am not against dx a child, but I just want to make sure it isn't over reacting with my child, because I have BP.

But, I agree with most everyone else in saying to get her in therapy or to a pdoc soon, it can't hurt?

My daughter is now 12 and she displayed a lot of bp symptoms. I have had her in counseling for at least 5 years off and on. Aside from serious environment issues with a sociopathic dad ( now out of the picture completely) and a bp but medicated single mom she seemed to have inherent mood issues.

So far, she has been identified as having some mild OCD like behaviors but most important is how I am. If I am depressed and don't engage with her that much, she ends up acting out severely. When I am not depressed and I can be my best, I have her respect and trust. It is a huge factor on how she behaves.