Is it Possible to show signs of being bipolar as a child?

I only ask because I remember as a child, I'm talking about the age of 3-4 upwards I've experienced strange feelings that things are around that actually aren't there.

The earliest time I ever remember it happening I was 3-4 and my mum had sofas that were black with grey Polka dots, I remember being convinced one day that there were no dots on the sofa, they were all worms wriggling around. I still remember the way that I cried As my mum was shouting at me so I sat down.
I remember at other times that I thought there were needles on the floor (this has been a recurrent one- still often think it)

I've also been convinced that there have been spiders crawling around then when I couldn't catch it after many attempts come to the realisation there wasn't even a spider... Also been in the opposite of that situation and have tried to ignore the spider because it isn't real, to realise nope, definately real.

Anyway, I would love to know if it is possible to show signs of being biPolar as a young child
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I was diagnosed as chronically depressed around age 6 I think, so I guess kind of. My mom said the rage/hypomamic type stuff really got going around 10, but the up moods were pretty mild until I was 18 or 19. The depression goes back as far as I can remember, but I'm sure plenty of that was circumstantial, and exacerbated by hormones during adolescence.

I feel like it's kind of dangerous to diagnose children, though, and especially to medicate them. What's normal for kids is not what's normal for adults, for one, and on top of that, introducing meds to a developing brain seems a a lot like playing with fire... So yes, I think symptoms can be present, but I'd use caution in ascribing symptoms to kids when it might just be bad hormones or kids being kids. Bipolar onset is typically between 18 nd 25, isn't it?

It's becoming more common for children to be diagnosed younger and younger. This is why some people are saying that bipolar disorder is the new ADD/ADHD. They're over diagnosing it in children.

My 15 old son was diagnosed last year. It's not only possible the signs of bipolar are/were there for many children, but very very likely these signs were overlooked The problem is that children don't look or manifest like bipolar in adults- they don't have the impulsive sexual indiscretions, or spending sprees/foolish investments, or gambling or drugs (until teen years), etc. Kids often report or are observed with uncontrolled rage, anger that cannot be controlled (hitting, punching, destruction of property, etc). Many will have vivid imaginations that entail violence. There are some excellent books on this subject.

For us, we knew he was having panic attacks, social phobia/anxiety, and always had that out of control temper. He would try to punch or hit us, punch holes in walls, destroy property, etc. Even as young as three or four his moods (from funny/silly to anger/darkness) would rule the house. He once told a daycare worker when he was four that he was going to go home and get a chainsaw and cut off her head because she wouldn't give him seconds at snack time. He always was a prolific liar (lying is huge in bipolar)- lying about anything and everything. He had moods that he would be charming and then he would become prickly, argumentative,cursing and using foul language for shock value, verbally wearing you out--- like a lawyer; a real "nudge".

When he was 14 he started using street drugs to self medicate. He needed detox, and rehab. This cycle repeated again and again until finally he was properly diagnosed and medicated. He was diagnosed when he began cutting, trying to commit suicide, and we realized all of this hell wasn't "normal". We regularly had to call the police or crisis mobile response for assistance (either the violence/temper, or sneaking out/running away, or the drugs/hurting himself). It took me 30+ years to figure out I was bipolar. For another child it might have been the same story, but I was able to figure out what was going on much more quickly, and knowing my story helped greatly. He now is getting the help he needs before its too late- he either would have ended up overdosed/suicide, hurting someone/jail, or a tortured 35 year old with a failed life-- not being able to hold a job or keep a marriage, and thinking he was just a weak, irresponsible man.

Now, he has hope; hope that only was discovered once he was diagnosed and could get treatment. Currently he takes Lamictal and Buspar. Sees a psychiatrist, a therapist, and a peer counselor. Good luck, and if you have children and were told they cannot have this disease until adulthood, run to get a second opinion (or third, or fourth, or fifth). Your child's life may depend on it.

Absolutely, I was diagnosed at 12 years old, almost. Showed symptoms prior to 12 years old too.