If the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder are different in children from those in adults, what are they? Bipolar Disorder was once more commonly known as Manic-Depression. In children, however, mania is not manifested in what we would recognize as euphoria; rather, the main symptom in children is irritability. Their irritability can be in the form of rages ("destructive, violent, or other dangerous behaviors"), or, as depression ("whiny," "difficult to please"). In both of these cases, the behaviors are not occasional or the kind of normal "fussiness," but are "severe, intense and disruptive." (pp 6, 7) Also, these symptoms do not have to be apparent in all situations; for example, kids can seem to be fine in school and lose it at home. The authors assert that children do not choose home to act out because there is a problem there; rather, that they are worn out from acting "normal" around their friends, only acting "crazy" where it is safe, and where others won't see them.