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Bipolar Disorder
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Posted 7/11/2008 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hello to the forum. To Serafena and Loving Frustrated Wife ... thanks for the response on my previous post. I have managed to talk to my wife about her condition from my side and how it's affecting our home. I am going with her to her next therapy session. 

I have a question(s) though after viewing a lot of the threads here.

How does it all start? Being bipolar?

Is it hereditary? Are some of us genetically predisposed to be affected while others not? 

Is it caused by trauma from a particular or set of life altering events? I can see the symptoms of it every day, but what i'd really like to know is were/how does it start?

 

Posted 7/11/2008 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
It definitely is hereditary; I have researched it lots since I was diagnosed and wante to know what my chances of passing it to my kids would be like too. I have also read that life events can lead to it too such as traumatic events and even stress. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain.

There are lots of books out there you can read that are very informative. I think I have about read them all. Lots are easy to read and understand and some are more technical. I would do some research. Also, serafena at this message board is very knowledgeable about it too. I would talk to her.

Hope this helps. Hang in there.

Missflip
Posted 7/11/2008 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
My mother was bipolar, my father was an alcoholic who suffered from depression, my brother has depression, my son had depression, my sister has depression, and I am bipolar.  My son suffers from depression.  For me, it was hereditary and a chemical imbalance, both I think.  I knew I am bipolar since 1974, suffered serious depressions in 2000 and 2001 and then severe depression with anxiety earlier this year.  So I'd say there is definitely an heriditary component to these disorders.  One of my mother's sisters was physcotis, not sure what her real diagnosis was.


Posted 7/11/2008 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
There is also the theory that while some of us may be genetically predisposed, we're not "triggered" until some event or stressful situation "turns it on". The truth of it is, doctors don't know exactly why people get bipolar disorder. Clearly there's a hereditary link, but not always. There's some depression in my family, but no one else bipolar.

It's great that you want to get more knowlegable about the disorder. Would you like to know about some good books that we've all read?

serafena
Posted 7/18/2008 10:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all for responding. Serafena, I would greatly appreciate that list of books.
Posted 7/18/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
I've read "Call Me Anna" as well....I think it's a terrific read and I'd recommend it to anyone.
Posted 7/18/2008 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi whichway

My answers to your questions:

1. Where does it start? I did not start to exhibit syptoms until I was in my late teens. Not diagnosed until late 30's.

2. I am convinved it is hereditary. My mom is absolutely bipolar, but untreated. My sister does not appear to have any symptoms outside of our difficult childhood that can be partly attributed to my mom's bp.
Posted 7/18/2008 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
m2e,

i'm quite interested in books relating to bipolar =)
Posted 7/19/2008 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
found out today my aunt is being treated for bipolar, but she doesn't think she has it. she says she's just really depressed. but from what she described it sounded like bp to me.
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