What causes bipolarity?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-08-2005
What causes bipolarity?
3
Thu, 03-31-2005 - 8:05am

I am brand new to this board so bear with me please!

I believe that bipolarity runs in my family. My aunt has it, my sister has it, my dad kind of has it, and I believe I may have a touch of it. My question is what causes it? If my dad has it, then I think I know why. My grandfather fought in WWII and survived (barely) to come home and have my father and aunts and uncle, six all told. I have been told that when my father was little that he was the sweetest, most caring little boy anyone had ever known of. Unfortunately, my grandfather was very harsh on him and insulted him often. My guess was because my grandfather knew that every generation so far had had a war and that if my dad's generation did then my father would never survive with his sweet disposition. So perhaps that was why he tried to toughen him up.

Is it possible that you obtain this disorder through your treatment as a child? My family says that my father treated my sister the same way he was treated. Or is it just totally chemical and a complete coincidence?

Cheers,
Darci

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2003
Thu, 03-31-2005 - 11:14am
Lurker here- As I understand it, bipolar gets *started* by being chemical, period end of sentence. It's important to remember this, because sometimes either our loved ones will get it in their heads that "they caused it", or you will have an abusive guy who happens to have a dx of bipolar who tries to claim that "you did this to me!", and neither is true. However, I have seen some research that indicates that those with a genetic predisposition to bipolar can sometimes be triggered by extreme stress. NOTE WELL: The genetic predisposition has to have been there in the first place. BP will not crop up in a random individual out of nowhere. And, we're talking extreme stress, not "I didn't get ham on my pizza! Waaa!" stress. So, in a way, the answer to your question is, "yes and no".
UCAUTIONIN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY IT IS ADVISABLE TO KEEP ERIN AWAY FROM FIRE AND FLAMES.
From Go-Quiz.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 03-31-2005 - 11:23am

Hi Darci...Bipolar is genetic.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2004
Fri, 04-01-2005 - 4:18pm

Welcome Darci,


I think "officially" the jury is still out on the cause of BP!