Bipolar & Genes

[SilentRage]

I read from numerous articles that bipolar is hereditary, now i had ask my mother is there anyone on her side of the family that has bipolar and she said no. And my father side I dont really know to much about, but i dont really want to ask him because i havent seen him in years, but i do have his contact number but i dont want to disclose to much info to him about me. What I am saying is its seems like i am the only one in my family that has bipolar, anixiety and depression or whatever,  and the ones that i know that have bipolar (two of them only, my cousin husband, and my other cousins ex- boyfriend) that is involve with my family and we are not blood related.

Now if it turns out my father side doesnt have bipolar, what would cause me to have it?

[SilentRage]

thank you

[therese83]

I have a top psychiatrist here in Vienna Austria, she says it through history mental illness has come up in many families for a few generations, then it can fade out for another few generations.

It depends on the breeding!

[SilentRage]

Besides things that are told to me especially about my well being i like to know about. I dont see it as a problem.

[SilentRage]

Oh okay, no I thought they said it was herediatary thats why I ask the question. Someone also said is was herediatary I wanted to be sure of the facts. Thanks for clearing it up you two.  I am not really worry about it. Its just that I feel like I am the only one who going through something like this in my family and no else understand. Its felt to me (not now though) i was the only weird one because i behave differently from others, like i was weird or something.

[bernie40]

Hi,  nobody else in my family has been given a diagnosis of Bipolar either.  There are depression and post traumatic stress syndrome within the family but not BP.

I think the point really is that if there is someone within the family with a mental health disorder/illness then you have a higher "risk" of also having a mental health illness but this does not mean you will definitely have one - ergo, just because nobody else in the family has had a diagnosis does not mean that nobody will get a mental health illness.

As monkeyc says its really about getting a correct diagnosis, correct treatment and learning the best way to deal with it.

[monkeyc]

Bipolar is not always hereditary - there is a definite hereditary factor in bipolar which studies have shown again and again.

As to why it happens and what causes it - no one knows.  There is research which points to a genetic linkage but nothing conclusive as yet - Bipolar has not been studied as deeply as some other mental illnesses.

It is quite possible to be the only person in a family with it - and ultimately I think its not important how it came to you its how you deal with it.