This is totally my own theory but I also have found in my limited exposure to other sufferers that the origin or contributing factors to our illness also effects the symptoms and manifestations both positive and negative.

For me I have been told that a big part of my problem is I was born with a brain malformation. It has been seen on head scans I have had done. When I was younger I was being looked at for being schizophrenia which is also often linked to a brain abnormality.

As I grew older and had some epic manic phases it led to amazing sleep deprivation which I have been told has done more physical damage and likely enhanced my condition to worse stages.

Anyhow I find that I am very different than sufferers who seem to have come upon their disorder from some sort of trauma like severe physical/sexual abuse or drug and alcohol abuse. Or I have a friend that had problems after being in a severe accident and suffering from major head trauma.