We know that my great-great aunt was diagnosed as bipolar. I just recieved her complete chart from SW Mental Health Institute and she would go from be so depressed she was canatonic to being so manic she was psychotic. The chart indicates that my great-great grandmother, who was also committed to the same hospital, was diagnosed with same thing. The chart also says that my great great grandmother had a sister who died in the hospital. So there it is defiently there on at least that side of the family. My mom said that she thinks my great gradmother may have been bipolar based on how she would act.

That being said--she turned around the next day and said that psych docs diagnose "everybody as bipolar" and all it means is "you can't handle the ups and downs of life, can't handle stress and the doc just wants money." I think my mom just can't accept that there is mental illness running through the family. I've decided the best thing to do is ignore the comments and just not discuss the subject with them as much as possible. Really, unless you're having to depend on them for care or they're footing the bill for doctor visits, prescriptions, etc. it's none of their business. If you're not going to get support from them then cut them out as far as talking about the issue with them.