I've never repressed any emotions....thats what gets me in trouble. My childhood wasn't perfect but I'm convinced that has nothing to do with my being bipolar. I firmly beleive that genetics are to blame. My grandfather was bipolar, my aunt was and I beleive my mother was, although she was never diagnosed.My sister is bipolar too. So is my daughter, she was 13 when she was diagnosed and she is certainly not guilty of repressing any feelings.