Hi all

Thanks so much for your insight into this - you are all very knowledgeable people here! I already feel I have made some great friends.

DE and DJ - what you describe about a major stress event is exactly what has happened to me, but MANY. My father died aged 57 eight years ago, followed by my son being diagnosed with autism at age 3 yrs and many bereavements in both my husband and my sides of the family - too many to count.

I suffered with post natal depression when my son was 8 months old and was admitted to a psychiatric ward for two weeks, I also had psychosis. Add an abusive, controlling mother into the equation and bingo!..........

There is, as far as I know, no one with a diagnosis of bipolar in my family although most certainly severe depression in my mother and two of my brothers and panic disorders, PTSD.

No wonder really I have BPII.