My first symptoms of classic BP happened around age 14. I had recently been violently attacked and worse. I went into a terrified agoraphobia followed by a classic manic episode. I had never been on meds which could have induced it or taken any drugs which could have caused it. Had I not been brutalized, would it never have expressed itself? This is the theory of epigenetics I believe. I just don't know the answer. The perpetrators are certainly responsible for some of my PTSD but BP? I don't know the answer. In my late teens I was given SSRI's and they caused mania....i should have been warned of this risk. Did they not know about it in the 90's? I have strong genetic predispositions towards mental illness but the study of epigenetics makes me wonder if they were always destined to express themselves. I'm over the blame game though, it doesn't help. I just know I have it and need to do my best to manage it I guess.