I like the terminology you use, OP, inferring that we (often genetically) had the propensity toward bipolar, but that life stress, postpartum hormones etc bring it out. They are finding that bipolar is very genetic. For me I was still pretty OK one year after my son was born. However, stressors were building up . Then at a super stressful time when my husband and son were both sick, I cracked and started to feel out of it on top of recognizable anxiety and depression. I had almost no support system and the psychologist my mom took me to diagnosed anxiety disorder and I didnt follow up with him. I had a lot of depression in the family so I read a lot over the years and realized I was bipolar, tho bp2 is so hard to recognize. “I’m just in a good mood!” Hah, one’s thinking is sometimes totally distorted, tho subtly enough that even when you recognize you’re hypomanic, its hard to catch the impaired thinking. “I could start this business...”. Well yes I could but the stress would be too much. That type of thing. My best friends son is bipolar, so she totally gets me, but I am looking for bipolar friends who can help me catch my mood swings. Message me, bipolars who are up for doing the buddy system like that!!!