Hi there.......welcome! Have you been officially diagnosed and are you getting treatment? I am 35 and was dx last year biploar but I was also dx with borderline personality disorder when I was 21. Bpd can "mimic" bipolar symptoms so it took a while but I can tell the difference between the bipolar ups and downs(manic/Depressive) and the bpd turbulant mood swings. Don;t know about being born with it but the research definitely points to genetics so that would support the argument.

There is autism and mental health problems in my family but no bipolar that I am aware of. Go figure! Without being condescending or patronising, I kind of take my dx with a grain of salt. Don't get me wrong..... I had such a horrendous manic episode last year that I was hospitalised for 3 weeks and suffered such intense depression I didn't think I would make it. But I have fought many battles for so long, this was just another experience in life so I really don't pay much attention. I take my lithium which really works for me, I have an excellent psychologist and psychiatrist and I just do all the stuff I have already been doing.

I think nurture vs nature is a more apt approach. If you are doing all you can for the healing(nurture), you can kind of be more at peace with the chemistry(nature).

Hope that helps. Good luck and keep us posted.