Question: Bipolar and abuse ... link or no link?

I had posted the secrets thread and noticed that many people mentioned abuse in their life at one point or another.

I was abused sexually starting at age 3 (from what I can remember) and it went on for years until I moved to CT in 1990. Then my mom would abuse me physically and emotionally. She had this hate towards me and would say she's punishing me for being a bad kid.

I also had to deal with my share of abuse from my peers growing up since they would bully me and this went on even into high school ...

Then I was raped at age 16 ...

So I was wondering, is there a connection between Bipolar disorder and abuse (of any kind)?

I know I read that Bipolar is a genetic disorder but that it can lay 'dormant' until something triggers it ... can that something be abuse?

:discuss:

They say that anything high-stress can trigger it. Abuse puts you in a high stress situation, so I believe it.

Personally, I haven't experienced any abuse. I got bullied a bit, but it wasn't terrible and I've gotten over it. I don't think it triggered anything for me.

Hi...thank you for sharing your story....sending you big big hugs!

I grew up with my mum having bipolar. My dad's time was mostly taken up with my mums needs so me and my brother kind of looked after each other and it remains the same today and now I am 30. We were neglected as my mum was always put first. At the age of 13 I satrted seeking comfort through men....and then at 14 I met this guy that was 24 and showed an interest in me. And by the way, if ANY man showed an interst in me I threw myself at them because I was craving love and attention so badly.

This 24 yr old man, went on to physcially abuse me (domestic violence) and mentally torture me up until I was 18, which is when I met my current husband. This man would lock the door and he would start a marathon of abuse.......it was a terrible terrible time for me and still have nightmares about him and what happened. He also tried to rape me with one of his friends, but I was lucky enough to escape. He would burn me and oh god he would hurt me....but would always do it below the neck so nobody would see. At the same time I was being bullied heavily at school and couldnt turn to my parents as they were always occupied with how my mum was and keeping her well. MAKES ME SO ANGRY maybe if they had loved my i wouldnt have sought love through the wrong avenues and ended up in such a mess.

Anyway...in answer to your question, yes I have suffered abuse.

oh wow ... allme, I'm so sorry.

I hope you've been able to cope and live a better life since then. My story is somewhat similar regarding mom being bipolar and seeking love through other means including sex.

I know that this is a sticky subject for a lot of us, but I have found that the more I open up about old wounds or scars, the better they heal. That's just me though ...

I hope this thread did not bring anyone to a place in their past that was long forgotten and buried. It was not my intention.

I don't think there is any correlation between being abused and being bipolar.

While I don't think one needs to have abuse or trauma growing up to be inflicted with bipolar, I certainly see how it can help things along.

I had a lot of trauma, and different types of abuse to deal with from a very young age, starting around age 4. I won't get into here. I did first experience depression around age 5 along with anorexia, see the connection, that's not normal. I first experienced psychosis around age 11 along with OCD and night terror and mania, also odd age wise. My father was undiagnosed with bipolar and ocd until later years when he was actually diagnosed. My mother has MDD. I also ended up being homles at age 14 through to 19 more added trauma.

So I have the genetic factor, however, why with me did the symptoms show up so early, I link that to abuse and trauma.

(((((Scooterbug & Allme))))

^ that's what I mean Anika ... not that if you are abused you become bipolar ... BUT, that abuse has a way to trigger the bipolar even at an early age when someone has the genetic background.

My mom is bipolar, my aunt is schizophrenic, so is her son, my sister has ADD, GAD, and OCD ... just to name a few people.

I knew what you meant

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/...t/155/12/1746; Not the whole study but the abstract in the beginning.

They didn't actually state how strong the correlation between the two is. Since they're only suggesting an association I think it means they need to do further studies on it. But regardless I thought it was interesting.