[GenCat]

I think my father and grandmother on my moms side were bipolar. It makes me curious about how much inheritance plays a role in this disorder, esp. for me. But can you be bipolar without inheriting it?

[Trippin2.0]

Nobody in my family except me has bipolar. Nobody. There are a few who has battled with situational depression, but that's it. I'm the oddball.
So in answer to your question; Yes.

[wotchermuggle]

No mental health issues in my family either.

[shortandcute]

From what I understand, bipolar CAN run in families, but that doesn't mean it will. Like cancer, it is more likely that someone can get cancer if there are relatives who've had it--but just because someone has it, doesnt mean that you'll get it; on the other hand, someone can still get it if there is no family history of it.

[A Red Panda]

My family doesn't DO the doctor... so who knows. haha.

I can say that my mom's side of the family is all-around messed up, and my dad's side I think has some depression but DEFINITELY anxiety on their side.

[~Christina]

I have BP I no prior history in my family but my Daughter has BP I also.

[cool09]

There are genetic components in BP if you read some studies. They have found some similar genetic mutations with manic-depressives. Agitated depression (mixed manic) runs almost completely on one side of my family. All of us have the exact same symptoms and behavior.

[ultramar]

My understanding is that there is some heredibility (sp?) but I don't remember the statistics.

I think one of the problems in determining this accurately, is that many of us may *feel/think* that some relatives have the disorder, but they have not been officially diagnosed, so in those cases it's very hard to know for sure, especially considering how tricky this diagnosis is.

My first cousin is diagnosed Bipolar I, the only relative I know of.

[middlepath]

My father and mother refuse conventional medicine, however, I can assure you my father was depressed most of my life and my mother (now diagnosed) suffers from panic disorder and anxiety disorder. I believe she has many symptoms of BP 2. My moms sis had schizophrenia (diagnosed) very bad. My maternal grandma has agoraphobia (dx) that seems more like schizophrenia to me. She never leaves the house but on the 2 occasions she has she has to wear something to protect her head/brain/mind. My paternal grandma is an angel...but has suffered from anxiety. Paternal grandfather no issues. Maternal grandfather no issues. My son has aspergers and is starting to show some mood dysregulation. At this point it seems like typical teen stuff but I have my eyes open and will jump in to help at any point if things head south...or north in the case of BP : ).

Gene studies are getting closer to finding gene markers, and research is ongoing. According to one therapist who stays up on the scientific literature, chances are strong that if you have bipolar disorder there will have been someone in the past 5 generations statistically who also had a mood disorder (not necessarily bipolar). The problem is that few of us have that much family information, and older generations generally weren't diagnosed because that just wasn't done.

I'm the first person in my family to be diagnosed, but there are some odd stories about my grandmother that could perhaps point that direction, but there is no way to really know.

[Phoenix_1]

I was diagnosed in 2011 but refused to believe it. After having 3 psychiatrists tell me that I have BP and doing a lot of reading, I am sure that I do have BP.

Let me see...

Grandpa ran away from home when he was 37 to "find himself" leaving Grandma with 2 kids... not quite the "done" thing in 1917.
Aunt D was religious to the max and used to send letters carbon copied 6 times with nothing but bible verses and hymns in them to everyone in the family.
Dad I believe had unipolar hypomania - a very good thing indeed.
I have BP.
My brother is 15 years older than me so I don't know him that well.
I can see some BP traits in my kids but I'm not really objective about them.
My grandkids are all too young to tell.

Although undiagnosed Im sure my mother had mental issues when we were growing up, so I am sure mine has a genetic element and I worry if I ever have children. I dont know my extended family from that side so I dont know how far it goes back, but I would not be surprised if my grandparents have problems too as my mother wants nothing to do with them.

[shortandcute]

My nephew, who passed away several years ago, was definatly bipolar. I suffer from depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. I don't know of any other Dx'es in my family, but it is for sure dysfunctional. My parents are both alcoholics. Altho my dad is in "recovery" now, but to me he seems to be a sociopath; he was/is an abusive spouse, and has molested teenage girls. My mom is still drinking, and seems to fit the narcissist characteristics. She seems like she is emotionally stuck at 15, even tho she's in her late 70's. All of my sisters and I suffer from panic attacks. I wouldn't be surprised if my oldest sister has DID, and she and one of my other sisters also appear to show narcissist traits. My son appears to suffer depression, although he refuses to see a doctor about it. My daughter has anxiety attacks alot.

[Trippin2.0]

IMO some answers in this thread can seem misleading, I mean we all have personality types and carry traits of a range of personality disorders... Disorders which are only dxd as disorders because it wreaks havoc on said person's life...

So speculating that one aunt had this and gramps had that is all good and well, but it does not provide a clear indication of how many of us do carry bp in our gene pools...

Just saying...

Maybe we should have a poll to indicate facts instead of opinions and then see what the results are. I'm sure there will be more "inherited" votes, but it will be interesting to see how many odd balls like me are actually here

[Speed3]

From what we know, A great uncle on my fathers side was bipolar. My dad's brother was bipolar along with my cousin.

My mother was alcoholic and suffered from depression, possibly bipolar. She committed suicide at 49.

Both my grandfathers were alcoholic. I have read that there is some kind of correlation between having bipolar and having a lot of alcoholism in your family.

There is a genetic component to bipolar disorder. Also, someone with bipolar has a good chance of having their first episode by their teens. I was 15 when I had my first episode.

[Skittles56]

My parents were both bipolar, but none of my siblings are. My doctor says that the jury is still out on heredity. He said that bipolar people tend to gravitate toward one another and there is some correlation between bipolar patients whose parents are both bipolar.

[florica]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

The problem is that few of us have that much family information, and older generations generally weren't diagnosed because that just wasn't done.

^ Yeah, that. There are stories of people in past generations of my family who seemed to suffer from mental illness, alcoholism or committed suicide, but no way to know what they would have been diagnosed with. I do have a couple of living relatives who have also received a BP diagnosis, but it's impossible to know how many more could have been in my family history.

[Phoenix_1]

In 1917 no one went to see a psychiatrist. Did they even know what bp was in 1917? So when I say grandpa seemed bp that's all I can say. No one of his generation was diagnosed bp. It's not realistic to think we can go back 4-5 generations and 100 years and know that some one had this or that disorder. I can only report family history and say who did what and when they did it. Look at what they've done with DSM-V - they've changed everything again from what they said in DSM-IV.

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[Aquadove]

Originally Posted by GenCat

I think my father and grandmother on my moms side were bipolar. It makes me curious about how much inheritance plays a role in this disorder, esp. for me. But can you be bipolar without inheriting it?

I do think I have a sensible answer to that - yes but it may only be due to unresolved issues brought on by tough breaks in life. Imagine a pyramid upside down in the middle of a line that consists of your personality. Your experiences form horizontal bars of varying width throughout and upwards of the pyramid. Should some of the most negative ones lie unresolved and pile up - sooner or later the whole pyramid toples. That may be the onset of somekind of psychotic depression. By psychotic, I only mean that the mind becomes quite numb in the process. One may react finally to going the other way - too high to compensate and so qualifying as a mood disorder after a certain time. I guess a strong personality could rise ubove all that and be resilient to a point.
Finally you can also have the tendency but it never breaks out. I usually appease myself with the thought that circumstances around me plus certain inherited traits from my ancestors have made me who I am.
Would not want to change now though because I have learned a lot about selfcontrol using some medication. I'd honestly hate to be the average person who might go through life without reflecting much. Live, learn, love, think, cry, laugh, dance, joke. The world is yours to harness if you approach it with eyes wide open. Sorry for the thesis. Just imagined that you would not mind reading this.
Take care and don't be afraid. Nothing to be afraid of but fear itself.

[lil_better_everyday]

As far I know I'm the first BP. At least diagnosed. Or who couldn't handle it on their own. I'm the first alcoholic too. Go figure. I guess I like being first ;-)

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[Samanthagreene]

I'm pretty sure the gene mutation that generally causes bipolar can also cause ADHD, depression, and schizophrenia, so if anyone in your family has those, it also increases your risk for bipolar. And I'm pretty sure it is heritable because if an identical twin has bipolar, the chance of the other twin having it goes up by 65% or something like that.

[Joe-Anna]

I believe so. My aunt has it, and I am thinking about getting diagnosed as I definitely show some symptoms.

My dad's mom had bipolar but refused to take medication. She was in and out of psych wards her whole life. Her mother committed suicide. My dad seemed to suffer from occasional bouts of depression.

I have only one brother, and he's got no diagnosed or apparent disorder. I guess I'm the "lucky" one of my generation.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by Trippin2.0

IMO some answers in this thread can seem misleading, I mean we all have personality types and carry traits of a range of personality disorders... Disorders which are only dxd as disorders because it wreaks havoc on said person's life...

So speculating that one aunt had this and gramps had that is all good and well, but it does not provide a clear indication of how many of us do carry bp in our gene pools...

Just saying...

Maybe we should have a poll to indicate facts instead of opinions and then see what the results are. I'm sure there will be more "inherited" votes, but it will be interesting to see how many odd balls like me are actually here

pretty much this.

My grandmother from mother's side was OCD about cooking. It had to be right... or it felt wrong. I am same way. My grandmother hated wind, cause it messed her hair. Same withme. Same complains. My mom says she sees her in me when I speak.

Disorder? Personality trait?

My father was on some psychmeds. Mom and woman who married his brother claim it was cause his mother was neurotic beyotch who knew the right doctors. He also was a nerd, just like me.

Grandfather was interested in politics to point of obsession. So am I. Disorder? Personality trait?

Mom is somewhat borderline and neurotic too, but could be that she's had her misfortune in life... We both have irresponsibility in our character make up. Disorder? Personality trait?

[Phoenix_1]

I have the book "Less Than Crazy" by Karla Dougherty, written in 2008. It's about bp2. The book says that chromosome 18q is different in people with bp.

Venus, I hate the wind in my hair too. I wore my hair short most of my life for that very reason. It's long now, and summer is very windy here, so I put it in a ponytail or wear it up when I go outside.