Do you think we are born with bipolar disorder, or do you think there are environmental factors involved? (For example, some people claim that vaccines cause autism, which I think is total BS, but that's an example.)

I wonder if some people are born with BP, but it remains dormant until something triggers it. Other people, however, may see it as a "disease" in the sense that it's something you develop, not something you're born with.

What, specifically, do you think might trigger BP? Stress? Trauma?

I personally think we all have a "stress limit". Once our stress levels exceed this limit, BP kicks in. So, in theory, a baby could "become" bipolar if they are stressed out enough.

This is not meant to be a debate. Just want to see what you guys think!

[pirilin]

We were born to be wild. Ask doctors Steppenwolf.

[Icare dixit]

In the beginning, there was BP...

[hopeless2015]

I'm 45 and was diagnosed last year....it makes sense now though

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[zepchic]

I think mostly it is regarded as one of those things that you are predisposed to, but triggered environmentally. I don't know how much I believe that. I have had several family members who were bipolar and I actually think my 8 year old son exhibits some of the tendancies I had as a child and he hasn't had an environmentally stressful life thus far (IMO). I think my symptoms started around age 8 or so.

[Keegan2015]

I would say that it is probably more of a biological thing than an environmental thing, but that environmental factors can have a very strong influence on the severity and original manifestation of the illness.

[Victoria'smom]

I think I had it from day 1.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by zepchic

I think mostly it is regarded as one of those things that you are predisposed to, but triggered environmentally. I don't know how much I believe that. I have had several family members who were bipolar and I actually think my 8 year old son exhibits some of the tendancies I had as a child and he hasn't had an environmentally stressful life thus far (IMO). I think my symptoms started around age 8 or so.

Being different might be stressful/anxiety-inducing enough. It was for me.

If we have BP between periods of mania and depression, I'd have had it all my life, arguably subclinically at first, but then you can't distinguish between SZ and BP.

[Darlingminx]

I think most people r born preprogrammed but some people r influenced by life and develop the symptoms.

[raspberrytorte]

I think it's there originally, but dorment until triggered by a stressful/other situation.

What happened to me at least. The only thing I consistenly had, from childhood on, was severe anxiety.

The new avatar is a nice look. The scarlet condom helmet frightened me.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I never had problems until my mom passed and my family life was completely upturned at 9 years old. Right after I started self harming and was just bat **** crazy from then on. So I think some of us are born with a certain gene that can be triggered by stress and trauma, like a ticking time bomb.

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[Wanderlust90]

I think environment & experience can bring out the dormant disorder, in some the genetic predisposition is strong enough for the illness to be expressed regardless of environmental influences. I also think personal temperament plays a significant role, a more neurotic personality style is more likely to be negatively influenced by their environment & that may also result in a higher likelihood of disease expression.

[lacerta]

I think I have had it always, but it was not severely affecting my daily life until full blown mania was caused by not sleeping for a very long time.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Do you think we are born with bipolar disorder, or do you think there are environmental factors involved?

What, specifically, do you think might trigger BP? Stress? Trauma?

I think both biological/genetic and environmental factors trigger bipolar. I have family members with bipolar and then others who don't have it. For me, it got worse with pregnancy and then calmer after menopause.