[Jennyanydots]

I've been wondering if one is born with bipolar if it one develops it later in life? I had m first "psychotic break" at 30 years old. Did i have bipolar as a kid or teenager but just never had an episode? I hear about people who aren't diagnosed until their 60s. Do we just suddenly develop it?

I've had 4 other psychotic breaks since my first episode. So 5 total in 9 years. *****, that's like about every 2 years which on that trend, I'm due for one in 2020. :\

I'm just curious, did any of you have episodes and diagnosis in as a teen or even younger? I could definitely do some research on the internet, but I'm curious to know from people who experience it first hand.

It was always my understanding that people are genetically predisposed to having bipolar disorder, but that the illness may not show itself until a certain age (maybe because of a trigger or maybe for no apparent reason at all). I know that in my case, though I did have a few bad episodes earlier in my life, my bipolar illness didn't become disabling until I was in my mid 30s. I know of many cases where people just have a couple (or even just one) major episode in their life, and then either no more or only mild ones. I think it varies by person and their situation, etc.

Though I was clearly genetically predisposed to having bipolar disorder, I don't think I "officially" had the disorder as a small child. My symptoms didn't really become apparent until I was about 14 years old, and even then the symptoms were regarded as other things (teenage strife, severe disappointment, etc, etc). Some of my elevated episode behavior was even almost regarded as personality traits.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I was showing signs at 16/17. I came from a house full of traumatic experiences. The depression started at 14-15 but then later I got manic. I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 21. I was treated for major depression and anxiety before that.

Looking back I remember a previous pdoc telling me that I could have developed it because of trauma. Now I have a diagnosis of ptsd, anxiety d/o and either bp with psychotic features OR schizoaffective d/o bp type. I developed episodes of psychosis the last few years.

[Jennyanydots]

My dad has bipolar and I definitely think I was genetically predisposed to have it. There was an incident in college where this girl asked me if I was bipolar way before i ever had a manic episode. My mood suddenly swung from super anxious/in tears to super excited. I forget what triggered it but I still get the same way. I was, however, diagnosed with depressed in college and saw a University Psychiatrist who prescribed me Celexa. It helped a lot! Side note: I think Celexa can cause mania in bipolar patients which maybe explains why I felt so good.

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

It was always my understanding that people are genetically predisposed to having bipolar disorder, but that the illness may not show itself until a certain age (maybe because of a trigger or maybe for no apparent reason at all). I know that in my case, though I did have a few bad episodes earlier in my life, my bipolar illness didn't become disabling until I was in my mid 30s. I know of many cases where people just have a couple (or even just one) major episode in their life, and then either no more or only mild ones. I think it varies by person and their situation, etc.

Though I was clearly genetically predisposed to having bipolar disorder, I don't think I "officially" had the disorder as a small child. My symptoms didn't really become apparent until I was about 14 years old, and even then the symptoms were regarded as other things (teenage strife, severe disappointment, etc, etc). Some of my elevated episode behavior was even almost regarded as personality traits.

[*Beth*]

I have absolutely no doubt that I was born with BD. The first few years of my life were pretty stable environmentally, yet I clearly recall experiencing severe depression and anxiety. I also recall having feelings of excitement, way up there, and not knowing why...thinking that maybe there was going to be a happy surprise for me because I felt such excitement in my tummy. In addition, I experienced anger that I was afraid of, even at age 4. I felt ashamed and terrified of it.

I remember myself being like switches being turned on and off.

From 6 years onward my home life was completely overturned, abusive, and profoundly traumatic. The mental illness became worse and worse.

I believe that if I had been born later (I was born in 1962) someone would have noticed my very obvious mental health problems and helped me to stabilize. But during the 60's - '70's there were no such resources unless a kid (primarily a teen) committed a crime.

[Victoria'smom]

Showed sign as a kid/teen. I wasn't dx.'d until 22. Anorexic by 8. I was doing other risky behavior by 11. Only landed in the ER one time as a teen. It wasn't enough for my parents to get me help.

[Scooter9]

I believe you're born with a predisposition for depression, bipolar, etc and something causes it to surface.

In my case I had an number if traumatic events occur when I was 5 which probably set me up for when I was 8 when my father started to abuse me physically.

I think that triggered my depression which eventually led to my bipolar diagonals more than 30 years later.

[~Christina]

I wasn’t diagnosed until age 43 but once I /we looked back my T and I saw it really start at age 6 and it was triggered by csa, I had one of “ those uncles” but overall looking back I could see “ Bipolar” everywhere. I had been on AD’s numerous times but always stopped them after a while. This is why a lot of people go undiagnosed for so long. People typical don’t go crawling into a Pdoc office unless life is a disastrous mess.

I saw a Pdoc for a couple of years when my father was battling cancer he put me on Zoloft , he never once looked any deeper because my depression made sense , my Dad was battling for his life and my husband decided to have a mistress.

I also didn’t have the internet at my finger tips like everyone does now. Back then we are talking go to the library and physically stumble through lots of books. Sounds hilarious now hu? lol

As for family history ?? Absolutely nothing.... ( but I do believe it is genetic because I passed it to my daughter )

My daughter does also have Bipolar I diagnosed at age 19 .... 3 months after I got my pretty “ gold star welcome to Bipolar club “ she remembers being about 12-13 when she started to struggle. She was put on Lexapro her first year of college. She finished her second year and boom her life imploded, so we were both a big mess.

For me I truly believe I was born with it. I have read numerous times over the years that premies present symptoms that show up earlier. I was born 3 months early 2lbs 14 Oz and dropped down to an even 2 lbs. it’s a wonder I survived, back in 67 neonatal Care sure wasn’t what it is today.

Yes I truly believe trauma can flip the switch.

[sophiebunny]

Like many severe mental illnesses its first you are genetically predisposed and second you experience an environmental trigger. Both have to be true. That's the current science.

[BipolaRNurse]

I've been "abnormal" since I was a little girl. My parents took me to a child psychiatrist when I was 6, he said he thought something was wrong with me but needed more visits to determine what it was. They never took me back.

My first major depressive episode happened when I was 10. I also had suicidal ideation but never told anyone because I knew they wouldn't listen. Then I had another one at 13, after my grandmother died. (I don't know what caused the other two.) That lasted about a year. My mother took me around to different doctors and I was given various pills, none of which I tolerated. The blue one made me sleepy, the orange one made me vomit, and the green one made me crazy. I had no idea why I was being medicated, but in retrospect I believe they were antidepressants.

I don't remember any mania until the summer of '79, when I went ape sh** for absolutely NO good reason. I also had terrible depression after I had my babies which got worse with each successive child. The last one I think I crossed over into postpartum psychosis; I had these horrific fantasies about leaving my baby on the train tracks or throwing him into the swimming pool and walking away. Even now I can barely talk about it, I am so ashamed even though I know it was illness, not being a bad mother. Of course, I never came close to hurting him, but those intrusive thoughts drove me to drink (literally) and went on for many months.

Long story short, I wasn't diagnosed until I was 53. By that time I was losing my mind and something had to be done. My GP said I had something too serious for him to treat after four trials of different antidepressants and referred me for a psych consultation. It took that pdoc all of 90 minutes to diagnose me with bipolar disorder NOS. The bipolar 1 label came two years later, when I was 55.

So I guess I can say I was born with it, but other than some isolated instances through the years, it didn't manifest itself fully till my 50s. My mother probably had bipolar but she never saw anyone about it; I also had a cousin who developed bipolar 2 after a traumatic brain injury. They are the only family members who have had it besides me.

with me, It always felt that I had psymptoms of it

but then: other stuff happened in my life (trauma) that either gave it to me, or made the psymptoms worse

hard to really tell: but I was diagnosed young, so the illness was very prominant in me.

[sarahsweets]

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. Experts believe there are a number of factors that work together to make a person more likely to develop it.

These are thought to be a complex mix of physical, environmental and social factors.

Chemical imbalance in the brain
Bipolar disorder is widely believed to be the result of chemical imbalances in the brain.

The chemicals responsible for controlling the brain's functions are called neurotransmitters, and include noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine.

There's some evidence that if there's an imbalance in the levels of 1 or more neurotransmitters, a person may develop some symptoms of bipolar disorder.

For example, there's evidence that episodes of mania may occur when levels of noradrenaline are too high, and episodes of depression may be the result of noradrenaline levels becoming too low.

Genetics
It's also thought bipolar disorder is linked to genetics, as it seems to run in families.

The family members of a person with bipolar disorder have an increased risk of developing it themselves.

But no single gene is responsible for bipolar disorder. Instead, a number of genetic and environmental factors are thought to act as triggers.

Triggers
A stressful circumstance or situation often triggers the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Examples of stressful triggers include:

the breakdown of a relationship
physical, sexual or emotional abuse
the death of a close family member or loved one
These types of life-altering events can cause episodes of depression at any time in a person's life.

Bipolar disorder may also be triggered by:

physical illness
sleep disturbances
overwhelming problems in everyday life, such as problems with money, work or relationships

I think this is a pretty good summary.

Originally Posted by Jennyanydots

I've been wondering if one is born with bipolar if it one develops it later in life? I had m first "psychotic break" at 30 years old. Did i have bipolar as a kid or teenager but just never had an episode? I hear about people who aren't diagnosed until their 60s. Do we just suddenly develop it?

I've had 4 other psychotic breaks since my first episode. So 5 total in 9 years. *****, that's like about every 2 years which on that trend, I'm due for one in 2020. :\

I'm just curious, did any of you have episodes and diagnosis in as a teen or even younger? I could definitely do some research on the internet, but I'm curious to know from people who experience it first hand.

[Pookyl]

I have no family history of bipolar and was not diagnosed with bipolar until 43yrs of age - once my ovaries were removed. So could argue that if my ovaries were still in place I would be my prebipolar happy, hyperthymic self.

[mortefin]

Science is not yet sure.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Pookyl

I have no family history of bipolar and was not diagnosed with bipolar until 43yrs of age - once my ovaries were removed. So could argue that if my ovaries were still in place I would be my prebipolar happy, hyperthymic self.

Menopause (including the removal of 1 ovary) has exacerbated my BD symptoms.