My boyfriend was diagnosed with bipolar disorder last year. He was not diagnosed with it as a child or has any past of it in the family. The doctor said this came out due to a Traumatic past. If we decide to have kids, can it be passed to the child?
Can someone have bipolar from a traumatic past?
09
Jun
Zoe
June 9, 2010 at 1:54 am
YES IT CAN!!! Bipolar is a genetic disorder, your boyfriend had it from birth and whatever traumatized him just brought it out more.
Annie
June 9, 2010 at 2:05 am
Although it is not completely understood, bipolar disorder and potential for other mental illness is genetic. However, that doesn’t mean your child will definitely have it. My mother’s psychiatrist told her that her bipolar disorder was most likely triggered or brought out by events in her life (traumatic past). From what I’ve heard, you can have it in your genes and then it’s “activiated” by life situations. If he’s really bipolar, he probably does have it somewhere back in his family history. Nobody used to talk about it. Also, bipolar disorder is often not diagnosed until a person is in their mid-20’s.