Hereditary? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Skylar333 · 10-12-2005, 05:29 PM

Does anyone know if bipolar disorder is hereditary?
I am almost 8 months pregnant and have had the horrible horrible mood swings that pregnant women are well know for. But also with every symptom of bipolar disorder. I started researching bipolar disorder about 5 years ago and it still is the one mental illness that stands out in my mind. I have had these symptoms for years and have never ever seen a psychiatrist. And for some reason I feel it is to late to do so now as I am afraid that CPS would get involved.
The reason I ask about it being hereditary is because my grandfather suffered from severe bipolar disorder as well as many other mental illnesses and spent most of his life in a state mental hospital. Both sides of my family suffer from a range of different mental illnesses and an uncle killed himself while in a depressive episode. Hereditary?

Ruth6:11 · 10-12-2005, 09:59 PM

According to the medical research studies it certainly can be.
In my case it is: My grandmother was bipolar, my sister is cyclothymic (mild form), & my cousin has bipolar for starters.
On the other hand neither of my parents or my other sister or brother has any problems.

Depending of the type of Bipolar disorder that you have you may end up needing to see someone about it. Eight months pregnant may not be the best time, but if your highs and lows seem to get progressively worse, or you are unable to keep a job or for instance it may be time to get some help...

bipolarjon · 10-13-2005, 12:33 PM

Yes, My dad has something, and by brother has something, and my son has a 25% chance of getting something from what I have read..

ToughTimes · 10-13-2005, 06:14 PM

Yes, it is hereditary. My Grandmother on my Mom's side was Bipolar. My Aunt, Bipolar I. My Mom Bipolar II. My older sister Bipolar I. I am Bipolar II. Our family fights are not pretty

I personally think that you should seek help. You may have a very tough time after your baby is born. And believe me, CPS is not going to get involved b/c you ask for help! The only way that CPS is going to get involved is if you do something mean to your kids and someone reports you. There are a lot of us that are Bipolar mothers and we take out medicine and do our best to raise our children right. Asking for help and getting medication is a good thing, not something that anyone including CPS would frown upon. It is not too late to start feeling better. If anything, do it for your baby. I did it for my son and I am SO glad that I got on medication. It changed my life for the better and it changed my relationship with my son, made me more patient, a better mom.

LLC15 · 10-13-2005, 08:43 PM

It is scary being a new mom with a family history of mental illness. My twin sis, father, half brother and sis are all bipolar. What type, I do not know. Most of my father's family is mentally ill, alot of addiction along with the mental conditions. Good news is the earlier you seek treatment the better. I have had many friends seeking help that have had absolutely no problems with CPS. Honestly, they do not have the staffing to cover the cases that they absolutely need to cover, so you will not see any problems from them. If anything you may be the best new mom in the world, and you can learn so many coping methods on being a new mom along with being assessed. I remember I used to have nightmares about my daughter when I was pregnant, it is normal to have these worries. Talk to your obgyn first and get reffered to someone and keep your head up.