Posted by ramsea on July 26, 2005, at 3:38:17
In reply to Re: Bad Genes, posted by greenhornet on April 8, 2005, at 19:46:22
Good question. David J. Miklowitz, PhD, in his excellent over-all family and patient book, **The Bipolar Survival Guide**, writes on P.84,
"Some people with bipolar disorder examine their family pedigrees and see no evidence of any illness, mood or otherwise. This is unusual, but it does happen."
He suggests that an occasional alcoholic, eccentric, rageful, overstern and gloomy, and/or over-exhausted (and similar extreme descriptions) of a relative might indicate a mood disorder that wasn't recognized at the time. But nevertheless he says that experts "beleive there are other triggers for the onset of bipolar disorder, but we aren't certain what these are."
Possible causes, drug abuse, head injuries, neurological illness, difficult birth (with possible head injuries I guess), some viral diseases like MS or encephalitis, or an illness suffered by the mother of the patient in pregnancy.
It's not likely that bipolar disorder would be caused wholly by traumatic experience and environmental stressors, without also a predisposition genetically. In your case, for example, if you accept the genetic basis for most bipolar, one can imagine several generations experiencing circumstances of fair enough fortune that didn't quite add up to the onset of serious brain illness.
The main thing is sticking in the present and taking care of yourself. I have a long documented family history of mood disorders, but it doesn't mean my children have that great a chance of taking this torch. So far, they know all about this but seem to have somewhat more tendency to anxiety and some OCD traits--my son possible Asperger-- but nothing else out of the ordinary, and the other problems seem manageable without much ado.
It's good for kids to know what is up with a bipolar parent but without insinuating that they're going to be just like the parent. If it happens, they need to know it's admirable to seek help, treatment is positive for most people, they receive treatment and lead good, normal lives.
Children deserve upbeat information, no stigma, and no sense that illness is a sure thing--the chances are that they will not get bipolar disorder, it's not just genes but environment too, including their own unique psychology, physiology and ways of being.
poster:ramsea
thread:458299
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/child/20050226/msgs/533644.html