Which came first?

[Auston]

Which came first to cause the Bipolar condition? Was the disorder brought on by external events? Such as childhood rejection, abuse, and other? Or did the chemical imbalance naturally occur causing many of the events and perceptions we now have?

Basically, is the bipolar a symtom or a cause?

I would like to hear some thoughts on this.

 

[jream]

I'm guessing it happened naturally as the brain grew, it would be interesting to see if some events triggered different brain growth. But I don't think I could have changed it, I had a great childhood, I had terrible anxiety and a bunch of problems in high school and that just went down hill from there. It was nothing anyone ever did to me, it was me that was always the problem. So for me, I think my brain just developed this way or I was born this way. My mom says I've always been this way, lol.

 

[bipolarbear]

A very good question, and I am very intreated in it, however... I think the Lord keeps some things from us for our own good. The answer to this may be one of those things. When you get to heaven after a long full life, ask the Lord and see what He says... God Bless

 

[lvbeads]

Hmmm... I had a great childhood but still ended up with bipolar and schizophrenia (collectively schizoaffective disorder) that manifested in my 20s. I am a fan of the "brain chemical imbalance" theory, as medication works so well for me. I'm sure you will find others that seem to point to an environmental cause. It is a great mystery. Kind of like, why did my mom get breast cancer? Was it chemical in cause, from bad diet or household cleaners or did she have the bad DNA they talk about? Interesting. She is, however, a survivor regardless of the cause, and I hope to be the same with my mental "issues". bipolarbear is so right - it is probably for God to know and us to find out someday.
God bless...

 

[searchingforpeace]

I would say it is a chemical imbalance. I had early onset childhood bipolar...so by four years old, my life had been that of ...a child...no issues....Others in my family have bipolar or other disorders, so I ended up with it....and now I have passed on the anxiety and depression to one of my daughters who is 10. Praying it does not turn into bipolar one day.

 

[Alaskamomma]

I think I was born with it and some traumatic things that happened early in my life compounded the disorder. I can remember being 5 years old and telling God I was angry with him for making me the way He did. And with my daughter I have been able to tell since she was a baby that she had it.

I am still trying to understand why God to this day... for making me this way. I don't think I will ever know on this side of heaven.

 

[Auston]

Your comments have been thought provoking. Early childhood trauma, I think, pushed me to develop within my mind a safe, protected, idealistic world in which to dwell. This coping at such a young age, and the impossible struggle to stay within that idealistic world, have set in motion many chemical neuron paths that hold me in the manic state. Yet my family says there were several things I did as a young child that they could never figure out why. So...maybe I was born with it.

 

[TailTactics]

I think bipolar is brought on by child hood experiences that later develop into a chemical imbalance. That was the case for me anyway. Holding on to the past for too long could take a toll on the human mind.

 

[bipolarbear]

I think bipolar is brought on by child hood experiences that later develop into a chemical imbalance. That was the case for me anyway. Holding on to the past for too long could take a toll on the human mind.[/quote]
Amen to that !!!