Bipolar Genetics: My Grandmother Passed Bipolar onto Me

Hey guys! It's Hannah. Now and then. Bipolar treatment. Well, when I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder, nobody had any idea who that gene got passed down from. My parents are completely stable. I mean emotionally stable and grounded.

And none of my close relatives showed any signs of a mental health condition. And so a couple of years after my treatment, I started to dig a little deeper and basically found out that it was my grandmother, who I never met. And she was from England. A brilliant woman. And my dad said she used to capture a room. But as years went by, she was in and out of their lives. And those symptoms of bipolar disorder really kind of consumed her. She died alone at the end of her life because she had rejected so many people because she was so sick that nobody was around anymore.

She really struggled with bipolar disorder. So when I look back on it being that I didn't meet her, it's like I face stigma now, as a millennial, in 2017. I mean we all do. So I couldn't imagine what it was like back in that time. It really motivates me to be an advocate for our next generation. Really reduce that stigma. And, for me to utilize the resources that I have around me.

Because back in my grandmother's day, even just saying those words, "bipolar disorder," would have gotten her institutionalized. She probably would have never seen the light of day again and been in a hospital the rest of her life. And I can't believe that she suffered with that. She was never able to even confide in anyone. That makes me sad.

And I want better for the next generation. And I'm asking you, how do we really stop stigma for the future? It's an important topic, as always. So I can't wait to see your thoughts.

And I'll see you next week. Bye.