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Pingo...there's no way to know without learning more and talking to docs.

From what I have read (like Peda and BlueMoon explained) and what I know....there is no doubt to me that bipolar IS heriditary, but that is just my opinion and that also doesn't mean that everyone in the family will have it if one does.

I am bipolar, my dad is bipolar, my cousin is bipolar
My mom is not, my sister is not, my grandfather is not.

Just last month I met a woman on here who said she has 5 generations of bipolar women in her family.

I also believe that environment/experiences play a part in onset of the disease and of severity. Seems that there is usually a significant happening of some kind in a person's life that turns the bipolar on - into active mood instead of being a more dormant quality or gene or whatever.

I personally think the numbers Peda quoted are much higher, but it's been a while since I've looked at the data too so I very much could be wrong, but even so....I think the numbers are higher than what has been shown in scientific studies and such b/c there is so much confusion and mis-diagnosis that takes place with mood disorders.

May I ask how old are you?????