Three generations of this family have bipolar, and how trauma from divorce can effect young lives is in the memoir story. Bipolar is hereditary, therefore it can be passed along through carriers of certain genes who do not have the disorder. The earlier this condition is diagnosed can help a child as they are going through formation of the brains learning functions and forming their personality for life long habits.It can become apparent at puberty, midlife or even later., and does not always disable the person then. It almost always requires medicine to control its effect. My oldest son had bipolar since puberty along with severe depression, and had a very sad life. My oldest grandson also developed bipolar at puberty and has not achieved independence as an adult at 36 years of age. Becky is a highly functional adult who was not diagnosed with bipolar until she was 60, but began to have episodes that required her to be hospitalized from mid life. Because it came later in her life, she was able to work and hold some very interesting jobs. Non professional experience and first person experience is the basis of the opinions given in this narrative.