This study focuses sharply upon unresolved grief, rage and issues of identify as a primary catalyst to the development of bipolar disorder. The bipolar individual often has not learned to properly express his or her feelings. Especially in the mania stage, feeling are intense, sudden, and can be extremely frightening. Anger either explodes in rage or, in an effort to maintain control or avoid confrontation, is denied and repressed. Exaggerated manifestations of repressed rage reinforces fears in the family that expression of feelings, even positive feelings, are not safe.
Denial becomes a model within the family unit.
Very often, to the child of the bipolar individual, self identify becomes a confused, undefinable, or absent thing. The bipolar family is typically so emotionally dependent upon one another, that close relationships are not established outside the family unit. As discovered in the Lithium Clinic study, some children are successful in forming supportive relationships outside of the family, but most are not. These isolated children are influenced most poignantly by parents who struggle with their own sense of self and identify. These emotionally handicapped parents project a distorted image of self to their childre n.