[littlethrowaway]

Heh, a very similar thing happened to me actually, and while I agree about the fist-fight comment, I honestly didn't have any childhood trauma. Came from a loving, pretty privileged family, but I still went off the rails with a 10 day silent retreat!

It's extremely easy to dismiss people like this, but, have a care, there are real people on the other end of your dismissive comments.

[Zababa]

I don't want to dismiss your personal experience, this is just a general comment. "a loving, pretty privileged family" is not uncompatible with "childhood trauma".

[goodpoint]

The author claims not to have "history of any major trauma prior to the retreat" while also describing a decade of anger and negative emotion culminating in a serious fistfight.

unacknowledged childhood trauma is a real thing, it's not uncommon and does not constitute "dismissive comments" in any way.

Ironically, you are being very dismissive of eurasiantiger.

[eurasiantiger]

Suggest you book an appointment with a professional to talk about your childhood and family dynamics. Everyone has a different sense of normal unless we compare.

[littlethrowaway]

Heh, I have seen professionals, one literally said "I don't know why you're coming to see me!" ;)

What I'm curious about: Are you suggesting that it is childhood trauma that will trigger a bipolar episode (rather than the 10 days of silent meditation 10 days in a row!)

If "everyone" has childhood trauma, why don't we see a higher incidence of bipolar disorder in the population?