Christians with mental conditions

onlybygrace84 said:

In your opinion, how does bipolar or ADD/ADHD affect a persons walk with God? You know or similar stuff? If a person has a condition that makes them just hate life or themselves or intense mood swings, how does such things affect their prayer life, etc. You know the whole, Be it according to your faith type thing. If a person has a condition that makes it virtually impossible to have faith at specific times, do you think God holds that against them if they pray for help not knowing if they are heard?

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I don't think God holds anything against us....He is for us, not against us.

I get mild bi polar if I over think. And also around people that are analysers...that might be connected !

onlybygrace84 said:

Of course but not really what I asked. Does a person who doubts God cares or listens have their prayers heard/answered because they have a mental condition that tends to make them such ways?

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You asked if God holds that against them. The answer is no. Does not God know us and understand us better than we know and understand ourselves? And yet, believe it or not, still, He is FOR us. You are really asking a question about the nature, the character, of God, aren't you?

Perhaps the "deeper" issue concerns bipolar or ADD/ADHD.

Just what is the "cause" of bipolar or ADD/ADHD.

Is it in reality a "mental condition" in the sense of a real mental impairment.

Is in it reality a demonic type of oppression or even possession?

Is it in reality a simple "lack of self control"?

Is the behavior manifested because the person will not take responsibility for themselves?

Probably not a popular idea.

I have dealt with a few "bi-polar" people.

I do not claim to be an expert.

Not even really experienced with the issue.

However I do consider what I said as a very possible "cause".

BTW:

I have also learned that the medical profession now days will come up with a "name" for anything and a "medicine" they can prescribe for it.

"Come back and see me next week and the week after, and the week after, and the week after ...............................

Optimax said:

Perhaps the "deeper" issue concerns bipolar or ADD/ADHD.

Just what is the "cause" of bipolar or ADD/ADHD.

Is it in reality a "mental condition" in the sense of a real mental impairment.

Is in it reality a demonic type of oppression or even possession?

Is it in reality a simple "lack of self control"?

Is the behavior manifested because the person will not take responsibility for themselves?

Probably not a popular idea.

I have dealt with a few "bi-polar" people.

I do not claim to be an expert.

Not even really experienced with the issue.

However I do consider what I said as a very possible "cause".

BTW:

I have also learned that the medical profession now days will come up with a "name" for anything and a "medicine" they can prescribe for it.

"Come back and see me next week and the week after, and the week after, and the week after ...............................

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Awe now you did it. You mean self control is something that should be considered?

I'm no expert, but I can give testimony towards that:

My oldest at 9 was diagnosed ADHD by the school doc, then confirmed by our family doc. Long story short, we prayed, did some research and decided to try a couple 'natural' cures.

We tightly controlled what he ate, put him on a very controlled schedule, got rid of a couple of his so called friends and occasionally paddled his [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse].

Four months later he was no longer ADHD, was getting decent grades. Even the teacher and doctors confirmed the miracle.

Having or not having self control is a little different than what I think the OP's question was about, which is (correct me if I am wrong), more about faith versus lack of faith and whether certain conditions make it impossible for a person to have faith?

I think God honors us according to our capabilities, and faith is not an ingredient in a magical formula to get results. We only need a bare spark of it for it to count, or to use a more Biblical term - faith the size of a mustard seed. Even when in our darkest of mental states, God can reach us. If someone falls off with their prayer and Bible reading for a time, due to whatever mental ailment or depression, does God no longer walk with them in their moments of distress? I certainly believe he does.

Psalm 139 seems to apply here, especially verse 8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there.

mrhappy3 said:

I get mild bi polar if I over think. And also around people that are analysers...that might be connected !

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If you weren't diagnosed by a specialist as bi-polar, your not bi-polar.

Maybe you just have the sadsies.

Isn't bi-polar also considered to be alternate personalities?

I like Simply Put's testimony about his son ... real hope is given in that testimony.

There is one universal law for all of us ... "If you get mad you lose your power"

Try to stop the anger part of bi-polar first ...

Am I too bold to ask if this is you personally onlybygrace84 or one of your family members perhaps?

onlybygrace84 said:

You could look at like that I guess but still you are missing what Im asking. James wrote when a person asks God for something, in that case wisdom, you must ask in complete faith with nothing wavering. So if a person wavers, for whatever reason, does God still answer their requests?

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I think God looks at the heart.

geetrue said:

Isn't bi-polar also considered to be alternate personalities?

I like Simply Put's testimony about his son ... real hope is given in that testimony.

There is one universal law for all of us ... "If you get mad you lose your power"

Try to stop the anger part of bi-polar first ...

Am I too bold to ask if this is you personally onlybygrace84 or one of your family members perhaps?

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No. Bi-polar is what used to be called manic-depressive, in which an individual vacillates between manic episodes (feeling energized and on top of the world), and going into deep depressions. I can see how that might look like alternate personalities from the outside, but it is not the same thing.

There are other symptoms that may or may not maifest in bi-polar disorder, but that is the gist.

They said I had borderline and extreme anger. It was just a demon, got kicked out watching T.B. Joshua. Then the fruit of the Spirit can develope. I refused to accept what they said. I'm righteous and a new creation in Christ and healed by His stripes.

Hi,

I read your first post. I think we can all go through times where people might think we have some form of mental illness. The general strain of life can cause anyone to act in ways deemed unhealthy. The fears and anxieties caused by life are very real and can effect our relationship with God, even as Christians. We can often feel God does not love us, and care for us. However the reality is that God does love us, and has great plans for us. I had such bad mental problems at one point in my Christian walk that I even wanted to die. But fortunately for me God kept encouraging me, and eventually I was able to walk out of my problems. My future, as your will be, is very bright. THe plans that God has for you are only for good.

When you pray believe, it is said
Yet what do you do with the voices in your head
Telling you you will never be free
Telling you God hates you and me
Well time will prove that God is good
When his word you have understood
In heaven there are beautiful stones
And in that place you will never be alone
Yet God wants heaven to come to earth
That is why he gives us new birth
He is with you every day
Even if you feel dismay
Don't worry what tomorrow may bring
God will give you a new song to sing
Your heart will be glad, not sad
Your future is bright
He is with you each day and each night

onlybygrace84 said:

In your opinion, how does bipolar or ADD/ADHD affect a persons walk with God? You know or similar stuff? If a person has a condition that makes them just hate life or themselves or intense mood swings, how does such things affect their prayer life, etc. You know the whole, Be it according to your faith type thing. If a person has a condition that makes it virtually impossible to have faith at specific times, do you think God holds that against them if they pray for help not knowing if they are heard?

Click to expand...

I don't think God holds this against anyone. The body can be injured or get sick, so can the mind.

But socially many in the church do not understand or fully empathize with people who have mental health issues. We should do more to help.