Bipolar and Christianity

[praisegod]

Hello

I would like some help with this one please. My furture husband has been diagnosed with Bipolar resentally. I talked with someone from my church and asked them if they could help with some councel on this. There response is that it's not Bipolar it's the devil and if he gets the devil out of him then he will be okay. I don't know how to handle this one at all.    I don't believe that it is the devil at all. I do believe that if he takes the medication the way they want him too and walks with go that he will be okay. I know that Bipolar is an illness that if it isn't taken care of that persons life can be very miserable. But I don't believe that it is the devil at all. Can anyone with this delema please.

Thanks

God Bless to All

 

[AngelAmidala]

Wow....I don't know much about Bipolar at all. But I will keep your future husband in my prayers. And you as you learn more about this and support him.

I don't believe the illness is the devil either. It's just the way I look at things.

What kind of a church do you go to? And the person you talked to, was it another congregation member or someone who works at the church?

If it was a member of the congregation, I would talk to your pastor and see if they believe the same thing. Sometimes ideas that some of the congregation have are not exactly the same ideas as the pastor.

Hopefully others who have more experience or knowledge of this sort of thing will read this thread and respond. But do know that you and your future husband are in my prayers.

 

[psycmajor]

I have Bipolar! And more recently diagnosed, ADHD!

Bipolar really is an illness, sort of like the thorn in Paul's side. I believe in the end that it makes me stronger.

I don't necessarily think that it is the devil, either.

If you have any specific questions, just ask me here.

 

[Athlon4all]

This is a very difficult thing for many people, and I am one of them. I don't have bipolar, but I do have a illness that isn't cureable. I have Asperger Syndrome (AS for short) which is a form of Autism, and to put it simply, it isn't as bad as other forms of autism, but it does affect my interaction with other human beigns among other things, and I do struggle with it sometimes, but I will say this for your future husband, realiuze that it (like everything bad and good that happens) the Lord will definately use it for good, and if it is something that was he was born with (which I would think scientifically that is the case for bipolar and AS), then realize also that Jesus made him that way and that it shouldn't be considered an "Illness" or a "handicap", etc, but a part of who you are, you see what I'm trying to say? Its comforting to know that God has put AS in my life for a reason and that he will use it for good!!! I'll pray for him. God Bless!!

 

[ZiSunka]

My best friend is bipolar, and it's not the devil, it's a chemical imbalance in the brain.

She started taking medicine three years ago, and it completely changed her life. She went from being hard to be around and unpredictable to being easy to get along with and dependable. The medicine balances her brain chemistry, but doesn't alter her personality or anything else. She is still the same person, but happier, since she doesn't have th giant mood swings she used to have.

My coworker's daughter is bipolar, and she tends to have very slow mood cycles, like once every ten years. When she's having a mood shift, she is strange, but now that she is taking the meds, she is okay again.

Bipolar is highly treatable, and normal life is very possible.

Don't bother with the exorcism, just get him to a good doctor.

 

[supermagdalena]

Let me give you something, tell this to your fiancee!  I recently discovered that I most likely have OCD, and here's what a friend had to say:

God allows us to have no burden we can't handle.  And a mental problem is a pretty darn heavy burden, I know it!  The idea is, this notates a stronger Christian, not a weaker one, and definitely no one possesed by anything!  It means God knows he can bear the burden. 

That's my take anyways. It's got a lot of Biblical evidence behind it, just look through the new testament!   I hope this helps, it sure helped me.

 

[ZiSunka]

I was just reading about Asperger Syndrome, and wow! I think I have that. Can anything be done, or do you just have to live with it for life?

 

[Blessed-one]

it can't be the devil, praisegod. I agree with the others, take him to the doctor and get the right medication on, along with therapy if needed. With the right combination, bipolar can be kept under control, and with a return to normal life.

And he also needs lots of prayers *praying*

 

[supermagdalena]

My cousin has Asperger's, and it can be controlled, but not cured.  At least that's what the psychiatrist told my aunt.

By the way, anyone know any cures or controlling techniques for OCD?

 

[BigEd]

I was at one time diagnoised being Bi-polar (back then it was called manic-drepressive), I kind of doubt that diagnosis now. My brother struggles with Bi-polar. My brothers Bi-polar is contolr mostly thru medication. Its not perfect, but at least he can hold down a job and lead a somewhat noraml life.
I have had brain chemical mood problems my whole life, but as i get older they seems to bother me less. ( that in NOT to say that would be ture with everyone. I have also found that as I focus on my Lord, and all the great things he has done for me, I focus less on my own problems and moods.

Just keep praying for him.

Dear Lord,
I would pray for this brother.
That above all he would see You,
that he would see The great Love you have for him.
That he you would lift his eyes above the problems of his life,
to focus on you.
I would pray that, you would give the doctors who treat him great wisdom,
That they might do what is the best.
I would also pray for this sister that You would also comfort her,
That You would set her eyes on You.
I ask this in the name Jesus. Amen

 

[praisegod]

thanks everyone for your support and prayers. I know that he is going to be okay with the right medicaition and also with Gods help too. He is a wonderful man.

I just don't know how to handle the way the church is handling this at all. It was someone from our minestery team that said that it was the devil. I think I am at the point that I want to speak to our senior Pastor. And if that is the way that he believe's then I guess it will be time for us to find another church to go to. I really enjoy the way they do there services. But I know that at this point we both need positive support.

Thanks again to everyone that has posted and thanks for your prayers also.

God Bless to all !!!!

 

[psycmajor]

I guess you could say that all illness is ultimately from the devil, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's possessed. That's just silly.

 

[ZiSunka]

I just don't know how to handle the way the church is handling this at all. It was someone from our minestery team that said that it was the devil. I think I am at the point that I want to speak to our senior Pastor. And if that is the way that he believe's then I guess it will be time for us to find another church to go to. I really enjoy the way they do there services. But I know that at this point we both need positive support.

That's probably the best thing. It would be very hard to bear not being supported by your own church!

 

[supermagdalena]

I am so happy about that!  I've been praying that it works out okay.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

People who say that emotional and mood disorders are spiritual are ignorant. I've recently been diagnosed with clinical depression. Now, if I take their stance on this, then that means I have a serious spiritual problem that is between me and God.
What I've learned through this though is that faith isn't a feeling. It's a decision to believe in spite of what or how you feel. Our emotions change with the weather, literally. But God does not change. Just because I have an emotional disorder doesn't mean that God has abandoned me and can't use me. What shallow people we would be if we based our relationship with God on our emotions.

 

[LilyLamb]

My first husband is bipolar ... without medication it can be very difficult to live with ... I have several friends who are bipolar and when they are off their meds they are also very difficult to deal with ... there may come a time when he rebels and goes off his meds - you might want to discuss what to do during times like that. A dear friend almost went through a divorce because her husband went off his meds and refused to go back on them and became so abusive it was very difficult for her - but she endured and they got counseling (although they did seperate for a short time) and they're back together and their marriage is better than ever. So, like I said, you might want to get some counseling and discuss what you would do during worse case scenarios and be prepared to get counseling for yourself later on if the meds don't work or he refuses to take them.

I would also like to say that ... although sickness is of the devil and he can be healed ... take the meds and get a doctor that knows how to deal with this ... if he is healed then it will be obvious and he should slowly reduce and then go off the meds so that his body does not react the wrong way.

 

[elentári]

Originally posted by praisegod
I just don't know how to handle the way the church is handling this at all. It was someone from our minestery team that said that it was the devil. I think I am at the point that I want to speak to our senior Pastor. And if that is the way that he believe's then I guess it will be time for us to find another church to go to. I really enjoy the way they do there services. But I know that at this point we both need positive support. 

I would totally agree that going to the top is the best course of action - and certainly if you cant find any support in this church, then find somewhere where you can. Your husband, and also yourself, will need support over the coming months. And you deserve it. Don't let ignorant people get to you - they just simply dont understand the way the human mind works. So - they just spiritualize everything

 

 

[E-beth]

praisegod, I am married to someone with bipolar disorder.  He is one of the most beautiful people I know, and the Lord is with him.

Bipolar is a mental illness, a chemical disorder in the brain.  When he was undiagnosed, he could go from being spastic and never sleeping to crying and depressed in a matter of minutes.  He would have a raging temper, I think based on his frustration from being confused all the time, and used anything he could to deaden his emotions.  Then he was diagnosed, medications were tried, and lithium was found to be successful.  Since I have known him, there haven't been any prolonged manic or depressed states (thank God!) but if they come, I will love him through it with God's help.

The idea that bipolar is a condition solved through an exorcism is silly.  It seems to me that that is like trying to cure cancer by eating lollipops.  Medication and careful monitoring are the answer.  I seem to recall a passage in the Bible where it says that illnesses are not caused by or related to sin.  I will have to look it up.

Anyway, if you have questions about what it is like to be married to a bipolar sufferer, don't hesitate to PM or email me.

 

[Iddie4him]

[I]Dear Praisegod,

I am E-Beths other half, I have dealt with Bipolar  sine i was a child. It is not an affliction of the Devil, as some would have you try to believe. Get as far away from that church as possible and get away fast !!!! I went thru drastic mood swings for years to the point that i thought that i was having a nervous breakdown. I finally got treatment for it after my ex-wife found me in the bedroom with a loaded shotgun in hand ready to use it on myself.This was just one of many suicide attempts thru my life. That was 8 years ago. I have a very different form of Bipolar tho, My mood swings came on a daily basis, sorta like a brittle diabetic deals with rapidly changing sugar levels.I had been on 5 different medications before I was started on the lithium. My magic dose was 1800 mg per day, 900 2 x a day.....Needless to say I feel like a different person, I thank god everyday that i found E-Beth, and that she has the strength and understanding to stay with me. She unlike the Ex has the patience to deal with me and try to talk about the things that bother me. I still have what they term a breakthru high or low cycle on occasion, but they are not anywhere near as horrible as they were before the lithium. I just try to deal with this on a daily basis now, AND REMEMBER TO TAKE MY MEDS......usually she will remind me...where would i be without her ????  Lets not go there shall we ?

Anyhow, Get your fiance' to see a good and reputable psychiatrist immediately and ask to have him checked over thouroughly. They do have a test now that can find it from a blood sample. Also it tends to be hereditary, so check and ask about both sides of the family for any relatives that may have suffered from depression no matter how slightly.This will help the Doctor to determine what is going on...I will be praying for you both,GET TO A DR. ASAP....... [/I]

 

[praisegod]

Thanks everyone for your prayers and support through this.

I know that we are going to have a long road ahead of us. But I know that with Gods help and the right Medication that things will be okay.

God Bless to all and thanks