How has bipolar affected your faith?

[sue2904]

Mine really took a hit when I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 and medicated. After that I realized that a lot of my experiences and devotion were bipolar driven. I never lost my faith in a loving God but than why was this happening to me. And just like Job, He made me understand that He doesn't have to explain Himself to me and He is sovereign over my life.

How about you?

 

[Talihood]

I have Bipolar I. when I have a manic episode, I feel closer to God.

 

[quietpraiyze]

I'm bipolar 1. At first I was actually very rational that things happen in this life. My faith took a hit being around hurtful "Christians". It was a long haul. When I got away from the IC things got infinitely better. I wasn't cursed or possessed. Bipolar is just a physical illness that involves our brain. It has helped me to understand what is important and to keep my focus on Christ and to pursue Him and not healing. It also helps me to have a greater dependency on the Lord because I really do get that every day this body is going back to the dirt it came from. So I know to set my affections on the things above. Good question.

 

[CraftyTurtle]

On 2005, as I recall, in the depths of depression, I did not turn to God. But it was at a time when I was a lost sheep. Thankfully, He found me again, and I returned to His flock.
Now, God is in the centre of my focus, and I turn to him through all the ups and downs. I know I need Him, especially because of my bipolar. So yeah, you could say my bipolar has affected my walk with Christ. I trust Him - and like you, Sue2904, I don't need to know (and can't know) all the whys and wherefores of His decisions. I trust Him to do the right thing by me. After all, He has never let me down before. Bad times turn out to be learning experiences, and good times turn out to be a demonstration of His Promise.
I know there are many others on this journey who are way ahead of me, but in other ways, I am way ahead of them. eg, I may not be a preacher, but I can certainly teach arts and crafts to a child, and expand their imagination. God has a plan for what that child will become, and He needs me to plant a seed in that child at this point in his/her life. Everything God does is for a purpose. We mere Humans cannot possibly comprehend the big picture. Trust and Obey. (That was my (Christian) jr high school's motto)

 

[detachment]

My faith has took a hit cause GOD didn't heal me

 

[Ariston]

It's hard for me to believe that God exists when everything feels so dark and empty. And I think to myself, am I just sane?

 

[Jeshu]

I suppose one could say that bipolar has really affected me in my faith life. First in my manic cycle I thought that I was specially chosen to do great work for God, and even that I was Jesus Christ incarnated, when I woke up in hospital and was diagnosed with bipolar I died a horrific death.

Then for seven years I was down deepest, fuelled by anti-psychotic medications and mood stabilisers which didn't work but did depress me, I almost lost my faith in loving God and sought after death to rescue me.:o:o:o

Then faith reawakened inside of me when I realised that Jesus has also overcome depression and can teach those of us who suffer from a depressive illness to be stronger than depression can bring to bear. Faith in God's loving truth got me away from my suicidal depression and back on my feet again, though it was an enormous battle at the time.

Today I can say with the Psalmist though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil. It is great to have an active faith life in God's loving truth, He can get us through even the worst times.



To God's Depressed Child,

To think less of yourself then God's own
Brings you much pain and suffering.
Your worth is an incredible high price
Also for you did Jesus die on the cross.

Depression is also what devil's lies brings inside
letting a low-self-esteem your good life rob
Untruths roaming freely through heart and mind
Evil lies extinguishing all happiness and fun.

His loving truth brings you His good life
While to believe lies brings pain and grief
So hold onto the promises Jesus made to you
and don't let Satan your good life squander.

Take hold of God's precious loving truth.
A life in Him stays safe from lies that hurt.
Jesus' truth will comfort your bleeding heart
Lovingly remaking your fallen life anew.

 

[Goodbook]

I would say the other way round, faith has affected the bipolar.

When I fix my mind on Him, I have perfect peace.

 

[Loven God]

I have bipolar 1 and it has brought me closer to God . I have to depend on Him more and put my trust in Him when I am at my lowest .

 

[iambren]

Medication has saved my life for I was very suicidal when I was diagnosed. Today I am pretty well regulated and am thankful God pulled through for me in a timely way.

I still have mini-waves of depression/anxiety so in discerning spiritual things I have to keep mindful as to it's influence.

Often I see bipolar in people that have been gifted or accomplished a lot so I wonder how less of an impact I would have made on the world if I WASN'T bipolar. For sure, it is a cross to bear but God sees ALL and works things together for the benefit of the Kingdom.

 

[Bingo Q Flamingo]

It's only strengthened it. I was saved only a few years ago when I was at a low point in my life, exacerbated by bipolar; medication can only do so much on a biochemical level, but faith healed me in much greater ways. I learned that through God I have the strength to overcome anything, and I can always depend on Him to guide me back into the light when things start to get dark again. So yeah, I think it definitely brings me closer to Him.

 

[riona]

Long term, not at all. I've always believed in god, and still do.
Short term, through highs and lows, it has been effected, but I always come back around, one way or another.
I've been struggling with this for 8 years now... Its been a long and windy road.

 

[grandvizier1006]

Wow, you guys are all amazing! I don't have bipolar disorder (at least I'm pretty sure I don't, sometimes my mood changes but it's not so extreme or anything), but I've been through depression--not bad enough to warrant a trip to a psychiatric ward, but I can sort of empathize with how you felt. It's quite a testament to God's power that He kept all of you safe.

And that poem in your signature is really good, Jeshu! It really spoke to me, since my depression with my own mental issues would tell me lies like that, and it never really occurred to me that my life was worth saving.

Sometimes I wonder, "How can someone with X be a Christian?" I've gotten my answer

 

[dabro]

Mine really took a hit when I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 and medicated. After that I realized that a lot of my experiences and devotion were bipolar driven. I never lost my faith in a loving God but than why was this happening to me. And just like Job, He made me understand that He doesn't have to explain Himself to me and He is sovereign over my life.

How about you?

Exactly what you went thru.......

 

[St. Paul]

Yes. I had to walk out on a job because I had a manic phase at work.

 

[ShadowsChild]

I am medicated bipolar and i feel like God and I are in an eternally tug of war. Either I am insanely close to him, but more often than not I feel like he is so far away.
My councilor says there is other factors in the distance I feel, all I know is - it's kind of annoying.

 

[Retade]

I was very close to God even if it took me years to get to that point. I was/am born again..baptized as a baby and a grown up. I do understand deep spiritual truths about God and His word.

Since I've been diagnosed after an episode with a religious undertone, I went from faithful to faithless and that nothingness is constantly growing.

As I looked back to all my religious experiences I had in the past, I realized that each experience came with symptoms and that all my Godly experiences was as a result of my illness, from the first experience of knowing that God existed to somewhat "Delusional" experiences during worship.

Now, no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get back to that place where I feel or am close to God. At times I doubt His existence.

When I am a little manic I have an optimism that my relationship can be rectified. Even though I don't truly believe it.
When I am depressed I have this deep sense of truth that God really hates me, and that He never loved me to begin with, that was a mere delusion. Then it makes contemplating suicide so much easier.

There is truly a darkness in Bipolar that healthy people will never understand. It is a deep darkness..and it is part of who I am.

 

[quietpraiyze]

I was very close to God even if it took me years to get to that point. I was/am born again..baptized as a baby and a grown up. I do understand deep spiritual truths about God and His word.

Since I've been diagnosed after an episode with a religious undertone, I went from faithful to faithless and that nothingness is constantly growing.

As I looked back to all my religious experiences I had in the past, I realized that each experience came with symptoms and that all my Godly experiences was as a result of my illness, from the first experience of knowing that God existed to somewhat "Delusional" experiences during worship.

Now, no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get back to that place where I feel or am close to God. At times I doubt His existence.

When I am a little manic I have an optimism that my relationship can be rectified. Even though I don't truly believe it.
When I am depressed I have this deep sense of truth that God really hates me, and that He never loved me to begin with, that was a mere delusion. Then it makes contemplating suicide so much easier.

There is truly a darkness in Bipolar that healthy people will never understand. It is a deep darkness..and it is part of who I am.

I have found Christ to be my anchor in life, especially when dealing with Bipolar. If you are basing your faith on your Bipolar then you're going to be in trouble because one moment you can be up and then the next you can be down. Instead try placing your faith in Christ and His word. Go back to the Gospel and take in the wonders of His love as He went about healing and delivering others. Pay attention to Christ's kindness for everyday people and how he dealt with Pharisees. Look at how He talked to the woman at the well. Get interested in who Christ is. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you "see" Jesus. I also want to recommend to you Psalm 139. When God was doing a particular healing in my life He used Psalm 139. To this very day I still read it out loud. I take it all in as I read it.

You are still Born Again and even if you can't feel Him, God is right there with you. I leave you with this song Just a prayer away by Yolanda Adams. Please stay encouraged.

 

[NOTWHATIWAS]

Mine really took a hit when I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 and medicated. After that I realized that a lot of my experiences and devotion were bipolar driven. I never lost my faith in a loving God but than why was this happening to me. And just like Job, He made me understand that He doesn't have to explain Himself to me and He is sovereign over my life.

How about you?

I thank God for using my Bi-polar disorder to draw me closer to Him. Even though my illness keeps me from earning a living,God made a way for me to get my Disability Income. I am blessed by His provision-not only in meeting my material needs but in feeding and sustaining me spiritually.Praise the Lord!

 

[redblue22]

My faith is affected when forced to think I am God or Satan or someone greater.