Newly Diagnosed

[bshaw96]

I have always "suspected" bipolar, and scheduled more than 1 psych. appt., but when the time came to go, I never would. Finally went yesterday, and got the diagnosis officially. How do you others as Christians deal with this? I have always (Im 31, can trace this back as early as 8) felt that if I just had enough faith or prayed hard enough, it would go away. That has always been the hardest part for me. It feels like a failure in my faith. How do others view this? I know it is an illness just like diabetes or high blood pressure, but for some reason, I am having a hard time accepting it. I guess because I don't really understand the physical and chemical changes going on, just the emotional.

 

[lemonflavor]

I'm not very eloquent with this stuff, but take a look at Job.

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

He proved to have incredible faith and yet God let him go through all that suffering.

Today being the day after you were diagnosed is probably, hopefully the worst you'll feel about it. I know I felt like I had a life sentence when I was diagnosed recently. It will get better and you'll come to terms with it. I'm sure others will have more to say.

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear Bshaw

Does anyone like to think the very organ they think with is not working right?


That has the potential of being the most dangerous life threatening thing that can ever happen to you.



You can deal with any other disease. See the doctor, take the meds, go to surgery, ect, ect. But with this disease you lose that control.



Sometimes!



Mental Illness has a stigma attached to it from many years of ignorance and it will take years for folks to think differently.



When I went manic and it became clear that I was bipolar, I thought that was when it started.



The doctor told me otherwise. I was told I was always bipolar. To think back now I would have to agree.



My daughter called yesterday and told me now they have a test where bipolar shows on a screen shot of your brain. It is supposed to be a short supply of blood to a certain part of the brain and it is correctable. Don't know anything more on this than what I was told.



GODS WORD SAYS:

" GIVE HEED TO THE PHYSICIAN "



It has nothing what so ever with a lack of faith.



You can choose to follow GOD or not to follow GOD and be bipolar.



Be patient and pray GOD guides the doctor in your disease.



Take your time with the meds and find out what works for you.



MAKE SURE YOU TAKE EXACTLY AS DIRECTED. I didn't at first because I thought I knew better. This really delayed me from getting the right meds and dosage because the doctor could not guess how I was taking them. BE SMART. FOLLOW DOCTORS ORDERS. But if you have any problems, bug him till they are corrected. That's his job!



IN THE MEAN TIME ALWAYS REMEMBER:




XEven though you can't see Him, GOD is there!O
( click on the X and move to the O ) ( then feel who is around you )

 

[vibrant]

um, in this world, we are not perfected. anything in our bodies can falter or fail, including our brain and all that it controls: our body, our mood, our emotions.

there is a lot of mental illness in the Bible. from kings to prophets, they experienced the highs and lows of their moods, sometimes devastatingly.

comfort yourself knowing that in your weakness, God's strength can be demonstrated.

 

[bshaw96]

Thanks everyone. I think I know, even feel, that what you say is true. I guess maybe this feeling of "failure of faith" is what has kept me from seeking treatment before now. It is quite possible that the enemy has been deliberately taunting me with this to keep me from seeking help. I may never understand why I have to deal with this, but it's just life I guess. Everyone has their own battles to fight. Guess this is one of mine. And I must say God even seems to be helping me get help. My psych doc couldn't see me until March 20th when I scheduled my first appt. But they called back 2 hrs. later to say there had been a cancellation the next day if I could come. And she rarely has openings I understand. It was kind of weird. Again, thanks for the encouragement.

 

[Alive again]

I have always "suspected" bipolar, and scheduled more than 1 psych. appt., but when the time came to go, I never would. Finally went yesterday, and got the diagnosis officially. How do you others as Christians deal with this? I have always (Im 31, can trace this back as early as 8) felt that if I just had enough faith or prayed hard enough, it would go away. That has always been the hardest part for me. It feels like a failure in my faith. How do others view this? I know it is an illness just like diabetes or high blood pressure, but for some reason, I am having a hard time accepting it. I guess because I don't really understand the physical and chemical changes going on, just the emotional.

Welcome to the bp section of CF!!!

We are glad you joined us. Yes; recovery, acceptance, life in general is the journey. It is not about a destination. Learn to enjoy your journey. there is much known about neurotransmitters in the brain and more being learned about the genes involved and new exciting findings all the time in the mental health field. As you learn more and come to terms with this illness, which is indeed a biologically based illness, you will be more comfortable with coping with this illness. We have some older threads that look at the benefits of this illness as well as a sticky at the first of the forum that is a wonderful overview. If you want more technical explanations of neurotransmitters, pm me and I will give you some links. NAMI and DBPSA are good resources. Their is also a couple of threads about recommended books if that interests you. The is also a BP magazine out there.

There will always be parts of having this illness that frustrate me, but there are many things I have come to appreciate about the results in my life from coping with it.

Feel free to pm me anytime.

Blessings and Welcome!!

 

[Yusuphhai]

HI, Bshaw.(and Family)


Welcome to BP section. You said your BP is only "suspected" ;If it is not true, but just Psychological (Neurosis),you have much less to deal with. Maybe more than one doctor together can draw a right conclusion.


I pray that this BP forum be a warm home of us patients (recovering or recovered) .So please be free to ask for help.


Sincerely, Yusuph in Messiah Jesus.

 

[bshaw96]

HI, Bshaw.(and Family)


Welcome to BP section. You said your BP is only "suspected" ;If it is not true, but just Psychological (Neurosis),you have much less to deal with. Maybe more than one doctor together can draw a right conclusion.


I pray that this BP forum be a warm home of us patients (recovering or recovered) .So please be free to ask for help.


Sincerely, Yusuph in Messiah Jesus.

Welcome to BP section. You said your BP is only "suspected" ;If it is not true, but just Psychological (Neurosis),you have much less to deal with. Maybe more than one doctor together can draw a right conclusion.

Actually, the doctor seemed pretty sure. Ive always suspected it myself. Well, Ive always known SOMETHING was wrong. Ive just always rationalized it as female hormones or something. As a teenager, was told it was hormones, when pregnant, hormones, afterwards, postpartum hormones. My youngest is 5 so now it's evident it's not just female hormones. My medical docs have never taken me seriously, so after a very bad week last week, scheduled a psych appt., which is when I was given the bipolar diagnosis. It's funny, Ive always thought getting an official diagnosis would make me feel better, you know, just knowing WHAT was wrong. But now, Im faced with the reality this is a life long illness, not something Im gonna wake up and snap out of. So much going on in my head, just trying to adapt I guess.

 

[jgarden]

The good news is that you're only 31 - that's relatively young to have a diagnosis.

The bad news is that if you don't get medical help it can jeporadize your relationships, ability to work, etc.

The jails are full of victims of BP - approximately 17% of untreated BP commit suicide.

BP can be treated but it can never be totally cured.

 

[jgarden]