Rant!

[lemonflavor]

Ive already learned about bipolar disorder. Im curious to why most people don't take topamax (It's by far the most successful drug for dealing with bipolar disorder, even if its of label).

Could you please cite references for that? Thanks.

Ah to be young and know it all.

 

[robannat55]

Hi all,

I am so sorry to hear the experiences of those of you who have been rejected by anyone. I have a brother-in-law who we suspect is BP but he will not take his meds. Consequently he is a big strain on everyone. He now lives with his Father but even he has great difficulty coping with BIL.

On the other hand I have a friend who is BP and for many years could not hold down a full-time job. He worked for various organisations who help in these areas on a Part-time basis and now he is working for a Gov't department on an almost full-time basis. He has come a long way.

Our church has a small outreach to people who suffer from psychiatric illnesses and live in what we call Half-way houses. We accept anyone at this weekly event and the only reason for exclusion is for abuse or intimidation. We also know of another congregation that has a service on a Tuesday night that is run for and to some extent by people with Psychiatric illnesses. They bring people from all over the city to the service.

So there are places out there that accept people where-ever they are at.

Rob

 

[angelkiss]

I'm glad to see your church accepts people for who they are and is willing to help. I know that not ALL reject the people who enter their doors if they aren't a specific type of people. Thing that gets me are the ones that do.
Bipolar don't only effect the people who have it, but those around them as well. That's where it's important that people who don't understand, get educated and not be so quick to judge. I mean, everyone deserves a chance................So, instead of those who turn us away and "assume" that we are hopeless mental cases, they should ask us about our illness and learn about who we "really" are.

 

[spdnet75]

Calgar, if you're not Bipolar, you have no business here, with us. I suspect that you know better and are here in search of answers?

I've been here for a year and know the sting of an, "Episode". Do you?

I've been Bipolar for more than half my life and know that it can be difficult to manage.

I'm here, should you wish to talk, Calgar.

Stephen

 

[robannat55]

I'm glad to see your church accepts people for who they are and is willing to help. I know that not ALL reject the people who enter their doors if they aren't a specific type of people. Thing that gets me are the ones that do.
Bipolar don't only effect the people who have it, but those around them as well. That's where it's important that people who don't understand, get educated and not be so quick to judge. I mean, everyone deserves a chance................So, instead of those who turn us away and "assume" that we are hopeless mental cases, they should ask us about our illness and learn about who we "really" are.

I agree.

I hope you do find a supportive group of real people, aside from us.

Blessings
Rob

 

[Ramona]

Hello all,

What Angelkiss is talking about in her OP steams me too. It happened to me not too long ago. I was supposed to start a leadership position in my church (yes, I know my icon says "Pantheist," but I am a Christian and it's a long story how that got there), when I got into a fight with the head Minister and she pretty much went off on me for my illness. It made me really sad, because she'd known that I'm bipolar pretty much since she met me, but I didn't know she saw me in that way...I'm now not so much angry as I am saddened by what has happened. I really looked up to her, and now I'm without a home church.

 

[angelkiss]

Hello all,

What Angelkiss is talking about in her OP steams me too. It happened to me not too long ago. I was supposed to start a leadership position in my church (yes, I know my icon says "Pantheist," but I am a Christian and it's a long story how that got there), when I got into a fight with the head Minister and she pretty much went off on me for my illness. It made me really sad, because she'd known that I'm bipolar pretty much since she met me, but I didn't know she saw me in that way...I'm now not so much angry as I am saddened by what has happened. I really looked up to her, and now I'm without a home church.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. I just don't understand why leaders of some churches are turning away their people like that! I mean, they're supposed to be the head of the church and show love, kindness, be there for those in need, and support their people not turn them away. Especially when it's an illness that can't be helped!
Does God not tell us to love our brother, and if we can't love our brother who we have seen......how can we love our Father whom we have not seen?!..........................To treat people as if they are a disease, that's not love.

 

[angelkiss]

I agree.

I hope you do find a supportive group of real people, aside from us.

Blessings
Rob

Thank you I pray that God will continue to bless all who are a part of your church and your outreach program.

 

[robannat55]

Thank you I pray that God will continue to bless all who are a part of your church and your outreach program.

And thank you too

 

[tapero]

a

 

[Calgar]

If you're not bipolar, then how do you know it works so well? How do you know that who is and isn't on Topomax?
And, what does that have to do with the subject of my thread? My thread is a rant about how some of the churches are treating people with mental illness.........namely Bipolar. It has nothing to do with medication.

I was speaking statisticaly.

 

[angelkiss]

I was speaking statisticaly.

An illness such as this don't depend on statistics. It depends on the individual. Just because a med works for a few don't mean that it works for all. I've been on a long list of meds that have worked well for others, but me persoanally, they've done squat! And what works for me, may not work for someone else.
Some people do well with taking one type of med. I have to have a combination.................I don't just have bipolar, PTSD, and Borderline Traits as well. Therefore, it's hard to find the right combination for me.

 

[sherr33]

Angelkiss,
I think Calgar needs to take a vacation from this thread. He makes me .
Anyways I am leaving today for NY. Will be back on sunday.

 

[angelkiss]

Angelkiss,
I think Calgar needs to take a vacation from this thread. He makes me .
Anyways I am leaving today for NY. Will be back on sunday.

Sherr, I pray that you have a wonderful and safe vacation.

HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY!!! s and es!!

 

[Bamboo_Chicken]

I'm so sorry this was closed for so long everyone . Please everyone remember we are here to fellowship and learn from one another, not to accuse or question our brothers and sisters.

If you ever have any concerns, feel free to PM me anytime .​

 

[youthwalk]

Thank you!

 

[OneOfHisOwn]

I too have been wounded by Christians who just do not understand this illness, but I have also decided to not respond in anger to their lack of understanding. I am convinced that many of brothers in Christ just do not know how to understand us and also are just plain "fearful" of mental illness. Often, they can be like Job's friends who were convinced that sin was at the heart of the problem - not understanding that the trial of faith which we encounter is for the glory of God in some way that I struggle to understand myself. Perhaps it is to show the world, that despite our pain and struggles we remain faithful to Him. I actually feel sorry sometimes for those who do not have to struggle as we do. In our weakness, we have to depend on God moment by moment or we would give up and perhaps injure ourselves or make bad decisions like abuse of alcohol or other behaviors that only increase our pain... I hope I am making sense. I have struggled myself for years ( I am 54, have been bipolar since first year in College 1971-72) and was not diagnosed until 1992. My wife gave up on me shortly thereafter (a believer by the way) and to this day I have had to "hide" my condition from other believers because I am fully aware of the consequences of disclosing it. I have found that I can only share this with people who I have developed a close relation - who know me and love me. Then I can let them in... Interestingly enough, almost all of them have suddenly understood some of the behavior they have observed and not understood until I finally let them in on the "secret" that I have this blasted illness. What is really funny - is that it took me 10 years _after diagnosis to even allow myself to accept the fact that I have this illness and it "won't just go away". That was very hard for me as I was just like may of our brothers in Christ. Mental illness was just not supposed to be part of a Christian's life. I have changed my mind finally and accepting it and accepting the fact that others may not understand is okay with me. They just won't be "trusted" with the information or ever be my close friends -and even though it can be depressing and I feel the same anger and hurt that others feel and struggle to forgive and move on - I must just let God handle them - I am just as fallible as they - darn it ...
Oh well, I hope this is helpful and not hurtful. If you all are like me - it is so hard to talk about this stuff. As Christians who know the command to love one another - sometimes we struggle hard to not hurt - since we have been hurt so often ourselves... Anyway -

Higher up and further in ... mountains to climb (the view can be breathtaking) and valleys to walk thru (darkness and fearful beasts on every hand)... but always He is by our side and sometimes carrying us thru ...

Bless you all.

 

[sherr33]

Made it home safely a week from sunday we go to meet my husbands half sister for the first time.

 

[sherr33]

I meant to do it this way. We made it home safely. A week from tomorrow we leave to go to Pa to meet my husbands half sister for the first time.

 

[angelkiss]

I too have been wounded by Christians who just do not understand this illness, but I have also decided to not respond in anger to their lack of understanding. I am convinced that many of brothers in Christ just do not know how to understand us and also are just plain "fearful" of mental illness. Often, they can be like Job's friends who were convinced that sin was at the heart of the problem - not understanding that the trial of faith which we encounter is for the glory of God in some way that I struggle to understand myself. Perhaps it is to show the world, that despite our pain and struggles we remain faithful to Him. I actually feel sorry sometimes for those who do not have to struggle as we do. In our weakness, we have to depend on God moment by moment or we would give up and perhaps injure ourselves or make bad decisions like abuse of alcohol or other behaviors that only increase our pain... I hope I am making sense. I have struggled myself for years ( I am 54, have been bipolar since first year in College 1971-72) and was not diagnosed until 1992. My wife gave up on me shortly thereafter (a believer by the way) and to this day I have had to "hide" my condition from other believers because I am fully aware of the consequences of disclosing it. I have found that I can only share this with people who I have developed a close relation - who know me and love me. Then I can let them in... Interestingly enough, almost all of them have suddenly understood some of the behavior they have observed and not understood until I finally let them in on the "secret" that I have this blasted illness. What is really funny - is that it took me 10 years _after diagnosis to even allow myself to accept the fact that I have this illness and it "won't just go away". That was very hard for me as I was just like may of our brothers in Christ. Mental illness was just not supposed to be part of a Christian's life. I have changed my mind finally and accepting it and accepting the fact that others may not understand is okay with me. They just won't be "trusted" with the information or ever be my close friends -and even though it can be depressing and I feel the same anger and hurt that others feel and struggle to forgive and move on - I must just let God handle them - I am just as fallible as they - darn it ...
Oh well, I hope this is helpful and not hurtful. If you all are like me - it is so hard to talk about this stuff. As Christians who know the command to love one another - sometimes we struggle hard to not hurt - since we have been hurt so often ourselves... Anyway -

Higher up and further in ... mountains to climb (the view can be breathtaking) and valleys to walk thru (darkness and fearful beasts on every hand)... but always He is by our side and sometimes carrying us thru ...

Bless you all.

Upon diagnosis of this illness, I was in denial for the first two years. Then, after finally accepting it, I found it to be a curse. Now, I have found the good in it, and also consider it to be a blessing just as well.
I have even learned that society is gonna think what they will, and I do the best I can and don't worry bout what others may think of me.
But, when to think that the very leaders of the churches are turn'n people away because they choose to go on what they hear instead of asking questions and learning about it first hand.............I can't seem to stomach that very well.
God's love is unconditional. We as christians should love the same way. To turn away someone because of an illness, that's not a very good way to show love in my eyes.. Number 1.....that's pass'n judgement on that person.....Number 2...that's show'n respect of persons.