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Bipolar and Religion

For Bipolar Disorder patients, religion often plays a distinct role in their lives. Many people with bipolar find the support of their church families to be invaluable. However, some bipolar patients have also faced judgment, stigma, misunderstanding, and have even been accused of demon possession.

Religion and spirituality, for other bipolar patients, are two different things. These people with bipolar do not necessarily go to church, but still find comfort through prayer and a personal relationship with God.

Religious people misjudge bipolar people because of a lack of knowledge of the disorder. They observe the symptoms, such as depression, and misunderstand the person who has Bipolar Disorder. For instance, they believe the bipolar person has a lack of faith because the person with bipolar takes medication for his/her disorder. Yet these same "religious" people do not criticize or judge other Christians who suffer from diabetes for taking insulin for their conditions as having a lack of faith.

People with Bipolar Disorder take medication to adjust the neurotransmitter levels in their brain, in the same manner that people with diabetes take insulin to enable their body to function normally. It has nothing to do with whether they are a "good Christian" or not.

In religious circles in our society, there is a huge stigma attached to mental illness in general. It is seen as a character flaw, or as something you should be able to control by yourself and, if you can’t, there is something wrong with your "spiritual walk." But this isn’t true.

Bipolar Disorder is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is not your fault. It is not something that you caused by being a "bad Christian." People aren’t perfect, and "Christian people" are no different from other people. Bipolar Disorder is not caused by lack of faith, a weak spiritual walk, or sin in your life. Nor is it caused by demon possession. It is also not a punishment from God.

Bipolar Disorder is still not curable, but it is manageable—by medication and, for many people, by prayer. Many people with Bipolar Disorder have found comfort in the Bible, especially in Scriptures that have helped their depression. One of those Scriptures is the following:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7)

Notice that it says that God will guard our hearts and MINDS. He may not take away your depression, but He will give you peace in spite in spite of your depression.

About the Author

Michele Soloway has dealt with bipolar disorder from a very young age. Her grandmother, mother, herself, and her teenage son all have the disorder. She also lost her sister to suicide because of bipolar disorder. Michele has a blog for bipolar survivors at http://bipolarsurvivor.blogspot.com, and is also a contributing writer to www.bipolarcentral.com.

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This Week's Bipolar News

Overeating and substance abuse are similar disorders
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People with bipolar disorder have higher-than-average rates of obesity and substance abuse. But McIntyre found that the obesity rate in bipolar patients was ...

Club stoush bowls out member
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A MAN suffering from bipolar disorder and depression has been barred from membership at a Sydney bowling club after a clash over club bylaws.

Mom abandons 18-year-old under Nebraska safe-haven law
Richmond Times-Dispatch
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Police say a woman has abandoned her 18-year-old daughter at a hospital, saying she can't control the girl, in what may be the latest use of Nebraska's unique safe-haven law. The woman told officials at BryanLGH Medical Center West that her daughter, who was adopted, is bipolar and has a learning disability, Assistant Police Chief Jim Peschong said today.

Click here for all Bipolar News.

Featured Article:

Romancing Your Spouse

"Romancing your spouse?" Ok, I can already hear you yelling at me! I know, it's a strange concept, but hear me out. Some of the longest-running marriages have lasted because of this very concept.

You may be thinking that this has nothing to do with Bipolar Disorder, but it does. Even the best of marriages has some strain on it - the pressures of day-to-day living, at the very least. However, Bipolar Disorder puts additional pressure on your marriage because of the issues you have to face in dealing with the disorder, whether you are the survivor or the supporter.

No matter how long you've been married, the suggestions in this article can put some "spark" into your marriage. And if you've only been married a short time, putting these suggestions into place now can help ensure a long, happy, healthy marriage (of course, you will still have to do some hard work yourself to make that happen as well!).

Click here to read the entire aritcle

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