Venus, I definitely believe there is a spiritual aspect to each of us that longs for a connection to a deity. There is more to a person than physicality, we have minds that is interconnected to our spirits, and even to each other. It is only natural that we ask the question "why" of the deity and hope for an answer, as well as sharing our thoughts with one another to glean wisdom.

I do believe that in a way I am very interconnected with the world. I do feed off people's emotions, both good and bad... it took me a long practice to learn to shield and I am still not very good at it... at times I can feel my whole protective aura to collapse.

so maybe my feelings are other's feelings?

I believe there is a bipolar gene. I see it run through my family just like diabetes does. However, I also believe that we, as spiritual beings, need challenge and adversity in our lives to help the soul grow. I know I have grown from my experiences in life, many of which have been very bad.

so what if... and this is a rhetorical question... everybody has the "the" gene or set of genes and it is certain situations that trigger it? It does not really matter, how we feel as a result is what matter to us...

I however do believe lack of higher purpose (which can be wordly...but it has to be something higher than living day to day) can cause symptoms that we identified as MI symptoms. Chronic emptiness or depression... what if,for some at least, it's just being disconnected?

I personally don't really feel that bipolar effects this for me one way or the other, To me they are separate things. Bipolar to me is just an illness I have and is not connected to my spirituality. I don't feel a " but why, how" I just feel at peace with it.

why I question this is because a lot of my experience could swept of as mere halucionation or manic state... in my "manic phase" i tend to astral project, have chakras opened... and be in this state of mind that is removed fromt the reality.

One of my first thoughts when I was diagnosed was that there had to be a higher reason for this. The Universe must have a reason for me to have bipolar. I do believe in genetics but I don't think it is random. My grandfather did certain things when he was manic that were really good for people and I think in my way I have too. There might be some kind of spiritual evolution going on here.

I believe there is something as hypersenstivity... certain people can pick on energies and vibes easier than others... why is that ... we cannot really tell.
i learned to tame my manic plans... no more saving the world.... but I still have plans. Local development, fairtrade, nationbuilding... we shall see

My brother had bipolar disorder and he couldn't function without his medication. Yes I think it's biological but can be boosted with positive self care including enriching one's spirituality. I made the statement that lack spirituality didn't cause her mental illness but it can play a positve role. What if a person is a stellar spiritual person but still is bipolar?

maybe there is a biological compent... but i refuse to believe that that's all there is to it.
and I do believe lack of purpose can be one of the triggers of underlying issues.