Mania

Theomania was the word for the day last week. I am Bipolar I and before I became regulated on medication these delusions were a feature of my manic episodes. Anyone else have delusions that they are God when manic?

theomania (thee-o-MAY-nee-uh, -MAIN-yuh) noun

The belief that one is God or specially chosen by God on a mission.

[From Greek theos (god) + -mania (excessive enthusiasm or craze).]

This mania often strikes rulers of nations and is highly recommended when planning to attack other nations. It soothes conscience, clears the path, and removes all doubts. After all, if one is channeling God, why worry about rules and conventions of mere humans?

-Anu Garg (gargATwordsmith.org)

topher, i usually am just praying to God that he'll rescue me from myself.

i don't know enough about the high mania really.......mine are just short and awful spurts........xoxoxox pat

When I was first hospitalized I believed that I was having a conflict with jesus being in my head and I wanted to put him in my heart, In the er I became catotonic and was four way leather strapped with my one hand strapped by my head...surreal.
bizi

We sure beat ourselves up needlessly sometimes Pat. I don't know why I remember the bad ***** more than the stuff I could be proud of.

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bizi said:
When I was first hospitalized I believed that I was having a conflict with jesus being in my head and I wanted to put him in my heart, In the er I became catotonic and was four way leather strapped with my one hand strapped by my head...surreal.
bizi

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Wow, I have several hospital tales to tell but have never recognized but only a few BiPolar 1 people on the 2 psych websites that I frequent (notice the date of this original post). You sound like you have some serious manic episodes bizi. I hope that you have found something that helps you stay out of those leathers. For me, it was accepting my diagnosis and my medication. What made the difference after years of resisting my diagnosis was ending up in the state hospital the day my first son was born. I haven't seen a hospital since thanks to lithium. My son graduates from the University of Colorado next month.

I believed I was chosen by "god" that he wanted me at that moment and I was to take my life because it was time.

I never experienced this, but my oldest brother, who was DXed 30 something yrs ago, seemed to believe he was superior, some higher being, after treatment (proper meds) and therapy, this diminished.
Now he can joke about those days, and how our parents would re-act or try not to re-act in fear of violence between them as his manic episode escalated.
He went through a lot, as well as us, but pdocs got it right, the right med for him and life became stable for him, and our home.
Thanks for sharing your experience(s) with all of us, I think it helpful to others when we can all share our stuff.
I think you are "cool".

During my mania I absolutely thought I was chosen by God. I believed that I was the next prophet in line (Jesus, Muhammad, and then me) and that all the crazy things I did were divine and meant to be done.

Scary %#@&#!, when unconstrained.

This is kind of exciting for me to here from other BP 1s. I guess you guys ave been there all the time. Since my manic episodes have always involved psychotic delusions, maybe you can understand how lucky I feel that there is a medication that works for me. Oh, I hate taking it and the minor side effects. And I'm a little ashamed of my chronic mental illness, but I see so many other people here and elsewhere who just can't find the therary or medication to find balance in their lives. I'm not a religious person (except when I'm Jesus, of course) but I actually think that there is some reason why I was given this illness. As a social worker, it has helped me be more compassionate. And having a wife who isn't freaked out about it makes her very special and me very lucky. I'm not always this cheery, in fact , I can be a real pain in the @ss at times. I've been hypo-manic for a week now so I'm kind of chatty. Nice hearing from you all.

It always is good to have our spouses,friends and/or family that can be understanding and/or knowledgable (sp?) of some of what Bipolar is about or how one with the disorder is feeling.
I'm very happy for you,that your wife understands.

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mouse_ said:
I believed I was chosen by "god" that he wanted me at that moment and I was to take my life because it was time.

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I'm glad you had the courage not to listen mouse.

A friend of mine is going through the religious delusions with her 22 year-old son right now. She is desperately seeking some help. Since I have bp 1 (as did my mother & she had religious delusions--I only became VERY religious & read the Bible all the time & thought God was speaking to me with each passage I read), she has turned to me for advice. I recommended the pdoc I go to since I've been helped so much by the meds she put me on (though it was a year of trial & error to get the right combo).

She & her son saw the doc yesterday. As I understand it, he was given medication & is going to be in an outpatient program. I was surprised he was not put into the hospital. He thinks she is Satan & covers his ears when she talks & says, "Satan, you will not get me. I am stonger than you. I run on God's time & energy. You are controlled by Satan."

I think he could be dangerous if he continues to believe those things. He may think he has to defeat Satan & get physical with her.

I guess religious delusions are very common in bp, along with excessive shopping, risky behaviors, etc. Glad you are doing so well, topher.--Suzy

I guess meglomania can take many forms, but it makes sense that if a person tends to develop a distorted sense of their greatness when manic, then thoughts of being god-like would naturally follow. I also had 'ideas of reference' in which I thought that the radio and TV were referring about me. Jeez, I have a million manic stories to tell but they are so weird you might think that I made them up Suzy.

Oh, and I am doing OK, thank you, that is, until your Colts humiliated my Bears a few months back. : )

i;m going off on one now...i got this feeling that i am being called that I amm aboout to know the answer to all questions..my body feels like its full of electric shocks....its getting wierder and wierder...i;m not off this time and place I am special

topher, Sorry about the Colts ruining your day! This town went absolutely crazy. I'm not a native Hoosier or even much of a football fan, but I did get caught up in all the frenzy. It was nice to see everyone drawn together.--Suzy