Bipolar Disorder

Do you believe that religion/faith can "cure" Bipolar?

I have Bipolar disorder and I'm a christian. I don't think religion can "cure" bipolar disorder but help people cope with it alongside the right medications.

Agreed...

No, not "religion" though I do believe that God heals at times.

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_Sky said:
No, not "religion" though I do believe that God heals at times.

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"At times" being the phrase to pay attention to...

I do believe that miracles can and do occur.

I also believe that God has given us people (drs. clergy, researchers, therapists, etc.) and different types of treatments (medications, etc.) to help us cope with our illnesses.

Please take care of yourself ....

I think the key word here is "disorder". Having bipolar means that the chemistry in your brain is not right and medication is needed to achieve a healthy balance . Similiar to a diabetic who needs medication to balance the chemicals in his /her body that regulate sugar . Having said that , I must say that my faith in God has been instrimental in managing my bipolar illness. First though I had to get my "head right " before I was able to rationaly deal with my spiritual healing . By regularly seeing both my physciatrist , for the medications I needed , and my therapist to deal with emotional wellness I was able to openly enter into a relationship with God . I must say that now I have come to a place of healing . I still strugle at times but I have all the tools I need to walk through the problems with a sense of peace . I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel before working a treatment plan with my doctors . Now I can . I can now reach for my savior without all the "noise in my head " telling me it is hopeless, God doesnt understand or care , it is my fault , I am just a bad person . This was my disease talking . Now that my disease is "managaged" I can clearly talk to and hear my God through prayer , reading his word and seeing through my circumstances to the purpose of this life He has given me. I pray this for you .
Take care and God bless,
Sher

IMHO those of us with Bi-polar disorders and any other disorder are here to help our peers cope and live each day to the fullist

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nothemama8 said:
IMHO those of us with Bi-polar disorders and any other disorder are here to help our peers cope and live each day to the fullist

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I agree........... We should try to use all the supports out there to help us maintain our mental health.

I believe that God provides many things to help us. If He chooses, He can remove a disorder, but I think that more often there is something that we or someone else needs to learn from the experience. He may help us by providing or inspiring someone to develop or leading us to a medication, a treatment, a support group, etc., or by putting a friend or other helper in position to do or say something at the time when it is most needed. There's more than just one way to be healed.

I believe we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience. We are born into human forms to evolve and grow as eternal spiritual beings into the likeness of our Creator. Our time on earth is human form is very short compared to our time in eternity in spirit form. Our time(s) on earth is to teach us about love and humanity. We are gifted to think, feel and act so that we might gain wisdom and understanding and give blessings to one another that are ever lasting. That's how I interpret and understand the religious and spiritual teachings I have been exposed to in my life. That's how I've come to understand the journey's and teachings of the prophets and the believers whose stories have been recorded in holy books and oral records for generations.

I do believe that people born of this earth of the spirit of the Great Spirit have been gifted with the capacity to achieve spiritual healing over any physical or mental affliction. The body may break down. It may become diseased physically and mentally but the spirit can thrive. The spirit is attended to when the body or mind breaks down. It may in fact be the physical affliction that enables the spirit to grow. Enables the essense of a person's soul to blossom. Who can't recall blessings known only through suffering? Childbirth to name just one. Love to name another --- what a double edged sword.

I think the word 'cure' is a distraction when we talk about mental illness. Because the challenge is rooted in the brain chemistry it requires a holistic treatment plan that includes the mind, body and spirit. It can't be isolated like a cancer. It can't be tracked like blood sugar levels. Mental illness is reactionary by nature. Emotions are not just affected by a medical condition or a side effect of medications but emotional imbalance is the core issue with mental illness. It requires a different approach. It's requires more spirit involvement.

I take meds to stablize my thyroid levels but I don't take meds to stablize my moods and nutralize my depressions. For various reasons I'm not drug compatable so I heavily rely on prayer, meditation, exercise and a battery of coping skills to carry me through each day. Some days are easy and some days are hard. Coming through the hard days are the most rewarding even if they are the most painful. The more I practise the better I get and the shorter the times of really bad I have to endure.

I guess that would be my cure. To have mastered coping with the effects of BP and other issues to the point that I don't experience the battle with the extremes so much anymore. To have learned enough to be able to steer myself before I trip the switch that sets my negative thinking and feeling into full spiral action. I believe that in time and with continued effort I can be 'cured' in the sense that I can function as myself consistently without all these timeouts for a breakdown. I can be led by my spirit more than I am now led by my mind. That is my goal and my definition of 'cured'.

Peace be with you......