bipolar and religion

[glory333]

does anyone have or had any experience with religion while being bipolar

[aadel]

Frrom ILADVOCATE: " But for myself at least the biggest step in recovery was putting aside my own ego. Once I got to the point where I did not feel myself more important than other people nor afraid of them either but just equal I had a sense of self acceptance which is an essential part of recovery."

Well said, ILADVOCATE.  I suspect that's an enormous achievement, though, and I'm not at all sure that many people--including myself--are capable of it.  How does one let go of one's own ego?  

That's basically a rhetorical question since I'm well familiar with all the possible theoretical answers, both from western and eastern perspectives.  But hey, how do you ACTUALLY DO IT?

[ILADVOCATE]

That's complex. As for known historical figures I believe historians have summarized that Joan of Arc had bipolar. That's one example. That doesn't mean particular people's devotion to religion or other causes is not real. Those of us (such as myself before recovery) who have been in a psych. hospital have seen people in a psychotic grandiose state who believed they were the embodiment of a higher power. Not very pleasent. It works both ways. I know someone who is an atheist and part of their thinking really to me reflects to me what they are against and with their hatred and cynicism I would say its not healthy and in the past they were referred to talk therapy but they weren't open minded enough to it for it to work. But I do know another person that is quite religious (not Christian but to be fair minded I won't detail what religion as this is a public thread) and diagnosed with bipolar and the moment they start talking in an obsessive way about religion I know that things aren't going well with them. And they are starting to realize it themselves as well. And talk it over with their provider.
   The psychiatrists I've known have been very respectful of different cultures and religions and faith based recovery. The important thing is that it not stand in the way of treatment or reflect a negative approach to other people or ourselves or reflect a sense of self importance that can happen during grandiosity. We all have to slow down and realize our place in the world. Working on accomplishing things including through faith based means in positive. But for myself at least the biggest step in recovery was putting aside my own ego. Once I got to the point where I did not feel myself more important than other people nor afraid of them either but just equal I had a sense of self acceptance which is an essential part of recovery.

[LetaB]

  
" i do believe in god and those who don't will surely find out when they die that there is a god and a heaven and a hell."

This sentiment represents why I left the Christian belief. If there is a god up there who made us so screwed up, dropped us on this planet, refused to intervene in any obvious way and then had the audacity to BLAME us for our mistakes.... I mean what a jerk. I don't want that god - it goes against our own human nature about what is right and wrong, how good parents would treat their child. My explanation of why there are so many BP people represented in radical religiosity is our penchant for "magical thinking". Goes to figure.

[BeeKeeper]

Interesting thread...and here I thought I was the only one struggling with all of this.  i'm not sure it's comforting to anyone to know others are trying to deal with religion and being BP, but it is helpful to know you're not alone.  I appreciate everyone's thoughts/comments on this one back to glory333 and others.

[Twelvesgirl]

guess I need to work on that temper...maybe I should call the doc...

[Twelvesgirl]

You know in one of the other religion posts there was talk of scare tactics in the church. It doesn't really matter what church, religion, organized religion uses it.  It's been talked about on here, and I can't get it out of my mind, and its starting to drive me a little batty and I'm super pi**ed about it. As a teenager being prayed for depression and for this disease and to be protected I WAS right with God, and he let horrible things happen to me. I did everything, I looked to him and trusted him, and awful things happened to me, not at church but outside of church, so dont say that if you're right w/ him he won't let bad things happen, thats pure bull**it and lies. You're feeding people the same scare tactics and lies that I was fed as a teenager, you're saying to palpable minds the same things that I was told then, when thats not what they need. I don't reject God, but I do reject someone's scare tactics. I have so little respect for people who stand up for what they believe in and say they look to the word and they don't even know the word, you can read the Bible all day long every day of your life, but if don't retain any of it, or don't read into it the right way, the way God intends it, then your not going anywhere. You're not moving forward in your walk w/ God. Don't get on here and tell these people that if they don't believe in God that they're going to hell. WWJD? Do you as a Christian think that Jesus "scared the hell" out of people to get them to believe in him an his father? Maybe, maybe not. Tender people like Joeyd777 (sorry if you don't want me to use you as an example) make me feel calm, like I remember the calmness of love of some people who love God, then there are some people who don't know what their talking about and they spout out threats and scare tactics, and then there's some - they stand up at that pulpit with the big camera in their face and millions watching w/ dollar signs in their eyes...I just can't sit here and read this stuff and not say anything, obviously religion and sprituality becomes a big deal to us, to people suffering w/ bipolar and mental illness, why? Because sometimes we want to die...that's a fact man! Where are we going to go when we die, in comes spirituality, don't you dare come here and straight out tell someone that might be contemplating suicide that they're going to HELL! DAMMIT! That's not what they need to hear! They need council, they need kind words, they need help.....

[JamesEM]

So true. I agree with your statement. I was taught as a child that if you are bad the devil will get you. Fast forward, attending church. Fire and brimstone, hell, and all of the fear being bestowed upon me. No wonder I suffer mental illnesses.
It’s so confusing. Therapists hasn’t helped and doctors just prescribe medications, except effective anti-anxiety medications (thanks addicts)!
Considering the aforementioned I don’t attend church anymore, I’m tired of hearing it. I believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. However, I worship God  without the church’s condemnation.

[specialmom]

I gotta tell you JamesEM, that's annoying. Churches that preach that way are shameful in my opinion. I'm religious as well without all of that. I take offense any time someone says that the devil got them when someone ends their life or suffers depression. It really irks me. Thanks for your input here. How are you doing now with your mental illness?