Posted by holymama on January 8, 2004, at 17:03:31
In reply to Bi-Polar or a Gift from God?, posted by daydreamer on December 29, 2003, at 14:23:55
Before I was diagnosed as being bipolar I aways defined the periods after my depressions lifted as my 'spiritual periods'. Periods of hypomania were periods of being close to God. The latest manic episode that I had on an SSRI was intensely spiritual. I described to my husband that I was geting closer and closer to God, and any attempt by him to make me come down was like trying to pull a person having a near death experience away from the light. It was just so compelling to go there.
I definatley am starting to see that as a gift from God.
I would not wish away my manic/hypomanic experiences for anything. I am different from most people. I am becoming a person with a strong faith in God.
I believe that most if not all of the early prophets in the Bible and in other religions were probably bipolar or in another 'delusional' state and I beleive that modern medicine writes off modern religious manic experiences as 'crazy', as 'chemical', but we can't fall for that. We know that is not true.
Personally, I've been thinking a lot lately about how we all write our own stories. Some people write their stories as themselves as the victims, as bad luck happening to them, etc. Some write their own stories as being very exciting. The same person could write their story as either way. It's all in how you write it.
I've been thinking lately about how to write the story of my recent transforming religious experience while manic. I could write it off as being crazy and manic and I could move away from it. I am realizing how much more exciting it makes my story -- how much more I can give to the world -- it I write my story this way -- I have had a major life transforming event. God has touched me at a time that I needed it. How inspiring is that? How much more meaning does that give to my life? How much more of an inspiration can I be to other people? I want to write my story that way and see if I can use that gift from God as a positive influence in the world.
poster:holymama
thread:294358
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030908/msgs/298250.html