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Humanity and Science Behind Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and Mental Health - by Jane Chin PhD
Religion and Bipolar Disorder
Author: Jane Chin, Ph.D.12 Nov
This past week’s Post Secret had a postcard that said, “My pastor always talks about how if people would find God they wouldn’t need pills. I’m bipolar but took his advice. My pastor is an idiot!!”
An email follow-up to the postcard said, “Sometimes, God answers by giving us the tools to take care of ourselves.” This also generated a flurry of comments about the postcard on the forum.
Amen.
(P.S. For the sake of objectivity, the pastor may be talking about using recreational drugs as an escape from God or from the self, and not necessarily medical conditions requiring medical intervention like bipolar disorder. However, this postcard shows how important it is to include disclaimers and exceptions when you are preaching to a group of people.)
4 Responses for "Religion and Bipolar Disorder"
I may believe in fairies or gods or spirits. What does this have to do with a chronic medical condition? My advice stick with the advice of medical professionals and your personal intellect to make decisions regarding living with bipolar disorder.
This reminds me of a time I was on the road and flipping through radio stations. I stumbled across a local religious broadcast, and was outraged to hear the discussion turn to the evils of modern medicine. The hosts went so far as to tell people who used chemo to battle cancer that they didn’t have enough faith, and that they would be punished for their lack of faith.
I know these types represent a minority, but it is a scary minority. When I was heavily involved in the fundamentalist church, I encountered individuals who told me that I continued to struggle with depression because of a lack of faith. When I finally decided to start taking medication, and I actually started feeling better, I decided to leave the church. No animosity, just an understanding that it wasn’t a healthy place for me to remain.
To give a fair and balanced perspective, I have encountered articles from people deep in the self help/personal development field that espoused the same view of depression. They believe it is fundamentally a thought problem, not a neurochemical issue. That view is just as wrong as the “lacking faith” view, but it doesn’t seem to be as shrill, nor does it seem to have as many followers.
Quint
azure - it makes sense - but we have to consider the reality that many people are still struggling to view bipolar disorder as a medical condition, including those who suffer from it and should seek medical help. in their case, they may be more easily influenced by general statements that may discourage them from seeking the help they need.
quint - one can argue that the process of “thought” does involve the body’s production and processing of biochemicals, including neurotransmitters that physically make “thinking” possible, and therefore it is entirely possible that the thought mechanism itself can be affected by mental illness. however, i agree with you - certain rigid religious views aren’t too different from rigid “personal development” views that make extreme conclusions.
I’M A WICCAN, I DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD! PEOPLE TELL ME THAT I’M BIPOLAR BECAUSE I DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD OR GO TO CHURCH THAT IF I WOULD PUT MY FAITH IN GOD THAT I WOULD BE CURED! THIS IS BULL SH*T! I’M A REGISTERED NURSE THAT’S BEEN BATTLING THIS DISEASE, YES DISEASE, FOR OVER 8 YEARS! THAT’S HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO FIND THE RIGHT DOCTOR WHO PUT ME ON THE RIGHT MEDS TO STABILIZE ME! I’M VERY INTELLIGENT AND HAVE EDUCATED MYSELF ON MY DISEASE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME; NOT ONLY ON THEIR DISEASE BUT ON THEIR MEDS ALSO. MY FATHER HAD BIPOLAR! BIPOLAR IS GENETIC AND A CHEMICAL IMBALANCE IN THE BRAIN! IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS! FOR THOSE WHO THINK IT DOES ARE VERY IGNORNANT PEOPLE! STOP SHOVING YOUR RELIGION DOWN MY THROAT! I DON’T BELIEVE IN WORSHIPING A DEAD MAN ON A STICK! I BELIEVE IN GODS AND GODDESS! IN HARMONY AND NATURE! HARM NONE! KARMA, WHAT YOU DO UNTO OTHERS WILL COME BACK TO YOU THREE TIMES FOLD! BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU SAY; IT MAY JUST COME BACK AND BITE YOU WHERE THE SUN DOESN’T SHINE! BLESSED BE FROM ALL FOUR CORNERS!
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