Bipolar Type II Support Group

Just wondering. For me, Hypomania=serious involvment in church activities. Depression=not even going to church.

I started evangilising in march and went to church every sunday and meetings during the weekdays.

I started crashing into a depression at the very end of april and stopped going to church all together.

I even started to question my faith.. like if I can be so "into" God when I'm hypomanic but so distant when I'm depressed I must be a bad christian probably going to hell... and if I was why would god do this to me? Why would God give me a baby when I wasn't ready.. emotionally taking care of a baby is soooooooooooooo draining. Alot of shit has happened over the past few months that just made me ask.. why me? haha

Everybody was worried and called me weekly and I made up excuses. My church is VERY SMALL. IDK now I'm too embarrassed to go back. IDK what to tell them.. just show up or what?

SHould I tell my pastor? I feel like a butt for ignoring calls and emails.. afraid to go back

Post edited by: usmcwife, at: 06/06/2011 08:33 AM

I went through the same thing! When I started therapy a couple years ago, I stopped going totally. Since I was diagnosed as bp2 last year and taking all these meds, I won't even consider going because my hypomania is gone and I have this low-level depression. When I was hypomanic, I would teach Sunday School to the children and, like you, get involved in other activities. I have lung diseases too, so I was able to tell them my health is getting in the way of my involvement. I'm not sure what to suggest you tell them. Talking to your pastor is a great idea and perhaps he has some ideas of how to approach the situation.

Goodness, I do the same thing! When I'm 'okay' I do ritual every day. When I'm depressed, nothing. I think this is def a bipolar thing,not a personal defect, and it doesn't matter WHAT faith you are....same pattern.

I do relate to sometimes being able to "put myself out there" in the community, and other times it can be quite challenging. As skullhappy wrote, it helps to remember that my mental health plays a role in this and I don't need to feel defective.

I believe that whether or not you go to church, temple, a mosque or whatever, you can still be spiritual. I believe in God and pray every day, but I do not go to church simply because i believe organized religion isn't the only way to be spiritual. (also its hard for me to sit still even at church, and I have social anxiety). When you are depressed and laying in bed on sunday morning, don't feel bad about missing church. Instead, pray and let God know your reasons for not going, and He WILL forgive you. Having mental problems can hold you back from a lot ( I can't even go to school or work because of my issues), but God understands and you won't go to Hell just because you have problems that you cannot control. Regardless, He is always there for you.

You're right, there are many ways to be spiritual, whatever your religion. My religion and spiritual life have been an important part of coping with being bipolar II. For some reason I've found it hard to go to Temple lately. I don't feel bad about it, just puzzled, because I feel stronger when I do go.

Welcome to the group.

tova- thanks. by the way, be careful with the trazodone. i had taken it and the next day i would get severe anxiety that even the benzos couldn't help. one time i even wound up in the hospital because i was having frequent panic attacks. if your having trouble i would talk to my doc about that, but i am very prone to side affects and thats just me. i wasn't really raised to be religious, but i chose to be spiritual and look up to God when I went through hard times and it really helps.

About a year ago, I quit going to church altogether after going regularly for about 24 years. I've always questioned many things in religion even though I went to church. Finally, I quit going because I have lost faith in religion, not God. I do still believe in God. Being hypomanic or depressed, I still feel the same and I have no guilt in not going to church anymore. Like others have said, to me, you don't have to go to church to be spiritual.

Dagny- I completely agree. Not to down on others, I honestly don't believe in organized religion, but I think its good that others do because it is a way to let there spirituality come through. However, it is only one way among others. God is there for you (even when it seems like he's putting you through hell) and understands your pain. He may be the only one who truely understands it, actually, and maybe others with the same problems (like us). Everyone out there with any problems like us- don't stress about not being able to go to church or temple, as long as you let God know you appreciate what you have. And those who can go to church, temple, mosque, etc,- power to you. it can really help some people and its a very uplifting atmosphere. God Bless to all

I never thought people went to church to be spiritual. You can certainly be spiritual without being religious. Some churches just aren't that supportive and do too much interpreting, so until recently i hadn't been to church since i was very young. I am now 54. I have found a small and friendly church i go there because the church is supposed to build each other up and life each other up. These people seem to actually do that.