Bipolar Disorder Support Group
Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.
As a psychology student and a curious individual, I have taken it upon myself to discern the relationship between religion and bipolar manic states.
Having suffered a severe manic episode featuring hallucinations, delusions and psychotic features, I also know that much of what I encountered during my mania was a religious experience.
First, I performed a ritual of soul-cleansing during which I burned an "evil" book, while saving a "neutral" and a "good" book. I saw the monumental, universal struggle of good vs evil in the universe, as the forces of good propelled themselves through space forming geometric zones of attack against the evil forces, thus conquering the universe for peace. In addition, the Archangel Michael came and inhabited my body giving me wings of gold and a shield cross emblazoned upon my chest (yes I could see them). A while later I performed a world-cleansing ritual where I placed objects of varying color (signifying different elemental forces) at 4 corners of an intersection with a skateboard as a conduit in the center. I pushed the red object below the gravel on the median to signify the end of the age of fire and the dawn of the age of growth and earth.
...Needless to say, I think that some religious experience historically is rooted in mania, or other mental illness.
I'm just wondering have you experienced anything with religious significance to you? If so, what?
Having suffered a severe manic episode featuring hallucinations, delusions and psychotic features, I also know that much of what I encountered during my mania was a religious experience.
First, I performed a ritual of soul-cleansing during which I burned an "evil" book, while saving a "neutral" and a "good" book. I saw the monumental, universal struggle of good vs evil in the universe, as the forces of good propelled themselves through space forming geometric zones of attack against the evil forces, thus conquering the universe for peace. In addition, the Archangel Michael came and inhabited my body giving me wings of gold and a shield cross emblazoned upon my chest (yes I could see them). A while later I performed a world-cleansing ritual where I placed objects of varying color (signifying different elemental forces) at 4 corners of an intersection with a skateboard as a conduit in the center. I pushed the red object below the gravel on the median to signify the end of the age of fire and the dawn of the age of growth and earth.
...Needless to say, I think that some religious experience historically is rooted in mania, or other mental illness.
I'm just wondering have you experienced anything with religious significance to you? If so, what?
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I have been flying for over a week, spending a fortune on crap i do not need, even buying a few things twice because i forgot i had just bought them. luckily i stayed in the house most of the time although the dog must have thought i had lost my mind. the crash started on Friday and is getting steadily worse - suicidal ideation is back after my first break from it for years. It is always worse...
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I, I am new to this board. I have been bipolar for many years, but many times the symptoms were small and were below my notice. Everything changed in Oct 2017. I ended up with severe stress over my career, heart, and family. I attempted suicide three times. The first two were trial runs, but number three landed me in the ER, where I was watched firmly and then committed to a local mental health...
look up 'Jerusalem Syndrome'...(people making journey to Jerusalem when in psychotic state/ religious ecstacy or whatever..bit of a fascinating phenomenon over there)
the book 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins (I think?)- i've not read it but sounds kinda interesting.
I'd totally agree that some 'religious experience' is rooted in mental illness.. Not to be reductive..Not that there's anything wrong with that etc ;)
I've tripped out loads myself. That's all I'm gonna say!
I am actually about to start reading the God Delusion...
I appreciate your opinion. Mine is as of yet totally unformed. Hence, school.
I checked that none of it had roots in something I may have imbedded deep in my past.None of it could have come from any experiences with the religious idiots that make things up as they go along.
The rest I keep to myself cos some of this has to be deemed individual and personal.
As long as it isn't impinging on my recovery and the way others relate to me every day...It's worked.
I won't need books to influence the way others view their lives, then make money in peddling their costly truths.
I don't think I've experienced anything religious per se, I'm more into believing I'm Queen of the World, she's more powerful even than God in my mind
I can't determine whether I should go into neuroscience or transpersonal psychology. So confusing.
each to their own, just don't push god at me. had enough of it to take it anymore!
always tempted to respond to the 'god is good' replies with 'give me f**king break' but am too polite! lol
If you are curious, dig into Nikolai Gogol who was my favourite writer and allegedly died of "religious mania". Author of "diary of a madman" his final unfished book was "Dead Souls". It was really a comedy about a conman (in Russia you got tax releif for supporting peasants on your land, he was buying up deeds on deceased peasants,known as souls)..however he was going to turn this comedy into a fable of spiritual redemption in the final part. hmmm..
Very good reading material mentioned here though this stuff really interests me.SO many times here in the good ole south I have been told I am "possessed" and need to just "believe" which I think does God a HUGE disservice.If I was believing strong enough I would not need meds.BLAH....BLAH....BLAH
After a week long of heavy meditation, something in my brain just clicked. It felt like I experienced enlightenment. Suddenly I could see that EVERYTHING was related to everything else and how they were related. The amount of new info coming in through my senses was incredible. I was euphoric, understood mysteries I never could before, etc.
But the incredible amount of info put me on overload after about a weekend. I had to force it to stop, which I did by ignoring all the new things I could see and feel. It just got too scary.
I still think of it as a spiritual experience not a manic episode, just that I wasn't prepared for it at the time.