Confessing to another person is a formality, and can often times open us up to more ridicule and judgement, which results in increased anxiety. If you are a spiritual person, it may serve you better to seek forgiveness in the eyes of God, and ask Him to bring you peace over the matter. If you are not a spiritual person, and tend to lean more to logic, I would offer this: you have recognized your perceived wrong, and you show remorse. Since we cannot change the past, dwelling on it will serve no purpose other than to perpetuate your negative feelings. Conversely, putting the issue in the past, and being pro-active against making the same mistake allows you to move forward. Remeber "to err is human... Hugs-

You have a genetic, biological brain disorder whose symptoms just happen to be manic moments and subsequent manic behaviours. You didn't choose this and wouldn't dream of committing manic acts when stable. Other diseases have their own symptoms that may be just as guilt provoking. Your responsability for having BP is to take your meds (if you are on any) stay in contact with your pdoc (if you have one) and get good sleep, good nutrition and exercise. Are you up for those responsabilities as they are what you should be focusing on. If it helps, I got HPV from sleeping around when I was younger, it progressed into cancer of the cervix which I'm glad to say was sucessfully treated. I used to feel guilty but no longer since I now treat myself nicely. I'm glad if your priest helps but you may also want to get a tdoc or talk this through with trusted friends.

Guilt is living in the past! Hopefully you've learned your lesson. That's all you can do. Guilt just weighs you down. I also have struggles with guilt but said I was sorry and have to move on now! We're all guilty of something. Don't be so hard on yourself and sure don't do it again!

You just have to forgive yourself and move on, I have regret and remorse sometimes too but I learn that I can't take back what I've done,so there's no point in beating myself up about it. And that whoever I did wrong to or hurt probably already knows im sorry anyway. We're only human we make mistakes, we just have to learn from them and try not to do them anymore. How are you today anyway??? Hope your better than yesterday.

I have had many of the same experiences with my manic moments, and when I do relaize what I have done (or it is more likely pointed out to me in a various grim ways) I fall into the trap of guilt and dispair. Then for fun I like to obsessive about the guilt and what I have done...
The only that works for me is to forgive myself, putting the episode in a mental locked box and focusing on looking forward. All you can do is look forward and admit to yourself that we all make mistakes, some big and some small.

When I have those moments, I give myself permission to be in that moment, for only a certain amount of time.

Yeah, I think guilt will always be there. But when I can acknowledge the times that it's happening, I can lessen the outcome.

Having been on the receiving end of many manic moments by my husband, my biggest wish is that he would acknowledge (out loud) the hurt he has caused. I have forgiven him every time as that is the only way I can get thru. Maybe it's not the priest you should be talking with, but the people you feel you have hurt.

I can relate to guilt, we all can. You're not alone.Forgiveness means to give for. Do yourself the favor and forgive yourself and then ask the forgiveness of those you hurt. Guilt is a double edged sword, drop it. God knows your heart, trust your own remorse, because it indicates that you're truly sorry. Many times in manic states we behave in ways we normally wouldn't. Please be kind to yourself, it's much more productive then being cruel. In order to be merciful, you have to show mercy; begin with yourself. We can't use our illness as an excuse , but we can't blame ourselves for it either. Hang in there!

We've all been there I promise you! You have no idea! I've learned to forgive myself and accept that a lot of it is just illness. I certainly was not always in control.

You have to learn to roll with the punches and just do the best you can. Correct mistakes if you can. Try to do better always. FOrget the stuff you can't do a thing about! Chalk it up to BP.
Good luck!
Eve