What does the Bible say about being bipolar / manic depression?
The terms “bipolar” or “manic depression” refer to a condition described as “a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function.” Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. It is diagnosed based upon particular characteristics. The Bible does not address the issue of medical treatment for this condition. However, the Bible does provide help for dealing with the symptoms.
Typical characteristics associated with bipolar are considered either manic or depressive.
Signs of Mania or a Manic Episode:
The following are symptoms typical of a bipolar individual in the manic phase: inflated self-importance; in some, delusions or hallucinations; feeling all-powerful, invincible, and destined for greatness; feeling “high,” excessively optimistic, better than ever before; feeling irritable or angry; behavior that is aggressive, provocative, or intrusive; feeling rested after just a few hours of sleep; extremely talkative and sociable; pressure to keep talking; flight of ideas; can`t keep up with their own ideas and thoughts; inability to concentrate, distracted, restless; extremely energetic; increased productivity; a feeling of high intelligence and creativity; excessive involvement in pleasurable or high risk activities, such as sex, drug or alcohol use, gambling, or spending sprees; reckless, impulsive, unpredictable; no perception that the mood and behaviors are abnormal.
Signs of Depression or a Depressive Episode:
Feeling hopeless, sad, discouraged, or empty; inability to experience pleasure. Nothing seems to be of interest anymore, including former hobbies, social activities, and sex; significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month; insomnia or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia); being “keyed up,” unable to sit still, anxious, restless or sluggish, slow speech and body movements, lack of responsiveness; feeling physically drained, even small tasks are exhausting; can`t do things as quickly as before; strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt; harsh criticism of perceived faults and mistakes; inability to focus; difficulty making decisions; can’t “think straight;” memory problems.
Biblical Perspective
The struggles of a person with bi-polar disorder are very concerning to the Lord. The Bible talks about the terrible strength of the flesh (the “fallen” body affected by sin) and the difficulty of living with it, and how hard it is to live the Christian life while being affected by the flesh. While we hesitate to say that a person having a manic or depressive bi-polar episode is sinning, it is true that abnormalities in brain chemistry are a result of the fall – a result of sin entering the world, and a result of sin in that individual. Romans 7:22-24 says “I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members (flesh) another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” All illness and trouble is a result of this reality. Thankfully, the Bible tells us to “cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”
Romans 8, and Galatians 5 both talk about “walking in the Spirit” as the solution to minimizing the damage and destructiveness of the flesh in our lives. If an individual is focused on the kingdom of God, the flesh will have less impact on our lives. Romans 8:6 tells us “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Our goal is not to say that all the symptoms of a bi-polar episode are always caused by sin – but simply to give hope to suffering individuals. Closeness to the Lord, and walking in His Spirit, has wonderful healing power. Disease and pain in our bodies does tend to weaken us and make us susceptible to temptations of various kinds. For example, a person with bi-polar, in the midst of an episode, may become irritable and angry because of what they are suffering. Anger is clearly sin – and not a symptom of the bi-polar, though the suffering may make the temptation to act in anger stronger. However, the Bible is clear that whether we cry out to God for comfort during the ravages of an illness (mental or physical) or whether we cry out to Him for release from the sin that makes us miserable, He will answer with tenderness and send His Spirit to assist us.
Psalm 103:8-14
The LORD is compassionate and gracious;
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 6:1-4
LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?
Turn, LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
Typical characteristics associated with bipolar are considered either manic or depressive.
Signs of Mania or a Manic Episode:
The following are symptoms typical of a bipolar individual in the manic phase: inflated self-importance; in some, delusions or hallucinations; feeling all-powerful, invincible, and destined for greatness; feeling “high,” excessively optimistic, better than ever before; feeling irritable or angry; behavior that is aggressive, provocative, or intrusive; feeling rested after just a few hours of sleep; extremely talkative and sociable; pressure to keep talking; flight of ideas; can`t keep up with their own ideas and thoughts; inability to concentrate, distracted, restless; extremely energetic; increased productivity; a feeling of high intelligence and creativity; excessive involvement in pleasurable or high risk activities, such as sex, drug or alcohol use, gambling, or spending sprees; reckless, impulsive, unpredictable; no perception that the mood and behaviors are abnormal.
Signs of Depression or a Depressive Episode:
Feeling hopeless, sad, discouraged, or empty; inability to experience pleasure. Nothing seems to be of interest anymore, including former hobbies, social activities, and sex; significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month; insomnia or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia); being “keyed up,” unable to sit still, anxious, restless or sluggish, slow speech and body movements, lack of responsiveness; feeling physically drained, even small tasks are exhausting; can`t do things as quickly as before; strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt; harsh criticism of perceived faults and mistakes; inability to focus; difficulty making decisions; can’t “think straight;” memory problems.
Biblical Perspective
The struggles of a person with bi-polar disorder are very concerning to the Lord. The Bible talks about the terrible strength of the flesh (the “fallen” body affected by sin) and the difficulty of living with it, and how hard it is to live the Christian life while being affected by the flesh. While we hesitate to say that a person having a manic or depressive bi-polar episode is sinning, it is true that abnormalities in brain chemistry are a result of the fall – a result of sin entering the world, and a result of sin in that individual. Romans 7:22-24 says “I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members (flesh) another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” All illness and trouble is a result of this reality. Thankfully, the Bible tells us to “cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”
Romans 8, and Galatians 5 both talk about “walking in the Spirit” as the solution to minimizing the damage and destructiveness of the flesh in our lives. If an individual is focused on the kingdom of God, the flesh will have less impact on our lives. Romans 8:6 tells us “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Our goal is not to say that all the symptoms of a bi-polar episode are always caused by sin – but simply to give hope to suffering individuals. Closeness to the Lord, and walking in His Spirit, has wonderful healing power. Disease and pain in our bodies does tend to weaken us and make us susceptible to temptations of various kinds. For example, a person with bi-polar, in the midst of an episode, may become irritable and angry because of what they are suffering. Anger is clearly sin – and not a symptom of the bi-polar, though the suffering may make the temptation to act in anger stronger. However, the Bible is clear that whether we cry out to God for comfort during the ravages of an illness (mental or physical) or whether we cry out to Him for release from the sin that makes us miserable, He will answer with tenderness and send His Spirit to assist us.
Psalm 103:8-14
The LORD is compassionate and gracious;
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 6:1-4
LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, LORD, how long?
Turn, LORD, and deliver me;
save me because of your unfailing love.
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