Comments on: Bipolar and Spirituality http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolar-and-spirituality/ by Julie A. Fast Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:13:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kay Larson http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolar-and-spirituality/comment-page-1/#comment-3976 Kay Larson Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:18:32 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2008/06/29/bipolar-and-spirituality/#comment-3976 Did it! I’m reading a book called "The Psychology of Spirituality" (Dr. H.B. Danesh, a Canadian psychiatrist, 1997) that indicates when Freud first began his work he placed more emphasis on the "psyche" aspect of the approach than “analysis”. According to Danesh’s research, when Freud’s concepts of psychoanalysis were translated to English “they were presented in depersonalized and dehumanized ‘scientific’ language.” He points out that “in the original German language the emphasis is on the first part of the word, ‘psychoanalysis.’ Freud meant that “’Psyche’ is the soul – a term full of the richest meaning.” Danesh says that in the English translation, the emphasis is on “analysis” and the enormous significance of the fact that we are dealing with the human soul is generally ignored.” Our professional treatment of mental illnesses became limited to physical (biological; chemical measures) and counseling to meet psychosocial needs. In a brief historical overview of care for the mentally ill, Danesh skips quickly from past to present to show that, “having freed itself from the chains and locked gates of the asylums, having replaced witchcraft with analytic insight, and having refined the crude alchemy of the past to a substantive understanding of the chemistry of the brain, modern psychology is now ready to focus on the spiritual dimension of human reality.” His book helps us see ourselves as “noble beings” and takes us on a journey from “divided self to integrated self”. In the case of bipolar and other such illnesses, it does not rule out the need for proper medical care and psychiatric counseling that is beneficial. It simply recognizes that the materialistic view of human nature must give way to a deeper understanding of ourselves as spiritual beings. What are the principles of a psychology of spirituality? What are the implications for treatment and care of the mentally ill? I’ll keep reading and come back again to the Blog when I have more to share. Did it! I’m reading a book called “The Psychology of Spirituality” (Dr. H.B. Danesh, a Canadian psychiatrist, 1997) that indicates when Freud first began his work he placed more emphasis on the “psyche” aspect of the approach than “analysis”. According to Danesh’s research, when Freud’s concepts of psychoanalysis were translated to English “they were presented in depersonalized and dehumanized ‘scientific’ language.” He points out that “in the original German language the emphasis is on the first part of the word, ‘psychoanalysis.’ Freud meant that “’Psyche’ is the soul – a term full of the richest meaning.” Danesh says that in the English translation, the emphasis is on “analysis” and the enormous significance of the fact that we are dealing with the human soul is generally ignored.” Our professional treatment of mental illnesses became limited to physical (biological; chemical measures) and counseling to meet psychosocial needs.

In a brief historical overview of care for the mentally ill, Danesh skips quickly from past to present to show that, “having freed itself from the chains and locked gates of the asylums, having replaced witchcraft with analytic insight, and having refined the crude alchemy of the past to a substantive understanding of the chemistry of the brain, modern psychology is now ready to focus on the spiritual dimension of human reality.”
His book helps us see ourselves as “noble beings” and takes us on a journey from “divided self to integrated self”. In the case of bipolar and other such illnesses, it does not rule out the need for proper medical care and psychiatric counseling that is beneficial. It simply recognizes that the materialistic view of human nature must give way to a deeper understanding of ourselves as spiritual beings.
What are the principles of a psychology of spirituality? What are the implications for treatment and care of the mentally ill? I’ll keep reading and come back again to the Blog when I have more to share.

]]> By: Kay Larson http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolar-and-spirituality/comment-page-1/#comment-3971 Kay Larson Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:21:27 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2008/06/29/bipolar-and-spirituality/#comment-3971 Thanks for your words of encouragement. I do have more to share, but will come back another day. Just saw this; it's past bedtime.... Thanks for your words of encouragement. I do have more to share, but will come back another day. Just saw this; it’s past bedtime….

]]> By: Admin http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolar-and-spirituality/comment-page-1/#comment-3965 Admin Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:30:33 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2008/06/29/bipolar-and-spirituality/#comment-3965 Hi Kay, this is so true. It has happened to me so many times. Especially if I am applying for something online. When I am posting a blog- I copy and paste my contents regularly. I agree that it's best to just write it in a file somewhere. It's hard enough to get your ideas in writing- and then they are gone! I hope you will repost. I love the comments here. Spirituality is one of the most popular posts. I find that I can contemplate spiritual things when I'm stable- but it's almost impossible when I'm depressed. What does this mean chemically? I always wonder if we have spiritual chemicals. Thanks for posting, Julie Hi Kay, this is so true. It has happened to me so many times. Especially if I am applying for something online.

When I am posting a blog- I copy and paste my contents regularly. I agree that it’s best to just write it in a file somewhere.

It’s hard enough to get your ideas in writing- and then they are gone!

I hope you will repost. I love the comments here. Spirituality is one of the most popular posts. I find that I can contemplate spiritual things when I’m stable- but it’s almost impossible when I’m depressed. What does this mean chemically? I always wonder if we have spiritual chemicals.

Thanks for posting, Julie

]]> By: Kay Larson http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolar-and-spirituality/comment-page-1/#comment-3964 Kay Larson Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:38:09 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2008/06/29/bipolar-and-spirituality/#comment-3964 This is not about the topic of this site....rather about the use of the area to post. I wrote something here to add to the conversation and, by mistake, hit the backspace key. It took me out of the site, of course, and when I came back, everything I wrote had disappeared. This is to remind me (and suggest to to others) to compose on a blank document and then cut/paste to the site when it is ready to go. I lost some time and effort there that cannot be regained. This is not about the topic of this site….rather about the use of the area to post. I wrote something here to add to the conversation and, by mistake, hit the backspace key. It took me out of the site, of course, and when I came back, everything I wrote had disappeared. This is to remind me (and suggest to to others) to compose on a blank document and then cut/paste to the site when it is ready to go. I lost some time and effort there that cannot be regained.

]]> By: Kay Larson http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolar-and-spirituality/comment-page-1/#comment-3934 Kay Larson Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:57:56 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2008/06/29/bipolar-and-spirituality/#comment-3934 And so here we are....Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Baha'i (me) and others, each with our own belief systems and points of view. One way or another we are all affected by bipolar illness. I don't have it, but my older brother died from it. Now one of my daughters has it. Their suffering was/is intense. Living in the "shadow" of this illness all my life (I am nearly 70), I have questions about the relationship of faith and spirituality to mental illness. Spirituality (to me) is partly about being able to make choices and decisions in one’s daily life that come from love, honesty, patience….and hundreds of other spiritual qualities. It is also about having faith or trust in a Power that is Greater than me, for “Divine Assistance”. There is a little book called "The Progress of the Soul" that is helping me get a clearer picture. It is a small collection of writings from the Baha’i Faith. I’ll share an illustration (see below), and end with a question. I start with the belief that there is a loving God. We may prefer to use that name or Allah, the Creator, our Higher Power, Unknowable Essence…the vocabulary doesn’t matter right now as much as the concept. Another assumption is that God (or whatever word we use) is the Source of all being. In a physical way, the movement of all of creation (sun, earth, plants, animals, human kind) depends on the light, or energy, that comes from the sun. If the sun were to stop shining for even a brief period, planetary life would cease. We could also think of this in a spiritual sense - the movement of all creation, including human development and wellbeing, depends upon the power and assistance of God. This Power is given to us whether we “believe in Him” or not. What we do with our God-given power is up to us. The more faith we have in “Him”, the greater the Assistance we can receive. The illustration from the book goes like this: Our condition of dependence on God is like that of a ship which is moved by the power of the wind or steam; if this power ceases, the ship cannot move at all. But once “under power”, the rudder of the ship turns it to either side. If it is directed by the ship’s captain to the east, it goes to the east; if it is directed to the west, it goes to the west. The motion, or power to move, does not come from the rudder; it comes from the wind (or engine). If there is no wind (or steam, or other source of power), there is no movement. In a similar way, under all circumstances individuals are dependent upon the sustaining help and assistance which comes from the Omnipotent. The choices we make using that power (to move right, left, or straight ahead) are our own. Whether suffering from a disease such as bipolar or not, we all depend on God for power. In a state of mania or depression, the damaged mind is less capable (if at all) of thinking and deciding clearly. Many of the “choices” that are made in either extreme of the illness bring disastrous results. My question: would it not make sense to strengthen the connection to the “Source of Power” when in a state of “normalcy” (neither manic or depressive), so that life’s decisions made at that time are more harmonious and in tune with the spiritual attributes mentioned above – love, honesty, patience, peacefulness, etc? By learning more about prayer, it seems the connection “with the Divine” would increase, and even more Assistance be available. If combined with the necessary medicine and psychiatric care, along with support from family and friends and whatever else is needed, it sounds like a “prescription for living” that might help prevent future episodes from occurring. It’s….my earnest and sincere question….If these thoughts are valid, I have another question: “Whose responsibility is it to encourage a patient to seek a spiritual connection? And how might it best be accomplished? Thanks for listening. And so here we are….Muslim, Protestant, Catholic, Baha’i (me) and others, each with our own belief systems and points of view. One way or another we are all affected by bipolar illness. I don’t have it, but my older brother died from it. Now one of my daughters has it. Their suffering was/is intense. Living in the “shadow” of this illness all my life (I am nearly 70), I have questions about the relationship of faith and spirituality to mental illness.
Spirituality (to me) is partly about being able to make choices and decisions in one’s daily life that come from love, honesty, patience….and hundreds of other spiritual qualities. It is also about having faith or trust in a Power that is Greater than me, for “Divine Assistance”. There is a little book called “The Progress of the Soul” that is helping me get a clearer picture. It is a small collection of writings from the Baha’i Faith. I’ll share an illustration (see below), and end with a question.
I start with the belief that there is a loving God. We may prefer to use that name or Allah, the Creator, our Higher Power, Unknowable Essence…the vocabulary doesn’t matter right now as much as the concept.
Another assumption is that God (or whatever word we use) is the Source of all being.
In a physical way, the movement of all of creation (sun, earth, plants, animals, human kind) depends on the light, or energy, that comes from the sun. If the sun were to stop shining for even a brief period, planetary life would cease.
We could also think of this in a spiritual sense – the movement of all creation, including human development and wellbeing, depends upon the power and assistance of God. This Power is given to us whether we “believe in Him” or not. What we do with our God-given power is up to us. The more faith we have in “Him”, the greater the Assistance we can receive.
The illustration from the book goes like this: Our condition of dependence on God is like that of a ship which is moved by the power of the wind or steam; if this power ceases, the ship cannot move at all. But once “under power”, the rudder of the ship turns it to either side. If it is directed by the ship’s captain to the east, it goes to the east; if it is directed to the west, it goes to the west. The motion, or power to move, does not come from the rudder; it comes from the wind (or engine). If there is no wind (or steam, or other source of power), there is no movement.
In a similar way, under all circumstances individuals are dependent upon the sustaining help and assistance which comes from the Omnipotent. The choices we make using that power (to move right, left, or straight ahead) are our own.
Whether suffering from a disease such as bipolar or not, we all depend on God for power. In a state of mania or depression, the damaged mind is less capable (if at all) of thinking and deciding clearly. Many of the “choices” that are made in either extreme of the illness bring disastrous results.
My question: would it not make sense to strengthen the connection to the “Source of Power” when in a state of “normalcy” (neither manic or depressive), so that life’s decisions made at that time are more harmonious and in tune with the spiritual attributes mentioned above – love, honesty, patience, peacefulness, etc? By learning more about prayer, it seems the connection “with the Divine” would increase, and even more Assistance be available. If combined with the necessary medicine and psychiatric care, along with support from family and friends and whatever else is needed, it sounds like a “prescription for living” that might help prevent future episodes from occurring. It’s….my earnest and sincere question….If these thoughts are valid, I have another question: “Whose responsibility is it to encourage a patient to seek a spiritual connection? And how might it best be accomplished? Thanks for listening.

]]> By: Linda Tagliarini manz http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/bipolar-and-spirituality/comment-page-1/#comment-3881 Linda Tagliarini manz Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:01:53 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2008/06/29/bipolar-and-spirituality/#comment-3881 Julie, I am going to write this, as if we were all joining the military today. Like a soldier in a physical war, joining in combat...only this war, is a spiritual warfare...It is the war between the spirit and the flesh, (which the mind is the biggest battle field of all!) We all have fallen short of the glory of God in one way or another, which makes us all feel so much guilt and terrible shame. But God, through his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, has saved us from that...so through forgivness and redemption, we are in a right standing with him...(if you will) in a beautiful relationship with our heavenly Father. We are no longer enemies of God but recieve his love, freely. Though,like in a military war, we enter a spiritual warfare for THE TRUTH...for the truth really does set us all free! That's what you have been trying to do, also Julie. Is to tell the truth to help others who are suffering from bipolar illness. Although, you are so strong with so many gifts and talents and write and give of your entire self, in love...I believe, you need God's supernatural love to fight the good fight of faith ~ it is so much easier and JOYful that way. Then, you are on the winning side of this....spiritual war...You then, have entered into God the Father's domain and then come out the big guns!!! When we accept that Jesus died for our sin and humble ourselves...the enemy of this world really tries to go to war on us...because he is the opposite of love and faith...he comes to kill, steal and destoy mind, body and spirit...that means our faith and our hope...but mostly our LOVE~~~because you know as well as I do...that love is all there really is... Julie, even if what I say...seems to be a fallacy to some...the world as it is...with or without God, is fading away...the water supply...the depleted soil...911...Haiti...must I go on...I think not. It is unfortunetly before our eyes, everyday in the newspaper, the media...and on it goes... The enemy of God is going to be all over you because you have the boldness to come and step out in faith with ways of helping, not only yourself, but sooooooooooo many others. The war is on...please accept God's forgiveness...it is a free gift! All you have to do...is accept Him. Really, in this life, isn't that all anyone really wants?...is to be accepted...and not to be left isolated and alone... God loves you, so much! He came to save people...not the world. "Be in this world and not of it" "I am the truth the life and the way"..."I will never leave you or forsake you..."..."your picture is tatooted on my palm"... "I love you with an everlasting love.." I don't know about anybody else but no one in this world loves me like that...Jesus was the living sacrifice to "Set Us Free from the bondage of sin....bondage...we can break out anytime with His help....Yeahhhhhh!!! "Who the Son sets free, is free indeed." I write this In God's loving grace. Linda Julie, I am going to write this, as if we were all joining the military today. Like a soldier in a physical war, joining in combat…only this war, is a spiritual warfare…It is the war between the spirit and the flesh, (which the mind is the biggest battle field of all!)

We all have fallen short of the glory of God in one way or another, which makes us all feel so much guilt and terrible shame. But God, through his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, has saved us from that…so through forgivness and redemption, we are in a right standing with him…(if you will) in a beautiful relationship with our heavenly Father. We are no longer enemies of God but recieve his love, freely. Though,like in a military war, we enter a spiritual warfare for THE TRUTH…for the truth really does set us all free!

That’s what you have been trying to do, also Julie. Is to tell the truth to help others who are suffering from bipolar illness. Although, you are so strong with so many gifts and talents and write and give of your entire self, in love…I believe, you need God’s supernatural love to fight the good fight of faith ~ it is so much easier and JOYful that way. Then, you are on the winning side of this….spiritual war…You then, have entered into God the Father’s domain and then come out the big guns!!!

When we accept that Jesus died for our sin and humble ourselves…the enemy of this world really tries to go to war on us…because he is the opposite of love and faith…he comes to kill, steal and destoy mind, body and spirit…that means our faith and our hope…but mostly our LOVE~~~because you know as well as I do…that love is all there really is…

Julie, even if what I say…seems to be a fallacy to some…the world as it is…with or without God, is fading away…the water supply…the depleted soil…911…Haiti…must I go on…I think not. It is unfortunetly before our eyes, everyday in the newspaper, the media…and on it goes…

The enemy of God is going to be all over you because you have the boldness to come and step out in faith with ways of helping, not only yourself, but sooooooooooo many others. The war is on…please accept God’s forgiveness…it is a free gift! All you have to do…is accept Him. Really, in this life, isn’t that all anyone really wants?…is to be accepted…and not to be left isolated and alone…

God loves you, so much! He came to save people…not the world. “Be in this world and not of it” “I am the truth the life and the way”…”I will never leave you or forsake you…”…”your picture is tatooted on my palm”… “I love you with an everlasting love..”

I don’t know about anybody else but no one in this world loves me like that…Jesus was the living sacrifice to “Set Us Free from the bondage of sin….bondage…we can break out anytime with His help….Yeahhhhhh!!!
“Who the Son sets free, is free indeed.”
I write this In God’s loving grace. Linda

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