Christians Experience Bipolar Disorder Too: Balancing Faith and Mental Illness

Two years ago, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I accepted an untimely diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which changed my life forever. On January 4th, 2021, I had a severe manic episode, which led to my hospitalization. I was frantic, speaking rapidly, and I felt rejuvenated even after getting two hours of sleep per night. While I felt unstoppable, my family knew that something was wrong. 

Following my release from the hospital, I got diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder and had to face a new reality. I needed to familiarize myself with a new level of functionality. To say that it was difficult to receive that diagnosis would be the understatement of the year. 

I was disappointed when the doctor gave me the news. I immediately began to think of potential reactions to this revelation. What would my family think of me? Would my friends still accept me for who I am? What would this mean for future opportunities? Would future employers not want to hire me if they found out? Even as I write this article, I’m wondering what the general response will be. 

With all of these thoughts racing inside my mind, I realized that when life throws you a curveball, sometimes you have to hold on tight and swing for the fences. I want to share four steps that I took to confront the stigma surrounding mental illness and to use my faith as guidance for healing. I pray that these four steps will also help you to face hard things in your own life. 

Be open to accepting your current situation

After receiving my diagnosis, I knew that there was nothing left to do but accept that fact. Although this seems like a simple solution, it wasn’t my initial course of action. I spent weeks trying to find a different reason for my manic episode. I thought that I was misdiagnosed or that my mental breakdown was a result of stress. Even if these scenarios were true, that didn’t change the fact that I dealt with a psychological condition. 

After getting a second opinion and hearing the same conclusion, I knew that I had to accept the diagnosis and learn more about it. Accepting your reality, especially if it’s not what you expected, is a very hard thing to do. I learned that acceptance is often the first step to beginning your healing journey. This step will take a while to process, and it often requires that you brace yourself for more hard truths along the way. Once my season of denial was over, I asked God to help me engage in radical acceptance so that I could begin to move forward. 

Be vulnerable with your trusted community 

I wish I could say that this step came immediately after the first one, but I would be lying. Having a trusted community is a very important part of your healing journey. This community will help you create a safe space in order for you to share your story with others. I was scared to tell my closest friends because I thought that they would label me as a “crazy person.” I thought I would be shunned by family members because I no longer lived up to their expectations of perfection. 

With all of these fears, I relied on God to help me be vulnerable with the people I trusted. I was surprised at the overwhelming responses of love and support. My friends were so understanding, and they even gave me some extra resources to help me navigate this new journey. If I didn’t let them know, they couldn’t give me what I needed. 

I also found out that I had some friends who were dealing with the same situation, and our relationship deepened as a result of my honesty. Vulnerability is very difficult, especially when you’re used to suppressing your emotions or dealing with everything by yourself. The Bible says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor” (Ecclesiastes 4:9). We are not meant to go through life on our own. We need a community to help us thrive and encourage us during the dark times. 

Have honest conversations about mental health 

Getting a life-changing diagnosis was something that transformed my outlook on mental health. I went from thinking that mental health issues were something outside of my expertise to becoming a mental health advocate and creating a podcast where people can have honest conversations about mental health issues. Now, I’m not encouraging you to share your story with the world if you’re not ready. You can start small by doing research and raising awareness about these issues with others. 

To those who want to help your friend or loved one who is struggling with a mental health condition, I encourage you to ask questions and learn from that person. Ending the stigma starts when you have those hard conversations and when you work to change your perspective on mental health issues. 

To those struggling with a mental health condition, I encourage you to reach out to the people that you trust and let them know if you’re struggling and what your triggers are. Doing so would help them understand that having a mental illness doesn’t make you defective. It means that you’re a human being who is simply going through a difficult time. 

Know that bipolar disorder is not indicative of your character 

Having a mental health condition is almost like having a physical illness. Just as you take antibiotics to help with a cold, you also take antidepressants to mitigate depression. The last step that I had to take in ending the stigma is to realize that my diagnosis does not define me. This was a difficult lesson for me to learn because I believed that I was worthless due to my bipolar disorder. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Although I have a mental illness, that does not make me a burden. I am loved, I am seen, and I am known by God. Nothing, not even a diagnosis, can change that. 

Once I realized that my worth wasn’t tied to my bipolar disorder, I began to work on helping others realize their worth. Creating the  “Rough Edges Podcast” not only gave me the platform to educate others about mental health issues, it also helped me to empower those who are struggling to value themselves. 

None of that would’ve been possible without me knowing my identity in Christ. If you are feeling jaded and are questioning your worth in light of having a mental illness, I want to encourage you that you are more than your diagnosis, and your life has meaning beyond your mental health condition. 

Managing a mental health condition is challenging. Although there is initial uncertainty when developing a good treatment plan, it’s possible to thrive while having mental health issues. You are stronger than you think and more capable than you know. Working to end the stigma starts with you. By having open conversations, trusting your community, and learning to value yourself, you can begin to thrive in your healing journey. You can do hard things and you can heal through this condition.