Bipolar Disorder affects approximately 1.2% of the population or 1 in 83 people according to the authors at wrongdiagnosis.com (read more). I was once considered to be the one in 83, but I found the treatment only made me feel worse. I consulted another physician, who plainly told me my doctor had misdiagnosed and overmedicated me, which caused (get this) more depression!

It was disgusting to me to sit in the psychiatrist's office every few weeks in my business suit, waiting for the doctor to hand me more pills. I watched his patients and wondered in amazement as they walked in to the waiting room in pajamas and house shoes. I watched one poor fellow trying to sign in at the reception desk, who could not get his pen to touch the paper. He was swaying back and forth as if in a daze.

I began to wonder if these people were like this before they met this doctor, or became that way afterwards. I began to question him constantly about all the medicine he insisted I take. I feared that soon, I would be in my pajamas, standing at the reception desk, swaying in the breeze!

I took a stand! I consulted my doctor's boss, who admitted openly that my doctor had a bad habit of diagnosing all of his patients with Bipolar Disorder. Had I not taken a stand for myself, I would have zoned all the way out, just like so many others do on the mind altering medication, given so freely these days. It upsets me to think about what my life would have been like, had I stayed under his care.

Bipolar Disorder or Not, Take Action

Before you take another step, consider the possibility that your bipolar disorder symptoms are spiritual. God warned His children time after time to choose Him. He told them what their lives would be like, because of their own choices, if they didn't. When you consult a physician or psychiatrist, you will more than likely be asked to fill in a questionnaire about your bipolar disorder . By all means, do that, but take a spiritual questionnaire as well.

Jer 6:16

This is what the LORD says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls..."
NIV

Bipolar Disorder or Living in the Past?

After my medication was changed, and I was able to think again, I began to speak more openly with my NEW doctor about my living conditions at home, what was happening in my life and how bad things had been for me for the past few years. I discussed the life changes (very difficult ones) that I had been through just in the past two years.

His eyes widened as I told my story. He told me that if I did actually have a chemical imbalance, it was obviously caused by a miserably unhappy life and stressful circumstances beyond my control. His advice - CHANGE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES - FORGET ABOUT THE PAST - MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE!

By this time, I was not strong enough to change my circumstances. I was physically ill as well as mentally ill. At my lowest point, God lifted me up and through prayer, faith and Bible study I stay up.

The most important thing I have learned about mood swings is that many times, it is not really depression that rears its ugly head, it's a voice from the past. A voice that tells me I can't, when I know I can. A voice that tells me I am a bad person, when I know that I'm not. What do I do? I quote scriptures out loud and tell the voices to take a hike. I praise God for his grace and mercy and thank Him for bringing me this far. I fill my mind with God's word, filling in the empty spaces that were once filled with pain.

I picture my pain from the past on the cross. No matter what I've done or what has been done to me, it's on the cross!

That's it. No pills required.

Now, almost on a daily basis, I work with homeless people. Most of them are on medication for Bipolar Disorder Symptoms. Most of the medicine they take, I once took. I could have been one of them so easily, had I not chosen God's way of healing!