3 Lessons God Taught Me in Managing My Bipolar

Written by Sarah Fox, USA

Two years ago, my mental health changed drastically. On the 4th of January 2021, I had a severe manic episode which led to my hospitalization. 

I was frantic, speaking rapidly, and I somehow felt rejuvenated after getting only two hours of sleep each night. While I felt invincible, my family knew that something was wrong. 

After being released from the hospital, I got diagnosed with bipolar I 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 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?

Learning how to maintain my faith in God while managing bipolar disorder seemed daunting at first. For me, healing signifies the process of managing mental health with hope. And over time, God has taught me three valuable lessons which have helped me in my mental health journey even more.

1. It’s Important to Build Our Hope on a Strong Foundation

As a woman of faith, I learned that my hope is stronger when I place it in God’s hands. 

Having a bipolar diagnosis made me realize that I can’t go through this journey on my own. Even in the darkest moments where I doubt that I can make it, my faith in God is what gives me hope, and I trust in His sovereignty, knowing that He’s in control and that He’s good. 

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence about what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This verse reminds me that my faith comes from the hope I have in Jesus, and that it goes beyond what I can see. Having faith increases hope, because it helps you to understand that you are not alone and that your purpose is greater than the pain. 

During difficult times, I find it helpful to reflect on what God has brought me through. These moments of reflection highlight the power of God and His providence in my life. Jeremiah 29:11 is a perfect reminder of this. Whilst it was originally a message for God’s people at the time, the truth is still the same for us today. It states, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” This verse carried me through moments of despair, because I believed in God’s plan for me. Despite the diagnosis, I believed that God’s plans would give me “hope and a future”. 

I believe that faith can play an essential role for our mental health, because it establishes the perfect foundation for hope.

2. Surround Yourself With a Community That Shows up for You 

Developing a strong support system takes a lot of work. 

While I lost a few friendships after I shared my diagnosis for the first time, I also gained some valuable relationships. 

I was scared to tell my closest friends because I thought they would judge me or 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 these fears, I relied on God to help me be vulnerable with the people who 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 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. But 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.

Having a strong community behind you can help to encourage you to keep going. Through managing all the ups and downs of living with bipolar, my community was able to show up for me in ways that I never thought were possible. My close friends, family, online community, spiritual mentors, and fellow mental health advocates all play a crucial role in my journey, and I wouldn’t trade those relationships for anything in the world.

In addition to my inner circle, there are other mental health advocates and organizations who I’ve been able to connect with and be encouraged by. Together we’re working to break the stigma surrounding mental illness, and it is such an enriching experience.

Starting a podcast about my bipolar journey and mental illness wasn’t something I had anticipated, but it is one of the greatest joys that I have. God has given me the courage to use my story as a testament to His faithfulness. I would never have imagined that I could share my faith and mental health journey with people from different parts of the world. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my story with people who are dealing with mental health conditions, people of color, and those who want to learn more about their diagnosis but don’t know where to start.

3. Make Self-Care a Priority

Self-care is a great tool for improving our mental health. 

Before I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I put self-care on the back burner. As a result, my mental health got worse and I ended up in the hospital. I believed the lie that my worth stemmed from my accomplishments, and so I wasn’t good at taking time to rest or do things I enjoyed. 

While I was in the hospital, God made it clear to me that I needed to prioritize rest and self-care. Rest is important to God. Not only did He model resting after His own work in Genesis 2:3, but Jesus also extended an invitation to rest in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Self-care doesn’t have to be fancy; it can simply be doing something that you love, or doing other helpful things like going to therapy, taking medication, or keeping track of what has or hasn’t been working for you. Dedicating time to take care of yourself can do wonders for your mental health.

Conclusion

Learning to manage my bipolar disorder has shown me that God’s faithfulness will prevail, even in the worst circumstances. It has also shown me that my voice is valuable, and that there are people out there who need to hear my story. They may need to hear yours, too.

These lessons did not come overnight. Through two years of battling severe mood swings, figuring out the right treatment plan, and strengthening my faith in low moments, I am where I am today because of God’s grace. 

I can say like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

Having bipolar disorder has not only helped me to depend on God more, it’s also reminded me that during my weak moments, Jesus always shows up with His strength.

Sarah is a mental health advocate who runs a podcast called ‘Rough Edges’. She is passionate about seeing people experience freedom and hope in God despite their mental health challenges, and loves building an online community to show others that they aren’t alone in their struggles. You can connect with her on Instagram or find her podcast here.