The Thorn

“I will say this: because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride.” 2 Corinthians 12:7, TLB)

I will never know what the Apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was since the Bible does not tell us. I can empathize with the above verse. Somewhere is my late thirties to early forties; I was diagnosed with the emotional roller coaster of Bipolar Disorder (BD) to struggle with for the remainder of my life.

Bipolar Disorder (manic depression) is a mental health condition  that causes periods (episodes) of depression and periods of elevated mood disturbances. BD comes in two varieties.

In manic Bipolar I Disorder, a person's mood is extremely abnormal and is also combined with increased activity or energy that is also abnormal.  In hypomanic Bipolar II Disorder, a person has a sustained mood that is elevated (heightened), expansive (grand, superior), or irritable. This mood is different from their normal mood when they’re not depressed. 

BD is not going away anytime soon. The distressful statistics speak for themselves:

5,890,000 US adults who are diagnosed as BD.
2.65 % US adults that suffer from BD.
25 years old when BD symptoms are discovered.
23 % chance a child will BD when 1 parent has an existing case. (66 % chance a child will develop BD when both parents are diagnosed.)
9.2 years reduced life span for an individual who is BD.
20% of people diagnosed as BD individual commit suicide.
70% of people with BD will receive at least 1 misdiagnosis from a doctor or psychologist

Home/What is bipolar?/Bipolar disorder statisticsPrevious Nextisorder statistics

If you know of someone with BD that you would like to assist, here are some things you can do for them:

1.       Ask what they need help with. 

2.       Be supportive of their BD treatment plan.

3.       Continue inviting them to do things together with you.

4.       Do not take their boundaries personally.

5.       Educate yourself about Bipolar Disorder

6.       Encourage them not to isolate themselves from other people.

7.       Go to a BD support group with them.

8.       Let them know you are available to talk anytime they need you. 

9.       Listen without trying to offer advice. 

10.   Pray to God for emotional wholeness for that person daily.

11.   Reassure them that they are an ordinary participant in their life.

“Bipolar Disorder can be a great teacher. It's a challenge, but it can set you up to be able to do almost anything else in your life.” (Carrie Fisher) [i]

 

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[i] Sources used:

·         “10 Ways to Help Someone Who Has Bipolar Disorder” by our Advice and Support Community

·        “Bipolar Disorder Statistics” (http://www.Bipolar-lives.com/Bipolar-disorder-statistics.html)

·        “Bipolar Disorder Statistics” (http://www.statisticbrain.com/Bipolar-disorder-statistics)

·        “Bipolar Disorder” from Wikipedia

·        “What Is the Difference Between Bipolar I and Bipolar II Disorder?” by Marcia Purse

Topic suggested by my wife, Bobbi Kinker.