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    Please Note: I am not a Psychologist, Medical doctor, or Licensed Professional Counselor; however, I have worked with many people who have been previously diagnosed with such diagnosis. The term "bipolar" is a psychological term, not a Biblical term; therefore, I will address the symptoms and not give diagnosis.This is a brief discussion of some major factors associated by bipolar disorders with some simple answers to resolve them.  

Generational curses are negative character traits that are spiritually passed from one generation to the next.  We should also understand that some negative character traits may be learned sociologically through following the models of our parents and peers.  However, other, more imbedded traits, may be spiritually inherited even when modeling does not exist. The Bible uses the word "iniquity" to describe these negative traits (Lamentations 5:7).  Our forefathers have sinned and left us with a bent toward their sins.  The Hebrew word translated "iniquity" literally means "perversion".  Instead of being "straight" according to God's standards we have a "perversion" or "bent".  It is not uncommon that people who suffer from a bipolar disorder also have biological parents who have suffered from the same disorder.

Learned or modeled behavior can be replaced with new thoughts and new habits.  However, generational curses must be broken. In brief, we should understand that Jesus became a curse for us suffering for our iniquities as well as for our sin (Galatians 3:13).  Therefore, we can through confession, repentance, and declaration of faith declare that the curses are broken.  [For a more in-depth study of generational curses, please see my book, "How To Destroy The Evil Tree". ]

Verbal, mental, physical, and sexual abuse may play an important role in manic-depressive disorders.  When the emotional wounds surface to the conscious level of the mind, the result may be anger, usually followed by depression.  When the hurts subsides below the conscious level, there may be a joyful release and the result may be the manic side.

Furthermore, there are two types of emotional wounds.  One type of an emotional wound is a cutting wound.  Such emotional wounds do not heal properly by themselves.  As open wounds, they invite contamination (anger, depression, suicidal thoughts, or deceptive manic thoughts) by the enemy. These wounds must be cleansed, then healed by faith in Jesus, the Healer (Luke 4:18).  [For more information on the healing of hurts, please see the article, "Healing for the Emotions".]  The second type of emotional wound is that of an emotional bruise.  Emotional bruises are the result of blows to one's identity.  Some significant person might say to us, "You are no good" or "I wish you were never born".  If we believe these words, they become emotional bruises.  As we strive to gain self-esteem, we my find ourselves on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs.

For one to overcome this cycle, he must receive emotional healing and find an entirely new identity that does not change. One must exchange his old (damaged) identity for a new identity in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11, Galatians 2:20).

There is a high coincidence between bipolar disorders and strict, harsh childhood discipline. The Bible sets out a proper guide for discipline of children using strict consistent discipline coupled with love (Proverbs 23:13-14, Ephesians 6:4, Titus 2:4).  However, harsh discipline (with anger and rejection) without love produces negative results.  The child needs to feel loved and accepted.  When a child does not receive unconditional love, he will try to receive conditional acceptance through performance.  When he performs well he may receive a few positive strokes of acceptance and will feel great about himself.  At least for a time, he is not being punished.  However, when he doesn't measure up, he receive no acceptance, only punishment.  Then he feels terrible about himself and becomes depressed.  This begins the cycle of performance and exaggerated good thoughts and feelings, then a failure to perform and depression.

One may sometimes get stuck in this cycle of the past, but he doesn't have to continue in the past.  The individual can not change his childhood experiences, but he can change his future.  He does not have to continue swinging from one extreme to the other. He can discover God's love and acceptance which is not based upon his performance (Ephesians 1:6).

Families that seriously adhere to legalistic beliefs concerning God have a high incidence of bipolar disorders.  A good definition of legalism is the belief that man must live up to a certain standard for God to accept him.  Carrying legalism a step farther, some would say that one is saved by faith in Jesus, but can lose his salvation by some evil act.  As long as the individual measure up to the set standard, his is on a spiritual high, but the truth is that he will not stay on that high. Sooner or later, at a weak moment, he will let down his guard and fail to live up to the standard (whatever he perceived that to be) (Romans 3:19-20).  Then he will experience a spiritual low that usually is followed by depression,  with feelings of frustration and hopelessness.  After a period of time, a cycle of highs and lows is set in motion.  The cycle is based upon performance  (good works verses sin) and acceptance (salvation and a loss of salvation).

For such an individual to become stabilized, he must come to understand that salvation is not based upon his own good works but faith in the finished work of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). [Please see my article, "Searching For Truth".]  Furthermore, he must come to understand that he can not live the Christian life by his own ability, but only by the grace of God (Philippians 2:13). [Please see my article, "Ability To Live".]

Occult involvement may take on many forms: playing the Ouija board, fortune telling, reading occult material, participation in occult rituals, reading the horoscopes, and possessing of occult artifacts. [For an indepth study see, "Know Your Enemy".] Any kind of occult involvement opens the door to one's soul to evil spirits (Leviticus 19:31).  When evil spirits enter the individual, they will periodically take over a particular area for a time.  The evil spirits will precipitate negative emotions or undesirable behavior (Luke 8:27).

When the spirits are active, the individual is out of control.  The individual often finds himself doing things that are shameful or embarrassing.  The result is guilt and depression.  When the spirits are inactive, the individual may experience an exhilarating freedom.  Here again, we may see a bipolar cycle develop.

To find lasting freedom and stability, the individual must acknowledge and renounce all occult involvement.  Then he needs to ask God to forgive him and to cleanse him (I John 1:9).  He should also expel all evil spirits in the name of Jesus.

Sometimes a person does things that he knows to be very wrong, but does not get caught or may deny everything.  When this occurs, it leaves a darkened conscious.  Often the individual thinks that since he does not get caught or was able to talk his way out, that everything will be O.K.  However, the memory of the wrong and the guilt remains.  By willpower or preoccupation with current thoughts, the memory and guilt may remain suppressed for a time.  However, at a weak moment, maybe when the individual is mentally or emotionally exhausted, the memory and guilt surfaces producing depression.  After a while, the eruption of depression subsides and the individual get back on his feet again. He may simply compensate by drawing his attention to his "good" work or mission.  Then again, at a weak moment, the memory and feelings surface (I Timothy 1:19).

The basic solution to this cycle is to confess the wrong to God (I John 1:9) and to any other offended parties, ask forgive their forgiveness, and be willing to make restitution as needed (Matthew 5:23-26, Acts 24:16).

One aspect is that once the mental, emotional, and spiritual cycles are established the body may conform to the cycle.  Since I am not a physician, I will not attempt to detail this area.  Another aspect of the physical cycle may be diet. One may eat healthy foods and feel good for a while, but then go on a sweets binge that causes an immediate high.  The high will be followed by the "Sweet Blues", better known as Depression. Therefore, the result is mood swings from one extreme to the other.  Exercise may also play a role in the physical cycle.  Some people go from one extreme to the other concerning exercise.  They may go all out for exercise for a while given them a lift.  However, they over do it or get bored.  They withdraw from most all exercise and feel a letdown.

It should be noted that even after the other areas are covered, there may be a sight lag in the physical. The body may need time to catch up with the thoughts.  Furthermore, one should generally lower their sugar intake and eat mostly unrefined foods that helps stabilize the metabolism.  No exercise and too much exercise are equally harmful; therefore, one should keep on a steady light or moderate routine (Philippians 4:5).

Lamentations 5:7  "Our fathers have sinned, and re not; and we have borne their iniquities."  Return=/\.

Galatians 3:13  "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree."  Return=/\.

Luke 4:18  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."  Return=/\.

Romans 6:11 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."  Return=/\.

Galatians 2:20  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who love me, and gave himself for me."  Return=/\.

Proverbs 23:13-14  "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.  Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell."  Return=/\.

Ephesians 6:4  "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  Return=/\.

Titus 2:4  "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children." Return=/\.

Ephesians 1:6  "To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." Return=/\.

Romans 3:19-20  "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."   Return=/\.

Ephesians 2:8-9  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast."  Return=/\.

Philippians 2:13  "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Return=/\.

Leviticus 19:31  "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God."  Return=/\.

Luke 8:27  "And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in tombs." Return=/\.

I John 1:9  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Return=/\.

I Timothy 1:19  "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck."   Return=/\.

I John 1:9  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Return=/\.

Matthew 5:23-26  "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way of him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."  Return=/\.

Acts 24:16 "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." Return=/\.

Philippians 4:5  "Let your moderation be known unto all men.  The Lord is at hand."  Return=/\.

Hosea 6:4  "O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee?  O Judah, what shall I do unto thee?  for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away." Return=/\.

Ephesians 4:14  "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."  Return=/\.

James 1:6  "But let him ask in faith nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and is tossed."  Return=/\.

Romans 12:3  "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but ot think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."  Return=/\.

Psalm 42:11  "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?  hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."  Return=/\.