Living in The Dead Zone (Part 2)

~~ John 10:10b (NIV84) ~~ I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

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by Carley Cooper

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In my research for my upcoming book “Cocoa with Jesus” I watched a documentary called The Stephen Fry Story – The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive (Click here for Part 1 (1 hr) and Part 2 (1 hr)).  It’s a fascinating portrait of Bipolar Disorder (BPD).  It can help those of us who have it not feel so alone, and the people who love us understand us more. 
 

Living in the Norm

The greater general population travel down a standard ‘road’ in terms of their moods and personalities.  The bigger personalities often wander all over the road from side to side, but they are still within the borders of ‘normal’.  People with BPD go way beyond those boundaries on both sides of that road.  It is a very difficult life which can be dangerous in either direction.  Like most with this disorder, and as much as I have desperately and painfully longed to be ‘normal’ all my life, I can honestly say that my view has changed.  As it turns out, ‘fitting in’ and being ‘normal’ are two different things.  Wow!  Who knew?!  What I actually wanted was to fit in.  Honestly, one of my biggest fears, even in the midst of my faith, is that God will bring me through this disorder and out the other end to finally leave it behind; only to find ‘normal’ is boring or restrictive. I’ve been feeling this lately, and it is an uncomfortable feeling for me.

Don’t Listen to Enemy Lies

I have learned that the stigma placed on me, or that I’ve picked up myself, is not who I am.  I am a child of God.  So much of the negative thinking in my head, was not my own.  It was false, uneducated, shameful, fearful myths; lies from the enemy who doesn’t mind using people around me for his purposes.  Our words are instruments of destruction, and are among the most dangerous weapons in the world.   

I was told once “You do not know how to count your blessings, because if you did then you wouldn’t be depressed.”  This kind of uneducated lie is exactly the kind of myth that the public needs to be educated about.  Sufferers know that judging others by their appearance, words, actions, lifestyle, sex, culture, age, size, or mental illness is about as efficient as judging a book by its cover.  The world needs to know this too.  Once we can escape the barriers that are preventing progress, relationships will improve, needed medical attention will happen; healing will take place.

God Loves You Just as You Are

Stephen Fry said “I asked many of my fellow Manic Depressives… if they could press a button to release them from their Bipolarity, would they do so?  Most, despite traumatic moments in their life, said ‘No’.  So, after all this, what would I do?  I wouldn’t press the button and live a normal life; not for all the tea in China.”

I say “I agree with you Stephen.  I wouldn’t press that button for anything in the world.”

What about you?  What would you do?

Let’s Pray

 ~~ Dear God ~~ You are so loving and patient with us.  So often I wish that I could change who I am, or change my circumstances.  Thank You for making me who I am.  Please help me to always be happy with being me.  You gave the job of being (your name here) to me.  Thank You for trusting me with that job.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

Now It’s Your Turn

Thoughts?  Questions?  Want to share your story?  Ask for prayer?  Please consider sharing in the comments section; even if the link you clicked to get here was on another site.  (If you’re on the homepage, click on the post headline, and scroll down to find the comments section.) 

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