Dr. Laura Schlesinger was one of the first people I ever heard who deliberately challenged people about "bipolar disorder" diagnoses.
Like many people, I was diagnosed with this illness as a child, when in reality I had quite a crazy upbringing.
This world is a mixed-up place, one where the rules changes from one station to the next, and even then wherever you end up, the people there tend to break the rules themselves, yet at the same time expect you to keep them.
It's maddening, especially for someone who wants to do what he is told, and get by. Life is not about getting by based on the "rules of the game", but rather it's about the Ruler, the King, playing the game through you. The second scenario is a lot better, but it's harder, especially for people who are still trying to earn God's approval, to get God's grace, to earn His righteousness.
What really drives people crazy? Trying to do the same things over and over, and getting the same results. Human beings who try to perfect or improve their feelings and their thoughts, such people will find themselves fighting a battle which they have already lost.
The law, the rules, God did not give them to us because human beings needed law and order. They were given to us so that we would all despair of our own efforts and seek a Savior. Man is dead in his trespasses, but without law, no one would know that he committed trespasses, and thus he would never believe that he is dead.
Many Christians have no problem with the trespasses part; most people, however, have not learned that every human being is dead because he is cut of spiritually from God the Father.
Jesus came to take away our sins, and give us His life. We are made alive in our spirit, but we still walk around in this "body of death", the flesh, which is the realm of self, effort, and self-effort.
The tragedy for many Christians is that they still identify with their bodies, not with the spirit of God who lives in them. For this reason, Christians will battle moods which are not in keeping with the Spirit within us. There are times in which Christians will behave in an "unchristian manner". When we identity with Christ, not with ourselves, not with our feelings, then we remember who we are, and we do not identity with out failings.
We will fail in thought, word, and deed; yet we are no longer called to focus on and fix ourselves. We are called to rest in Christ, grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord. He is our life, and He wants to live His life through us!
However, because we look at ourselves, feel bad about ourselves, regret our choices, our feelings, we get caught up in trying to make ourselves better. We drink over our disgust or pity, or we find ourselves losing control. Like many people, I got labeled "bipolar" for this frame of mind.
Yet nothing could be further from the truth.
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