Bipolar

Our Mental Health Struggles, Day 3

              Once a month, I’m privileged to teach a spiritual workshop called a weekend encounter to the residents of Honey Lake Clinic. The people who come to Honey Lake are dealing with everything from depression and anxiety to addiction and grief. Anything that life throws their way that is too much can cause them to reach their breaking point, which often leads to a 30-90 day stint at the Christian recovery clinic.

              After the session, I hang around in case anyone needs to talk or wants to share. One afternoon, a lady sat down beside me after the lesson and shared her story. Born and raised in a Spanish speaking country, her family moved to the United States during her teenage years. She eventually became a United States citizen, married and attended a university to become an ESOL teacher. The community she lived in had a high population of Spanish speakers, so her job choice made perfect sense.

              She climbed the ranks of her school district, moved between schools and district level positions, and was well-known and highly recognized for her special skills with not only teaching ESOL but also connecting to the community. Somehow, she found the magic combination for meeting the needs of the parents and students and then showing them how valuable they were.

              Then weird things began happening. She had meetings but no one remembered being there. Her husband had very different memories from family and social events they both attended. And she argued with him every day about little things.

New friends moved into her life during this time. They told her to do things she’d never done before and went with her everywhere. After one of these events with her new friends, she ended up in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. All she remembers was waking up, strapped down to a hospital bed with her husband in the room explaining to her things that she would never have done. Nothing made sense.

She was diagnosed as Bipolar. Once she was able to get the proper medication, she clearly rejoined reality, but she struggled to believe she’d done all the things her friends, family, and husband told her she’d done. Her twenty plus years as a highly respected professional couldn’t comprehend this current lack of judgment. Her administrators kindly allowed temporary medical leave because her actions had been so out of character. Bipolar ran in her family, but she hadn’t ever considered it would impact her, but it did. And suddenly, at that.

Bipolar is not a respecter of persons and can show up in any person’s life, causing lapses in reality, judgment, and even complete lack of remembrance called psychosis. It is also marked by extreme swings from high to low. Manic phases can last for hours, days, or months, as can melancholy phases too. The low swings can result in extreme depressive states where suicidal ideations occur and unrealistic negative thinking overtakes. Likewise, mania can swing them into euphoric highs where they can conquer the world, live off adrenaline, and act like Speedy Gonzalez.

Bipolar does not disqualify us as educators, just like my ESOL teacher friend. Once she was properly medicated and received the correct treatment, she went back to the classroom as good as before. The problem arises when a bipolar person swings from one extreme to the next, possibly losing control of every emotion and strand attached to reality.

Do the Heart Work

1.      If you have ever had a friend or relative who was bipolar, what was it like?

2.      How can we support our educator peers who struggle with bipolar disorder?

3.      What can we do to help our students who might be dealing with bipolar tendencies?

Digging Deeper

1.      Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Isaiah 40:4 (ESV)

2.      When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 (ESV)

3.      Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

4.      Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) 

5.      And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 (ESV)

One of the wonderful truths about God is that he never changes. To a person who struggles at regaining control of their world and has such extreme swings, knowing that God will never change is hugely significant. Also knowing he’s holding all things together brings great comfort to a bipolar person’s inconsistent existence. Leaning on God and his truths is a great way to recenter and steady their lives too.

If You Get Spare Time

              It’s easy to look at others and think, that will never happen to me.  But we are not exempt from mental health struggles just because we are in the classroom. Spend some time thinking about what would happen if bipolar disorder suddenly jumped on you. Then think about the helpless feeling that a person who can’t recognize reality would experience. This disease is completely out of our control. Until we decide to get help or someone who loves you steps in to get you to a safe place. How can we as teachers support a coworker with bipolar struggles? How can your teammates support you if you are the person who needs supporting?