What's so funny?

What is so funny?

I do not understand the cartoons, the jokes and the flippant references concerning a certain medical disorder.

This disorder is very serious and not one to be tossed about with cartoons, jokes, flippant remarks and tagging. Those who do this do not understand the condition.

My husband has diabetes and must take insulin injections along with pills for his disorder. Thru these years, I have never heard or seen anyone make a joke or cartoon or flippant remark about him having this condition. He is tagged as a diabetic but not in a derogatory way, only for his good and safety.

The condition I am speaking of is the Bi Polar disorder and thus the question for our discussion, “What is so funny?”

The brain is a very complex organ in the body. It is even more complex than the pancreas. Why is it, we understand the pancreas and not the brain?

Bi Polar disorder needs medication. The medication is like insulin to the pancreas for the diabetic. It is very important that someone with this disorder regularly take their medication. Often after taking the medication for awhile they feel better and stop taking the medication. This is dangerous. Someone with this condition must be under the loving care of a good physician who may monitor them and make sure they are on a therapeutic dose of medication, just as a Doctor would monitor a diabetic.

Not all Bi Polar disorders are the same. This condition manifests itself differently for different people and there are different types. Many times the person with this disorder will say and do things they would never do otherwise. This condition is also possible for healing.

If you are a person with Bi Polar disorder it is not funny.1st a diagnosis must be made and this is only made by a physician. That is why it is wrong to tag someone as having this disorder without an actual diagnosis. Then there are specific medications that are prescribed for this medical condition and that is up to the Doctor. That is one reason the flippant responses and tagging etc. bother me. “Oh, he/she must be bi polar” just because they say or do something that does not meet with your definition of “normal.” For example, if they say one thing one time and another the next, perhaps even in the same conversation does not mean they are Bi polar. In the same manner, if a person lashes out or acts out because they have had a bad day does not make them Bi polar. We all have our moments. The common person on the street cannot diagnose this disorder.

Years ago, I went through a very deep depression due to many circumstances. I remember going to see my physician to tell him of my extreme sadness. Being a Godly man, he knew I was extremely depressed and said he would put me on an anti depressant for 1 month or so and see if anything improved. I mentioned to him that I had read an article on a young lady who had Bi polar disorder and said I could really relate to what she was going thru. This particular lady had ended up committing suicide.  My Doctor wisely said, if after a month or so, I did not see any change in my feelings, he would like for me to see another physician to perhaps talk about the Bi polar condition. God in His perfect timing brought all of this about in a dramatic way that changed my life forever (long story) and I ended up being diagnosed with this disorder.

Now, let me tell you why it is no laughing matter (as the title of this article ask “What’s so funny?”) 1st of all, you must get past the stigma of such a diagnosis. For a long period of time, I felt like everyone was treating me like I had leprosy and I needed to run thru the streets and cup my hand over my mouth and scream “Unclean, unclean or unstable, unstable”! 2ndly, I had to get the proper medication. I could not be put on Lithium due to my thyroid cancer so was put on Depacote. Just like any medication there are side effects that you must get used to. I remember one of them being a shaking of my hands for writing when I was on a certain level of the medication. Then there are the Doctor’s visits to make sure you are on a therapeutic dose. 3rd there are all the emotions as life does not change just because you have a diagnosis!  There is all the shame of how you acted out, of things you said or did before you had the diagnosis and the medication and the people who changed their opinion of you for what you had done, not knowing how you were dying inside. I still have some to this day who have not forgiven me but I must move on.

 So, you see, it really is not funny but rather something to be taken seriously and understood. I am not on a band wagon or wanting to portray myself as a martyr or expert, in fact this is one of the 1st times I have ever spoken out about it after all these many years. My heart’s cry is that people need to be educated on this disorder. This is so very important and there are many people out there who need real help. I have found healing in my life emotionally thru the power of the cross (thus our ministry of CrossPower). I am off all strong medication and have been for many years. I still have feelings of the Bi polar and have to be careful of my emotions as I could still really get very low or high emotionally if I did not put into practice the truth of the cross. But you see, years ago, I was so depressed that I could not even process the truth of Scripture and I needed help thru medication to help my brain heal enough to be able to understand and process those life freeing truths.  There was nothing wrong with that, just like there is nothing wrong with my husband being a diabetic and having to take insulin.

I thank God for His healing in my life and give Him all the Glory. I felt compelled to write this blog today and maybe it was for you. Perhaps you are going thru the same thing and are wondering what in the world is going on in your life. Perhaps you have a friend or loved one struggling right now. Whatever the situation, find help or be of help to someone because, believe me, to you or to them…it is not funny! Be understanding and not critical. If it is you, allow God to heal you thru His Word and those physicians He has provided for us here on earth. He is the God Who is able to do exceeding, abundantly Above all that we ask or think! God bless you.