my husband has recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (6 weeks ago) and he is slowly being weined off resperdal, in my opinion, too quickly. Since being weined off, his spiritual connections and spirituals visions are increasing. Is this a sympton of bipolar? He says it is not and the whole experience of being hospitalized has made him a more spiritual person. Please help! thank you!
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Q: Is heightened or new spirituality a symptom of bipolar disorder?
Answers (4)
5/20/09 6:39pm
If being spiritual to this degree is not common for him when he is stable, then he may be having symptoms of mania. Beside the antipsychotic he should have been prescribed a mood stabilizer, unless some medical condition contraindicates prescribing one. Though there should be one he can take. It could be that he needs to begin to increase his dose Resperdal back to the full amount he has been weined off. It is very possible he is not yet stable and needs to continue with the antipsychotic.
Contact his psychiatrist and explain his symptoms so that he may give you recommendations. Let him know that something must be done right away. He may tell you what to do and then ask that you make an appointment, if the next appt. is a ways off.
5/20/09 3:38pm
Is he seeing a Psychiatrist? or a family doctor? And is he/she aware of these symptons? because this sounds like mania. I recommend you let the doctor know right away what is happening. Is he on any other med's? Why is he being taken of med's? I would run not walk to the doctor. We are not suppose to be having these symptons when our bipolar is under control. Best advice is let the doctor know about these new things. Good luck to you.
5/20/09 11:26pm
Thanks for your reply. He is currently on depakote and I did leave a message for his psychiatrist. My husband does not think his heightened spirtuality is a symptom of bipolar but I tend to think it is related to the decrease in his resperidal (sp???). And after reading your reply I now believe he is still in the manic phase. Thanks again.
5/21/09 12:06am
I am glad I was able to share a little wisdom from my own experiences. I wish you and your husband the best!
5/21/09 7:21am
Thank you!!!
10/ 3/09 2:24am
i believe it is because i have it. i get very very into jesus more times than not and i don't always read the bible but i go to church sometimes to 2 dif. ones. i like me catholic faith but i also like the pentecostal type praise and worship. i listen to christian music but not all the time and i don't always have to listen to it but sometimes it is a big neccessity. anyway i have always been so into to jesus that there is not a dif. but i have always also had bipolar. so go figure...ao..
darkangel
10/20/09 7:58pm
I think that spirituality can be heightened by the intensity of a manic episode. This was my experience, but it's tough to tell how much is just the illness and the brain mis-firing and what's real. http://manicdepressivetalk.com/news/bipolar-disorder-and-spirituality
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By Mavieboy— Last Modified: 12/27/10, First Published: 05/20/09
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No, he was not spirtual before his manic episode. Thankfully he is taking depakote and that is enabling him to consistently sleep. I left a detailed message with his psychiatrist and therefore his psychiatrist wants to move up the meeting date which my husband is very, very upset about. Your reply confirms my fears that his mania is returning. Thank you!