Is there a spiritual bipolar disorder?

MANY of us are familiar with the psychological illness

called bipolar disorder. It is what is described as a manic depressive

illness, a mood disorder with two extremes: depressed (low) and manic

(high). It varies in severity, and mild cases may appear ordinary for

many years.

          A worse illness can be what is called a split personality

where a person has two or more distinct personalities. The thoughts,

actions, and behavior of each personality may be completely different.

It’s like having the Jekyll-and-Hyde syndrome or having a double life,

an extreme case of hypocrisy.

          These illnesses, I imagine, can have various causes and can

have some organic sources. But we cannot discount the possibility that

they too can be the effect of a sick spirituality. It’s a spirituality

that only has the trappings of piety but not the real thing. It is not

truly anchored on God, thus, only inconsistency can take place.

          That’s when we can talk about the possibility of a spiritual

illness called a spiritual bipolar disorder. That’s when a person who

appears to be a spiritual and pious person is hounded by severe,

frequent and kind of stable swings of the extremes of holiness and

grave sinfulness.

          We know, of course, that the spiritual life of a person here

on earth will always involve a struggle, of some wins and losses,

victories and defeats. It will always be a work in progress, with its

twists and turns, highs and lows. This is a normal human condition.

          But at least, a truly spiritual and pious person would have

a very significant degree of consistency in being holy. He is quite

clear about what holiness involves and has a working plan with

matching means and resources to keep his quest for sanctity going in

spite of occasional falls. He knows what to do when he falls. He

recovers quite easily, with hardly any extraordinary help from others.

          With those who can be described as having a spiritual

bipolar disorder, the condition is such that they can easily switch

from being good at one moment and then bad at the next, from behaving

like an angel or saint during the day to acting like a demon and

depraved and wild person at night, and this for an indefinite period

of time.

          The root problem here is usually the pride and insincerity

of the person concerned. He does not avail of the necessary means to

address his serious predicament. He usually fails to go to confession

and to have spiritual direction or guidance. And if he does, he

usually is not sincere. He twists things according to his preferred

narrative.

          Sad to say, this disorder appears to be getting quite

common. It usually affects the so-called “good and pious people” who

are not truly so. Because their sanctification is not authentic and

sincere, they become easy prey to their weaknesses and the many

temptations around.

          We have to reassure everyone who may have symptoms of this

condition that there is always an effective help that they can receive

if they would just ask for it. Conversion and healing are always

possible. There is nothing to be ashamed of nor to fear if they only

open up to the right persons who can guide them.

          Offhand, what can be suggested as initial help are that we

should really make our prayer real prayer, a genuine encounter with

God who is always around and is ever solicitous of our needs.

          We should be ready to effectively counter those situations

that can trigger a radical swing to the left. These situations can be

when we are tired and are looking for some comfort and compensations,

when we are alone and feeling lonely, when we suffer the pain of loss.

Or it can also be when we misuse and abuse certain things, like

drinks, food, gadgets, films, etc.