Freebird

Looks like we have a winner - the sociopath behind Door #3! Come to think of it, this sounds a lot like my ex, who absolutely loooooooved vp. Hmmmmm.....

I don't mean to sound like a commercial, but I humbly recommend two books that are, IMO, the most clear-headed Christian perspective regarding dating, etc. They are Avoiding Mr. Wrong, and the companion book is Finding Mr. Right. Both written by Stephen Arterburn. They are excellent & well worth the time. And, yes, I believe a Christian should marry a Christian. However, there are plenty who pass themselves off as Christians, but cause worlds of harm. The label alone is not enough. This site is certainly testament to the damage that's been done by so-called Christians. Having said that, another good book is Safe People by Henry Cloud & John Townsend (not the same JT that was on the first BOD). I hope this is helpful!

Hi Seth, I am praying for you, too. My family is on the other side of a long bout w/my daughter, who was finally dx'd as bipolar. What I've learned, amongst other things, is that it takes a good 10 wks. for a med to reach it's full efficacy. Sometimes you have to adjust the dosage, or change meds entirely if the one isn't helping. But meds can't do it alone; a good therapist is vital. My daughter saw 3 before "clicking" with one, but when she did we saw results. Online counseling is also available thru New Life; it's not terribly expensive & may be more convenient for you. Most of all, though; stay connected to people! This site is great for that. A support group would be good. A healthy church (they are out there). Just don't isolate. Looking forward to hearing more from you- Freebird

Hey, Ciythog, I know the song you're thinking of -it's "No Stone to Throw" by Sierra. It has that line about no axe to grind. I love that CD!

Hi ya'll- First time to post; what a great site! Without getting long-winded, let me say this about taking medications: my daughter takes meds for Bipolar II, & she also received counseling, which made ALL the difference to this family. I won't go into the gory details; suffice it to say that we went thru 4 yrs. of hell. Her words to me once the medication stabilized in her system were, "I feel like my mind & my body are finally in sync w/each other. I don't feel like I'm going to go crazy." For me, it was the light at the end of the tunnel. I would NEVER recommend meds alone; I believe counseling should always go hand-in-hand w/it. But all the therapy in the world is limited if the brain chemicals are screwed up. We do get her bloodwork done regularly to make sure her liver stays in good shape. The kicker at the time (pre-meds) was that I was married to a man who was also Bipolar, but refused meds or counsel, & he drove us away, literally. I could tell stories that would curl your hair, but I'll spare you. The most balanced view I've heard on the subject has been on a radio show - New Life Live. The moderator, who by the way founded the Women of Faith conferences, is a really neat guy & he does the show w/3 other guys: 1 medical dr. & 2 psychiatrists, & they are all Christians. People call in w/their problems & they counsel them. I've gotten a lot of post-twi healing from listening to this show. Hope this wasn't too lengthy-