Bright Side of the Barn

March 24, 2025

Mental Illness vs Being Crazy

Many people struggle with being BiPolar1,

even more people struggle being around people

who are BiPolar1.

They are the one that makes you - feel crazy.

There are even a variety of 'bipolars'...

There are several types of bipolar disorder,

Bipolar I disorder: characterized by episodes of extreme highs (mania) lasting more than 1 week.
Bipolar II disorder: involves depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes.
Cyclothymic disorder (cyclothymia): a chronically unstable mood state.
Other specified bipolar and related disorder.
Unspecified bipolar and related disorder.

There are quite a few mental disorders, I found an alphabetical list of disorders and there are a lot of them! Visit the list and see if you fit into any one of the descriptions. Some are mild, some severe, some unnoticeable, others obvious.

Relationships are impossible to have when one has a serious mental illness. Sadly, so many people go undiagnosed the 'home' is a war zone for the poor kids growing up around it. Divorces run high among such couples; some people get stuck in the relationship which turns into a situation that they can't get away from.

The 'normal' person will consider suicide because they see it as the only way out.

Mental illness and disabilities are real. For years so much was not known, so there were no answers on how or why. You were either normal or crazy. And everyone avoided the crazy. Even still nobody wants to talk about mental illnesses, and so many people are embarrassed to admit they have a mental disability. With such stigma solutions are few and far between. More often than not, the mentally ill end up being the homeless. In part because they have destroyed every family and friend relationship they had, and nobody wants to deal with them or their issues.

Mental health can be broken down into so many different illnesses, and often one is mistaken for another. Some mild some more severe. Many of us fall in between.

I have an anxiety disorder. It started when I was young. Turns out I inherited some of the problem from my mother. It only got worse through childhood and then being in an abusive marriage, that I managed to get out of. Unfortunately for me, it got even worse and started causing heart issues when I ended up with someone who was undiagnosed BiPolar1. I'm lucky to be alive, since the situation has put such a strain on my heart.

Children act out because they don't know how to tell you what they feel, because they themselves don't understand what it is that they are feeling. Doctors are being able to diagnose people much younger than in days past. Medications have been created to help bring a sense of 'normalcy' to one's brain, allowing them to function and 'live with' the disability.

Nobody should be made to feel 'crazy'. We need to stop the stigma and learn to understand 'mental illness' and 'mental disabilities'. The brain is a very unique thing and yet it's so fragile. People need to learn to talk about it. Stop being embarrassed about having an illness and start helping people understand the variety of illnesses and issues that are needing help.

I was once told if you feel crazy your probably normal,

crazy people don't know they are crazy!

But they will try to make you think - you're the crazy one.

Blessed by God

Life's full of surprises @ the Bright Side of the Barn

Thanks for Stopping By

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

March 23, 2025

Deceptions of the Devil

How do you know if you're on the right path with God? How do you know which path to take? When faced with a crossroad, which way do you turn?

Who can you trust?

l John 2:27 ~ But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you all things.

God will give you the answers you need.

If a person has a connection to God, it will show. Regardless of whether or not they are 'trying' to make it show. God oozes out of a person. Having God draws people towards you like a magnet.

Ye are the light of the world.

Being with God can also cause people to push away from you and avoid you. Having God in your heart will cause you to have enemies, that don't even know they 'hate' you. They just do. People will say and do things just to try and destroy you.

Luke 6:22 - 23 ~ Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

You don't have to have done anything to them.

People that are full of the devil, are malicious and deceitful. They often appear nice. Many folks will love them and think the world of them. As those folks are usually pretty full of the devil themselves. People that plan and plot to hurt others, play tricks and pull stunts behind someone's back. Gossip and lie about others just to make themselves look better. All so that folks will think they are a 'saint'.

Sadly, they often don't even know that the devil has a hold on them. Because they have done kind deeds to some and put on a good show in front of others, some play the victim for pity. They think they are fooling folks. When in truth, they themselves are being fooled by the devil. They may think they are a 'good person' and headed to heaven, when in fact they are on the wide path towards hell.

Matthew 15:8-9 ~ This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

The Bible tells us that works alone do you no good. You have to have God in your heart. Faith and Love are required. You have to seek God's forgiveness through Jesus and repent from your sins and the errors of your ways. One scripture says you have to make peace with the ones you've wronged before you come to God. Another scripture says if you're holding a grudge against someone, you need to right the wrong, before you come unto Him.

Matthew 8:35 ~ So likewise shall my heavenly father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one of his brethren their trespasses.

The great commandments Jesus left us with is to not only love God, but you are expected to love your family, friends, neighbors and enemies.

Matthew 22:37-40 ~ Jesus said unto him "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And second is like unto it, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets."

Sinners can be saved without knowing what all they need to do. But once your saved, you have to work on the things that will perfect your soul and heal your wounds. Much like an addict going through the steps of recovery, salvation is an ongoing thing, that requires work every day. Even the best Christians make mistakes and need to repeatedly seek forgiveness. They also pray for knowledge and the strength to resist the devil and his deceptions.

God knows how smart the devil is, He too was created by God. Once loved by God. Jesus was sent here to show us that it can be done. We can walk perfect before the Lord and be in a good place with God. The Holy Ghost was left here for us to fill us with the spirit that would give us the strength and empower us to be able to be perfect.

Acts 22:38 ~ Then Peter said unto them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost".

John 14:26 ~ "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you."

Remember, the devil comes as a wolf in sheep's clothing.

The devil is very clever at being deceptive. Over the years he has caused people to turn all Christian based holidays into pagan celebrations. Turned the very Sabbath into the first day of the week, when in fact it is the last day of a week. God didn't rest a day before He created the world. He rested on the 7th day, after His work was done.

Have faith, believe all things are possible and Pray. Prayer will build your relationship with God and the closer you get to God, the more you will understand the Word of God. Accept the Holy Ghost and trust in the spirit. He will lead you in the right direction and help you overcome the temptations of the devil.