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How I use fitness to manage my Bipolar
Posted Tuesday 7 August 2012
Every week there seems to be a new study out detailing that physical exercise and keeping fit is good for mental health. Well, that’s all well and good, we can read studies until the cows come home, but I can tell you personally how fitness has affected my Bipolar and how I use fitness to manage my condition.
It’s been said for years that exercising releases endorphins which make you happy! And that exercise releases other such hormones which are mood boosting! Which I would agree with. However I believe that the release of these hormones can actually play a part in helping people with mental health illnesses.
I was fortunate enough to meet up with a good friend last night who suffers terrible anxiety. She told me that she had started swimming and going to the gym recently and that she found this had eased her anxiety. This is brilliant news! I am so pleased that something as simple as a swim or a jog can help her.
I love fitness and especially weight training. However I find that I have to manage my exercising exertion levels accordingly as not to tip my mood. I will explain. Have you heard of the workout program called “Insanity” No? It’s described as a workout that will push you beyond what you thought was possible with explosive cardio and plyometric drills and non-stop intervals of strength, power and resistance. Additional ab and core training techniques will get you amazing results in just 60 days.
GREAT! I gave it a go. I did one 40 minute DVD each day……I lasted 7 days before I had a major manic episode. Basically I ODed on mood boosting hormones!
SO how do I control my Bipolar through exercise? I keep it constant and on a level where I push myself to get gains but not exert myself to become unwell. I use morning cardio when I am low or depressed. This is used by a lot of athletes to start the morning off and kick-start their metabolism and burn fat. I use this to help lift my mood. I usually take a brisk walk around the block or get on my exercise bike.
Walking is one of the simplest forms of exercise which can immensely benefit people who have mental health illnesses. When I am low or depressed I will try to go for a walk once a day and use mindful mediation techniques. It does not matter what I look like, if I’ve washed or not brushed my teeth. The main things is that you are getting UP and OUT of the house and feeling the fresh air on your face and opening your ears to the sounds about you. What do you have to loose, hey?!
Bipolargymchick
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3 Comments
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I saw a junior psychiatrist and told him the meds wern't working,he chose a new drug and said "we're running out of new drugs,if this dosn't work we'll have to try ECT",it didn't work,I saw the consultant next time,he said he'd find a new drug,I told him what his junior had said,he said I wasn't a sutiable candidate for ECT and took out a book of drugs 6 inches thick and went through it drug by drug,checking the drug in the book against my medical records on the computer till he found something I hadn't tried,it didn't work,I've had one or 2 new ones,but nothing works,I was feeling lousey,phoned the hostpital,the receptionist said there were no appointments I'd have to see my GP,my GP increased the dosage and said he'd write to the hostpital requesting an emergency appointment,no luck,feeling worse,saw my GP again,well,a GP,it's a group practice,you never see the same GP twice,increased the dossage and wrote to the hostpital,no better,another GP increases the dosage and writes to the hostpital,NHS patients can only see a psychiatrist once every 3 months,I bet if Cameron or Clegg needed an appointment they'd get one in under 24 houres because they can afford to go private.Who voted for these over priveliged Old Etonians and what were they thinking?
But,I'm digressing,when I was an inpatient every one was affraid of ECT,it was seen as a punishment not a treatment,"One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest" didn't do much for the image of ECT,but,I've tried so many drugs,I can't belive anything they prescribe is going to do any good,when that junior psychiatrist said I'd ger ECT I wasn't affraid as I would've been 31 years ago when I was an inpatient,I saw it as my only hope,but,the consultant dosn't think I'm a suitable candidate.I'll never feel better.
What's the point of me still being alive? Supose my psychiatrist prescribed something and I was cured tommorow,I'm old,I've wasted my life,I'll never get back all the years my illness robbed me of,I can't catch up to where ill
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If exercise works for some people then great. However it shouldn't be seen as a panacea, especially by the government or the Daily Mail. You can just see the headlines, 'It is your fault you are mentally ill as you are too lazy to exercise.'
Sometimes going for a walk can make depression worse as I see, "sadness in the grass, and hear melancholy in the wind."
My sad feelings often increase when on holiday.
There is also the danger the press will confuse low mood with clinical depression.
Of course the nasty government probably thinks the likes of Mind as being useful idiots. In other words the government thinks it looks good consulting with Mind when in practice the government ignores at will advice it gets from Mind, whilst retaining a caring image,
Surely Mind need be in the media, advising people of the reality of what it is really like. -
JGM - I'm very sorry to hear how frustrating it's been trying to find the right treatment, I can only imagine how dispiriting it must be to try drug after drug and still feel the same. It sounds like you're feeling pretty hopeless right now, and perhaps suicidal.
Although it won't give you back all those years where you were unwell, perhaps it might give you some relief to talk about some of what you've been though - and how it's affecting you now. The Samaritans are very good listeners and are available on 08457 90 90 90 / jo@samaritans.org.
I wonder whether it also might be worth looking into getting an advocate. It sounds like you've had to work very hard to explore different treatment options and that's something they may be able to help you with. Our infoline team can tell you how to find one - 0300 123 3393 / info@mind.org.uk
Hi James - thanks for your comments, you make some very good points. As you say, it's great that exercise works for many people but it's certainly not a cure-all. We absolutely agree about how important it is to challenge stigma and prejudice in the media, and this is something we tackled directly in our spoof tabloid campaign The Daily Stigma. Do take a look if you're interested - http://www.mind.org.uk/campaigns_and_issues/policy_and_issues/making_benefits_fairer-welfare_reform/the_daily_stigma
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