[acw56]

My therapist and my boyfriend have been talking to me for while about the potential benefits of yoga and/or meditation for my mental health. I am trying to get into meditation, although it's been a slow start, especially when I am very depressed and my thoughts take control of things... but I really want to give it a try. Does anyone have any positive experiences with yoga or meditation helping them maintain their wellness or helping through a rough time? I am trying really hard to take control of my illness through more holistic methods in addition to my medication, by exercising more, eating well, and anything else I can find to do.

Hey there,

My psychologist and I used to do meditation together during sessions, I found it VERY helpful for my OCD...I'm sure meditation could be helpful for basically every mental illness though. It's very calming. I have also done meditation on my own, and it worked even more effectively. (I find meditation is easier to do by myself, personally.)

Definitely give it a shot, you'll be surprised at how good it makes you feel during/after.

[grizmom]

Hi...I have found meditation to be helpful; I like guided meditation as opposed to just plain quiet time because I get too distracted without something to focus on.

I use the Total Wellness set of cd's by Belleruth Naparstek (I got them at amazon.com I think) and I also like the following site: http://www.audiodharma.org/talks-gil.html It is a buddhist website, but even though I'm not buddhist, I have enjoyed Gil Fronsdal's talks. He has many subjects available to listen to, and I like to get one started and then just lie down on the couch and listen and try to do the deep breathing. It helps to increase my focus on something other than my depression or hypomania, and it helps relieve tension and anxiety.

If you find any other online meditation I'd love to know about them...I hope you will give it a try and see if it helps.

[phlashback]

Yoga and meditation can work together and have helped me. Yoga is nice as it is a good exercise, and helps improve posture, tone, and breath. And do not worry, you will not need to become a pretzel. It is important to go at your own pace!

Meditation is something that can be helpfull as well, however it is work to put the concerns and racing thoughts aside. Using Meditation as part of my Yoga practice is calming. I just have to remember as thoughts flood in to aknowledge them for what they are but let them also pass. It may seem dificult at first. I also like to use music as a sort of guide, something that is soothing to you.

It may seem silly at first, but you will respect it before to long.

[Dave255]

I focus on deep breathing for 10 minutes everyday. It takes some effort to continually bring yourself back to focusing just on your breathing. That is true whether people are bipolar or not.

I feel better afterwards, more relaxed.

[BNLsMOM]

I have done a lot of Kripalu yoga. (www.kripalu.org) it is often referred to as meditation in motion. I was undiagnosed when I started but I have found that even then when i didn't know what was going on, that when I was doing the postures I slowly began to focus on the movement and the sensations in my body rather than the invasive, depressive or manic thoughts. By the end of a session, I was very relaxed and calm and able to focus. Obviously not a cure, or substitute for meds, but a good occupational therapy session for sure.

Kripalu is very gentle and appropriate for every fitness level.

Let me know if you try it.

[nirmal]

Hello,

I, too have bipolar, and have found a site that explains it all. I have been meditating for a year now, although I started in 2005, on and off. I like it so much because it reduces stress, and much more.

If you´re interested, maybe I could help. The site is
aypsite.org

I am glad to hear people interested, any ready to change the course
of their lives.

love and light,
nirmal



My therapist and my boyfriend have been talking to me for while about the potential benefits of yoga and/or meditation for my mental health. I am trying to get into meditation, although it's been a slow start, especially when I am very depressed and my thoughts take control of things... but I really want to give it a try. Does anyone have any positive experiences with yoga or meditation helping them maintain their wellness or helping through a rough time? I am trying really hard to take control of my illness through more holistic methods in addition to my medication, by exercising more, eating well, and anything else I can find to do.[/quote]

[Typo]

hi acw56, yoga is a great tool as is meditation, I tried a yoga class on a whim last year, (after my T encouraged me to find ways to cope with my mood swings) and loved it, I found it to help calm and center, and be a healthy tool along with therapy. Meditation is wonderful in that it helps focus the mind.

And way to go and adding in excersice and eating better, our lifestyle has just a big effect as the medience we take does, I have found excersising regurarly and eating healthier has helped stabalize my mood swings

Much peace to you
typo