[ElJamo]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to ask others how they might've dealt with their mania, depression, anxiety etc. with exercise and sports.
Personally, I self-medicated with my bi-polar/depression with JV and varsity sports, and weightlifting and training in high school. I was obsessive about sports and training.
In college I started getting depressed and manic etc. and really struggled with social anxiety after being outcast. I could not cope with my life at school, and withdrew. Then I started taking lithium which was great. However, getting involved with cycling at my university and beyond personally allowed me to connect with a great array of new people in my community and just to get alone and feel good when I needed to! With a bum back, it's been my best medicine and has turned me on to so many positive people! And I just stopped taking my anti-anxiety meds Seriously, I do not think I would be where I am (which is not yet where I'd like it to be) had it not been for that. Otherwise I'd play varsity college sports or run addictively, but the two wheels have been a refuge. Not to mention a much cheaper and positive way of self medication than drugs and alcohol!

[gma45]

I think that is awesome that you got out of the vicious circle with exercise. I really do think it helps. I wish you the best. And thanks maybe someone else will see this and get inspired!

[TheatreKid]

Before I was diagnosed, I managed my bipolar by becoming anorexic and dancing 3+ hours a day, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical.

Now I'm an old fart at 30 with bad knees. My exercise is walking.

Exercise has never improved my mood state. I find that those who can control mental illness with diet and exercise never had enough in the first place - it was the lack of exercise and/or bad diet that caused their symptoms. This is what worries me with so many people heavily medicated before they even try lifestyle changes. I am pleased you have found your way to a healthier lifestyle and hope that others take note how much it can improve your life.

[nummy]

I'm just starting a ketogenic diet. I can't say whether it's helped but it hasn't hurt, and I haven't had a panic attack since starting (3 weeks). As for mood, don't know if it's my meds but I've been doing pretty well despite halving my abilify due to brain fog. Can't hurt and there is evidence getting into ketolysis can help with bipolar.

Exercise has helped, but I don't take it to excess. It does clear my head when depressed and about ten years ago during a bout if depression I made myself go for a walk several times a week. Surprised to say it helped--a lot. And I was SEVERELY depressed, the kind that normally morphs into staying in bed days at a time, and refusing water to dehydration,(till blood clots form). So I think I have the right to say I know what my depression does to me, walking helps. Not a cure but it helps.

[pawn78]

Originally Posted by Supanova

Exercise has never improved my mood state. I find that those who can control mental illness with diet and exercise never had enough in the first place - it was the lack of exercise and/or bad diet that caused their symptoms. This is what worries me with so many people heavily medicated before they even try lifestyle changes. I am pleased you have found your way to a healthier lifestyle and hope that others take note how much it can improve your life.

I find your second sentence to be totally off the mark! I am a fulltime plumber, I crawl under houses, pick up 300-400 lb. objects and sometimes have to do heavy manual labor all day. However, I still have days where I don;t get enough exercise (for a bipolar 1 muscular guy) and I spend about 3 hours/week lifting in the gym. EXERCISE HELPS MY MOOD TREMENDOUSLY. I have been manic psychotic, hospitalized twice, and yet I managed my mood med-free for YEARS just with exercise. It wasn't a "miracle cure" or anything, but INTENSE exercise is proven to release natural hormones (endorphins and neurotransmitters) in the brain that produce a relaxed, euphoric mood.

And my symptoms are serious Bipolar type 1, with psychotic features, so your statement, "I find that those who can control mental illness with diet and exercise never had enough in the first place - it was the lack of exercise and/or bad diet that caused their symptoms." is total Bull.
I am not saying exercise will cure you or anything, but IT ABSOLUTELY DOES HELP MOOD... unless you are not doing it right. ANd lack of exercise does NOT cause my symptoms either. My symptoms were caused by my brain chemistry being ****ed genetically, and major stress triggers in my life, that caused me to go nuts.

[ElJamo]

Originally Posted by TheatreKid

Before I was diagnosed, I managed my bipolar by becoming anorexic and dancing 3+ hours a day, ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical.

Now I'm an old fart at 30 with bad knees. My exercise is walking.

Sorry to hear that, and your knees. Keep walking and having fun! Have you checked out swimming for your joints? I go in the wee hours of the morning, esp on the weekends, as no one else is there!!

[TheatreKid]

Originally Posted by ElJamo

Sorry to hear that, and your knees. Keep walking and having fun! Have you checked out swimming for your joints? I go in the wee hours of the morning, esp on the weekends, as no one else is there!!

I'm transgender. Until I can afford surgery, me and bathing suits don't mix.

[ElJamo]

Originally Posted by pawn78

I find your second sentence to be totally off the mark! I am a fulltime plumber, I crawl under houses, pick up 300-400 lb. objects and sometimes have to do heavy manual labor all day. However, I still have days where I don;t get enough exercise (for a bipolar 1 muscular guy) and I spend about 3 hours/week lifting in the gym. EXERCISE HELPS MY MOOD TREMENDOUSLY. I have been manic psychotic, hospitalized twice, and yet I managed my mood med-free for YEARS just with exercise. It wasn't a "miracle cure" or anything, but INTENSE exercise is proven to release natural hormones (endorphins and neurotransmitters) in the brain that produce a relaxed, euphoric mood.

And my symptoms are serious Bipolar type 1, with psychotic features, so your statement, "I find that those who can control mental illness with diet and exercise never had enough in the first place - it was the lack of exercise and/or bad diet that caused their symptoms." is total Bull.
I am not saying exercise will cure you or anything, but IT ABSOLUTELY DOES HELP MOOD... unless you are not doing it right. ANd lack of exercise does NOT cause my symptoms either. My symptoms were caused by my brain chemistry being ****ed genetically, and major stress triggers in my life, that caused me to go nuts.

I appreciated your post. I agree and would like to add that I think for most people, just going outside and walking now and then would have a terrific effect. Also, I think that like coffee in a way, when you are relatively fit and without exercise for a few days, everyone I know gets depressed! Also, I noted you are from Asheville! You're lucky, it's really beautiful there. Glad to hear that it seems like you spend some good time outside...

[pawn78]

Originally Posted by ElJamo

I appreciated your post. I agree and would like to add that I think for most people, just going outside and walking now and then would have a terrific effect. Also, I think that like coffee in a way, when you are relatively fit and without exercise for a few days, everyone I know gets depressed! Also, I noted you are from Asheville! You're lucky, it's really beautiful there. Glad to hear that it seems like you spend some good time outside...

Yeah, Asheville is an international hiking paradise! Hiking is another passionate hobby of mine, I have hiked many trails in the Pisgah National Forest and others around Asheville. It is an awesome place.

I am too insulted by your post to address it directly. Let me just say I absolutely agree with ElJamo.

[Twigs92]

I'm not currently on meds, I find that cardio helps if I'm upset, and weights/strength training helps if I'm in a rager. I was really upset this morning, did and hour and a half of cardio and I don't feel as bad, I even managed to visit friends .

[r010159]

Managing BP I without meds? Kudos! You are the only one I have ever met that can do this. Lucky you!

I cannot exercise while depressed.

[buzz bee]

I picked up exercising again three weeks ago. It has boosted my confidence and has helped with the bipolar. Im not going to stop taking my meds though. Its just part of my treatment plan.

Im glad this is working out for you. Feels good, doesn't it? I love reading happy posts.