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I'm 42 and was diagnosed w/ bp few yrs ago. And for me, bp is just another hyped buzz word for manic depression and/or life anxiety. I strongly feel that meds (for the short term) can help. But long term one must discover healther therapies to cope w/ your over active and racing, o.c.d. brain.
I've always worked out and this year pumped up my routine to a whole other level. I have many many positives to offer bo folks. If you'd like to know more how I use the gym to train away bp from disturbing my life, e-mail at a yahhoo acct at Christopherlaro@yahoo.com.
I'm willing to discuss a host of ideas and suggestions you may find quite beneficial. Remember, MEDS ARE NOT THE MAGIC BULLET FOR THIS DISORDER.
1st understand where I am coming from: I am severely depressed at this moment and yet slightly hypo in that I am agitated and "itchy". Wanted to advise ahead.
You say that "Meds are not the magic bullet for this disorder." and you are quite right.
However, neither is the gym for most of us that struggle through the severe depression.
In fact, there is no magic bullet otherwise there wouldn't be so many of us suffering from mania, hypomania, and depression and even more important - not so many of us killing ourselves to rid ourselves of the pain or ridding those around us of the pain being us in their lives.
I'm severely and critically depressed right now. I'm reaching 40. I'd love nothing else but to "workout" and join a gym or heck go for a walk outside. However, I barely am able to get up and get my child her breakfast and get her out the door much less that.
It is not that I am lazy or unwilling, far from it. I have neither the funds for a gym fee and I have not the energy or stamina to do anything at home.
I judge myself harshly for this and tell myself I am fat and lazy and unwilling. This I do myself to myself - I don't need someone touting it as an alternative solution to something that simply won't go totally away.
Wouldn't it be so nice if there was a foolproof magic bullet we can all take? I've known BPs who exercised, ate right, sleep well, and still relapsed or worse - committed suicide.
So while it helps and it does, it really does, (I certainly don't dispute it) please don't tout it (as it seems in your post to me) that it is the alternative solution to meds.
I think it's great that the gym has helped you so much. But remember that those of us suffering with bipolar symptoms are very individual. What works well for one person won't necessarily work for another.
It seems to me that when you're in the deeper realms of depression, as Marie is in, it's very difficult to motivate yourself to do anything.
I think physical exercise is great for keeping me well, but when I'm really down, it's hard to push myself out the door to do anything.
Originally posted by marie: 1st understand where I am coming from: I am severely depressed at this moment and yet slightly hypo in that I am agitated and "itchy". Wanted to advise ahead.
You say that "Meds are not the magic bullet for this disorder." and you are quite right.
However, neither is the gym for most of us that struggle through the severe depression.
In fact, there is no magic bullet otherwise there wouldn't be so many of us suffering from mania, hypomania, and depression and even more important - not so many of us killing ourselves to rid ourselves of the pain or ridding those around us of the pain being us in their lives.
I'm severely and critically depressed right now. I'm reaching 40. I'd love nothing else but to "workout" and join a gym or heck go for a walk outside. However, I barely am able to get up and get my child her breakfast and get her out the door much less that.
It is not that I am lazy or unwilling, far from it. I have neither the funds for a gym fee and I have not the energy or stamina to do anything at home.
I judge myself harshly for this and tell myself I am fat and lazy and unwilling. This I do myself to myself - I don't need someone touting it as an alternative solution to something that simply won't go totally away.
Wouldn't it be so nice if there was a foolproof magic bullet we can all take? I've known BPs who exercised, ate right, sleep well, and still relapsed or worse - committed suicide.
So while it helps and it does, it really does, (I certainly don't dispute it) please don't tout it (as it seems in your post to me) that it is the alternative solution to meds.
To Marie and Lynne. I do understand completely the despair bp creates. As well as the feeling that nothing pro-active can help one out of the abyss.
I am not being simplistic when I suggest the gym as salvation of any kind. But for me, depression in any form or clinical name, is at its core a self-indulgence that negates positive solutions. For myself, even when I was on meds (only about 3 yrs after diagnosis) the gym and the endorphin reality of working out was never going to be excluded. Point is, many in the med profession do tout medications as the panacea for most disorders forgetting the power of the good aspects of the mind to compensate for the bad.
It's up to us as individuals to create a myriad of therapies to heal including short term meds, exercise, prayer, meditation et al. I've recently written an e-book about my new gym regiment w/ a partner of mine who also has bp and ocd. The overall theme of booklet is NOT the bp truth of our lives but the benefits of incremental change in the gym as we progressed in strength and power over months of training.
The same slow change concept of small weight increases for chest exercise is akin to the gradual healing bp folks and others must adhere to. Again, taking a pill isn't the answer all the time forever. Real change takes time, time and more time.
Sooner we all engage in positive activity for ourselves and offering help to others (self-less ness) the better I feel anyway. The best way to force yourself out of depression in whatever form it may take is-
* positive exercise * helping others
Anytime I begin feeling 'low' of mind or overwhelemed, I train harder and more often and begin helping others for ex. adults w/ special needs etc. The goal in the gym is 'control.' When we feel the most out of control, hardcore exercise gives me the best form of personal control in a chaotic world. It's a true sense of pride, confidence and self-esteem.
I know it's hard. Everything worthwhile IS difficult, including allowing our minds to reek havoc on us. So please know, my own bp, o.c.d. life has taken its toll for sure over the years. But I refuse to lay down and die. You both don't quit either.
You have more control over your mind than you may think. Let's discuss more of this okay? I'd like ot hear more about your life experiences. And I'm willing to reveal details about myself as well.
This will be my last response to this issue. I am very glad that you have found that working out in the gym is a positive and self-healing approach to your personal experience with BP. I'm also very glad that you found something that has worked to keep you controlled and centered.
As GJ Gregory mentioned, if I remember this correctly, that each individual with BP deals with, handles it, and suffers through it in their own way. Therefore, not to place all of us in a "pre-defined box" for we are each different.
Your belief that "depression in any form or clinical name, is at its core a self-indulgence that negates positive solutions." was a bit confusing as to exactly what you meant in that statement.
I read it as, those with depression in any form are self-centered and therefore promote negative solutions. I do try to help others, I worked in a mental health clinic and saw people I had grown to know in terrible pain.
I attempted what I could, being office staff, to alleviate any if by simply listening when they would speak to me and not their own therapist. They each have told me how much they appreciated me just listening to them.
It seems to me even with your response that you are trying to promote your program, sort of as an informerical (did I spell that right?). That is okay and some of the main individuals here at this site do this as well.
I tell you what, you send me the $150.00 enrollment fee to the Living Center near my home and the $55.00 per month fee for the year contract they require to participate in mediation, yoga, water aerobics, tai chi, pilates, and the like and in a year we will see. I'd be more than happy to go.
In the meantime, I pray to God and I try to get through each day the best I can.
By the way, the fact I am writing this, going to therapy, going through countless different meds, trying to keep myself and my family in one piece day by day, lay my head down at the end of the day without taking a bottle of pills and because I didn't actually succeed in the numerous attempts to erase myself from "the picture" of humanity to me means "I have not given up nor quit".
I totally agree with your take on exercise and theh gym is salvation for me also. I am bipolar 1 diagnosed for three years after a 15 year incorrect diagnosis of clinical depression. I wrote to you on your email at Yahoo you posted (Christopherlaro@yahoo.com) and the email was returned. Do you have another email? I am definitely interested in your gym story and in turn will share mine.
What I have found is that while I can't get my husband to work out when he is in a depressed phase, if he starts a routine while he is even-keel or manic, it helps to stave off depression or make the next depressed phase not so deep.
Likewise, getting a good workout regularly has changed my (non-BP wife) life significantly. I can't solve the problems in my life immediately, but I can feel better now, and do it in a healthy way. This helps me to approach our problems in a calmer frame of mind.
Lastly, my husband and I signed up for marial arts class. Now I get to beat the crap out of stuff during the week, and on the weekends I hit the gym. It's terrific.
I will say one thing that excersise does seem to knock the edge off for me and i feel better. I can never stay on course tho. mostly because me but maybe if i had somone to workout with it would make it a little easier, in my little town i see these 2 ladies in there late 40's to early 50's in age and they walk together all the time, wish i could be like that.
I know that I could not function without the meds, so they serve their purpose. But I love to get a good walking workout several times a week. No doubt it helps every aspect, from depression to anxiety. Now if I could just get my husband to work out with me.
Originally posted by anon_vision: What I have found is that while I can't get my husband to work out when he is in a depressed phase, if he starts a routine while he is even-keel or manic, it helps to stave off depression or make the next depressed phase not so deep.
Likewise, getting a good workout regularly has changed my (non-BP wife) life significantly. I can't solve the problems in my life immediately, but I can feel better now, and do it in a healthy way. This helps me to approach our problems in a calmer frame of mind.
Lastly, my husband and I signed up for marial arts class. Now I get to beat the crap out of stuff during the week, and on the weekends I hit the gym. It's terrific.
Hey you have a really positive approach to life! working out is not only good for us physically but mentally as well. an you are living proof of that. The problem with depression is actually getting up and making the move.I am not bp or depressed, clinically but still when I have lows I find it hard to motivate myself to do anything at all...can't begin to imagine how hard it would be if I was severly depressed. I guess the secret is starting when you are "between polars" or manic and get into a groove.
I try to run 3 or so miles a day, with headphones and fun music. Helps a lot. If it's a sunny day, it is great. My daily escape. Hardest part is getting out there. Sometimes I feel I don't have the time because of work and kids. But I need to make the time. All i read tells me that for bp people, exercise is important, not self-indulgent. I'd like to start lifting weights again, too and though about bodybuilding. I'm an old guy, 47.
Hey you have a really positive approach to life!
