Anyone else dealing with Bipolar disorder?

[ABDonovan]

There is a study being conducted right now for people with bipolar disorder (like me), that shows Running, Dancing, and Swimming may be a natural therapy for mood swings.

I had a severe mood shift yesterday, and hurt myself in the process (when I'm mad, I hit myself in the face). I went to therapy this morning and showed my therapist the shiner, and what did she prescribe? I start running again. So, I'm now on a strict regimen of 30/30 running, where I walk 30 seconds and run 30 seconds. It's kind of like C25K, but it's 40 minutes long. It tires my mind, and seems to calm me...alot.

So, anyone with Bipolar disorder, not only am I here for you, any time you need me. But also, you may want to think about sweating a little bit, to have one less bad mood shift...I think it's worth it. Anything can cause the mood shifts, but it's harder to calm down once you give into them. My cause...I studied the wrong material for my Ornithology class. I feel like I made a C after studying for over 24 hours in 3 days. So, I fell hard into a mood shift, and yeah...



Running, guys...running! lol

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Hey AB! Sorry you had an mood shift yesterday, but I'm glad you talked to your therapist!
She's right, running helps. I'm not bi-polar but I do find running therapeutic. It helps me dump my mind, kind of like the pensieve bowl in Harry Potter. I also mow lawn with a push mower for the same reason, not easy to do when you have an acre of land! LOL But the kids and the husband leave me alone to do the work and I'm just flat out exhausted when I'm done and I usually work through my problems before I'm done.

 

[ABDonovan]

I'm glad to have confirmation or a second opinion. I believed my therapist, but running has always been something I dreaded. However, if I relax, the running is something I look forward to.

I have never thought to mow the yard. My dad and DH will love that suggestion lol

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I used to dread running too but I think it was lingering apprehension from my school days (world class jerk of a gym teacher + non athletic student = bad mix!) but when I got to HS we were able to choose gym classes and I picked walking. The teacher was pretty cool, if we walked fast enough to complete our assignment before class was over we could run after if we wanted too.
Now all of my kids are runners, DS15 is on the track and cross country team. DS10 and 11 are on the middle school team and DD wants to do long jump and pole vault. So I started running again to just have something to do with all the kids.
I'm having a mental block today about my fitness goals so I'm actually on my way down to the basement to hit the treadmill now. I need to clear my mind a bit.