Bipolar Disorder

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Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that can cause low, depressive moods and high manic moods. While most people have mild shifts in mood from time to time, for people with bipolar disorder, these shifts in mood can be extreme and unpredictable. Bipolar disorder is typically managed with medication and therapy. But adding exercise to their treatment plan can provide added benefits.

For most people, exercise can have a positive effect on their mood. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are known as the brain’s feel good chemicals. Over time, higher levels of endorphins can make you feel better. This is why exercise is often recommended for people with depression. Exercise can also help you combat stress.

Because of these benefits, it’s easy to assume that working out might help people with bipolar disorder. Some people with bipolar disorder, exercise help ease hypomanic symptoms, which are less severe than manic symptoms. It also helped people sleep better. Exercise could provide a calming effect for some people. These exercises include walking, running, and swimming.

However, for other people with bipolar disorder, exercise could worse manic symptoms. It could cause a worsening effect for both manic and hypomanic episodes. You can select a program that combined exercise, nutrition, and wellness training for overweight people with bipolar disorder. The program can result in improvements to health and weight. It also reduced symptoms of depression in participants, and improved their overall functioning.