Food, Fun, Exercise and Bipolar Disorder
Some triggers of the symptoms associated with bipolar disorder include stress, poor eating habits and lack of sleep. While these three are the possible triggers, there are ways to take control of these with food, fun and some exercise.
Food
It is important to get the right amount of nutrients daily. This means eating a balanced meal with fruits, vegetables and a few dairy, poultry and fish products. It will also be helpful to take multivitamins and food supplements.
Eating right also means staying away from beverages with alcohol and caffeine. Instead, you can drink alcohol free or reduced variations as well as non-caffeinated products.
Chances are you will be taking medication to help you deal with your mood swings. Some of these drugs have side effects and one of them is weight gain. So aside from eating right, you should exercise to increase the metabolism in your body and combat stress.
Exercise
This includes Jogging, Running and Walking. You can do this on a treadmill or in the streets so don’t get tired staring into black space when your brain is able to relax looking at the natural environment. Exercising outdoors also has one more benefit and that is exposing yourself to sunlight that has proven to affect your mood positively.
If the area outside is polluted, naturally you will have to exercise indoors. You can buy a DVD or enroll in a gym that provides non- strenuous programs. In such cases Yoga might just be the thing for you. Yoga exercises are designed to make your mind relax as you breathe deeply which promotes both flexibility and strength.
Since you sweat when you exercise, don’t forget to drink lot of water. This will help replenish the liquids lost as certain medications may also cause your body to overheat.
But before you start out any exercise, it is best to see a doctor so he or she can say if the program you are getting into is safe. If what you plan in mind is not feasible, surely something else can be recommended.
Fun
Another form of exercise you can do is playing sports with your friends and family. It also wouldn’t hurt to learn something new because it is always educational and fun.
Seasonal changes may also affect your mood. Studies have shown that during the fall, winter and spring those who are suffering from bipolar disorder are depressed. Counter seasonal changes with some fun activities you can do with your loved ones. You can also counter this by planning ahead so you know what you are supposed to do for that day.
So eat right, find something to do, work on a schedule and stick to it and lastly have fun.
