Do Yoga and Meditation Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder?

If a loved one has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you might be well aware of the obstacles that accompany the condition that afflicts around 6 million adults in the United States.
 
Bipolar disorder’s debilitating mood swings can extremely affect every part of your life. People who seek medical attention are able to treat their bipolar disorder, but sometimes these prescribed medicines are not enough to get their lives back to normal. This is the reason why people are looking for bipolar disorder treatment alternatives like yoga and meditation.

Yoga

Yoga, initially originated in India, is now practiced worldwide. While the effects of yoga have not been studied for those who struggle with bipolar disorder, there is a rising number of people practicing yoga in their routine.

Yoga fuses mind with body in regimented movement and intense concentration. If done regularly, yoga can cultivate a sense of mental clarity, as the person is able to focus on the shape of the body, breathing, and balance all at once.

A person with bipolar disorder might find relief to chronic stress patterns and be able to promote a sense of calmness that medications do not otherwise provide.

Yoga works like any other form of exercise by prompting the body to release mood-enhancing chemicals into the brain such as endorphins and neurotransmitters. It also elevates the body’s temperature, which is believed by some to increase feelings of calm.

Meditation

Meditation involves a self-inducing mental state of consciousness through focus and breathing exercises. People meditate with a certain goal in mind, and a person struggling with bipolar disorder meditates in hopes of managing mood swings.

It can relax your mind, help you cope with the stresses of daily life, and give you a more enlightened view of life in general.

Once a manic episode has been resolved, meditation can help you sit quietly and experience your breathing, which can provide a powerful sense of self that can elude people with bipolar disorder, especially if they have been ill for a long time.

Techniques involved in meditation –
  • Focusing on a pleasurable moment
  • Chanting a soothing mantra
  • Focusing on different parts of the body
  • Walking and concentrating on the sensation of walking

Yoga and meditation might not be the cure for depression and bipolar disorder, but they can help you relax and reduce stress, disengage from anxious thoughts, and better control your mood.

For more information about the symptoms of bipolar disorder, visit bphope.com. This online magazine is dedicated to the hope and harmony for people with bipolar mania and depression, and they offer a number of well-written articles that fall into categories such as treatments, relationships, kids living with bipolar, symptoms, etc. They also offer access to a community forum where people with bipolar mania are encouraged to discuss their thoughts and concerns in a safe environment.

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