Effect of physical exercise

Does physical exercise triggers or temporarily triggers hypo/mania on you?

What about long-term? like after months following an exercise routine?

Also what's the relation between exercise and depression for you?

Cheers

Back when I worked out, I'd get mania, but it was a very brief mania (mine usually is, but not always). I never did cardio, but purely strength workouts. Back when I was at the gym five days a week, it didn't have any long-term effect on me, but when I was working out, I got manic from time to time, and then got "cooled off" walking home. By the time I got home, I was fine. It was rather strange, but that's how my Bipolar stuff has always been.

I hate the gym but over the years I have gone on a couple gym binges. They haven't lasted more than 6 months but for that time, I was there 4 times a week. The benefits were worthwhile, but I became bored with the routine and the setting.

The best physical exercise for me is low cardio outside... walking, cycling... are favorite activities. For a more intense experience, a serious climb up a good path... If I need to put my hands on the rock in front of me, it is too steep. Backpacking and canoeing trips are highlights. The trips take a fairly high level of fitness so regular exercise is essential.

I think the company I am with is as important in my enjoyment of the activity as the activity itself.

Overall, being outside getting exercise with good people feeds my soul. If the goals or competition are high and the activity intense, I get hypomanic. Before I learned that this was not good for me, I played a lot of rough sports and loved it. (Rugby, American Football and Hockey.) Don't we all love hypomania when we are in it. Afterwards we pay the price.

If I complete a workout I get slight mania. Sometimes I get weird panic attacks that make me stop working out before I get very far into it. It's weird. My apartment complex has a small gym. I often go during hours when most are at work, so I don't have to share it with others.Even if it's empty, I will on occasion (not rarely either) get these attacks. I'm not out of shape, so it's not like being overwhelmed by the process of getting into better shape or whatever. Doesn't matter what type of exercise or equipment either.

I'm wondering if anyone else gets this too.

Holodeck wrote:... Sometimes I get weird panic attacks that make me stop working out before I get very far into it. I'm wondering if anyone else gets this too.

Sounds unusual to me too. Do you have panic attacks at other times?
- When you are out on the street?
- In lines in stores or banks, etc?
- On crowded buses or in theaters?

If there are other situations that trigger the panic attacks then it isn't the exercise specifically that triggers it.

Tell us more about what these panic attacks are like. What are the stages or process that you go through? How do you get over it?

skilsaw wrote:
Sounds unusual to me too. Do you have panic attacks at other times?
- When you are out on the street?
- In lines in stores or banks, etc?
- On crowded buses or in theaters?

If there are other situations that trigger the panic attacks then it isn't the exercise specifically that triggers it.

Tell us more about what these panic attacks are like. What are the stages or process that you go through? How do you get over it?

I honestly have no idea what the trigger is. I am normally completely alone, have music for distraction. I'll usually take something to read for distraction too. Usually I don't have much issue when out in public. I usually feel I'm more blended into the crowd. I tend to take music when going out too, so that's no different. I remember when I was at a different gym, it would happen off and on there too. It was a more public one, with more people. It never seems related to people though. It's like my body sort of shuts down, and my brain sends me a message saying that if I do any more working out it's going to feel like years, like I'll never finish. My body starts feeling weak for no apparent reason, and my thoughts won't shut up. Usually I can only go about 5 minutes, and it feels like time has been dilated to a crawl (min seriously feels like 30+ during these times) to which point I can't take it anymore, and leave. I don't think I've ever finished a workout when that happens.

I also have been diagnosed with OCD, so it could very well be the culprit.

Holodeck wrote:I honestly have no idea what the trigger is. I am normally completely alone, have music for distraction. I'll usually take something to read for distraction too. ... My body starts feeling weak for no apparent reason, and my thoughts won't shut up. Usually I can only go about 5 minutes, and it feels like time has been dilated to a crawl (min seriously feels like 30+ during these times) to which point I can't take it anymore, and leave. I don't think I've ever finished a workout when that happens.I also have been diagnosed with OCD, so it could very well be the culprit.

That's a puzzle to me. Closest I come to this is just plain backing away from opportunities to exercise because I don't feel able. If I get out there, I get tired quickly and quit early.

I've got the trip of a lifetime coming up in June/July. I'm booked on a 24 day 400 km canoe wilderness trip. I've got the skills and background. I'm becoming afraid and may drop out before the planning progresses too far so that I can be replaced easily. But what a missed opportunity!!!

Panic! Anxiety! What an opportunity killer. When I've pushed myself in the past to start stuff anyway I've always been glad for the experience, difficult as it was at the start.

It may sound stupid, but I think it has to do with routines. I know routines are good for bipolar, but my OCD HATES them. It likes to plan about all the things I should/could be doing, and why I'm a bad person for not having started those things way earlier on. I think it affects me so intensely during exercise because I may already have my heart beating quick during a run or whatever. If it's something new, I may get irritable about switching gears, but it's never as bad as if I had planned for it with my OCD.exe going nuts in the background of my operating system.

Holodeck wrote:It may sound stupid, but I think it has to do with routines. I know routines are good for bipolar, but my OCD HATES them....

I agree with you about routines.

Hi. A few years ago I was manic and put a lot of hours in exerciseing . I got walking on the treadmill and doing aerobics but then that all went down the shoot and now I still try and get some exercise in but I get tired easily .i do get out to the beach to hunt for sea glass .but that is in the summer.today is snowy but warmer than yesterday and I’m trying to get my but out the door to walk but I have zero energy.but I know if I do it will make feel better but all I want to do is go to bed.hopefully I’ll go because it does help me