Yoga for bipolar disorder

Bipolar depression is more likely to involve irritability, guilt, unpredictable mood swings, and feelings of restlessness. People with bipolar depression also tend to move and speak slowly, sleep a lot, and gain weight. In addition, they are more likely to develop psychotic depression – a condition in which they have lost contact with reality.

A growing body of research suggests that there are significant differences between bipolar depression and regular depression, especially when it comes to recommended treatments. Most people with bipolar depression are not helped by antidepressants. In fact, there is a risk that antidepressants can make bipolar disorder worse – triggering mania or hypomania, causing rapid cycling between mood states.

Mental illness is one of the most neglected health topics globally. This is especially true for India. According to the National Mental Health Survey of India, every sixth Indian need mental health help. When we say ‘mental illness, we usually refer to a group of disorders.

There is no scientific literature on hatha yoga for bipolar disorder,” said lead author Lisa Uebelacker, associate professor (research) of psychiatry and human behavior in the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a staff psychologist at Butler Hospital. Hatha yoga is a practice, familiar in the West, in which people move between various poses. It often includes breathing practices and meditation. “There is reason to think that there are ways in which it might be wonderful and ways in which it might not be safe. We are interested in studying hatha yoga for bipolar as an adjunctive treatment to pharmacotherapy.”

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that can cause changes in your energy and mood as well as your overall ability to function. People with bipolar disorder have “mood episodes,” which are periods of intense emotional states. Stress has been shown to worsen bipolar disorder.

Yoga can also contribute to your overall physical fitness by targeting your flexibility and balance. Along with adequate sleep and a nutritious diet, exercise (flexibility, aerobic, and strength) forms the basis of general good health. Good overall health can help you deal with a chronic illness like bipolar disorder.

Your risk of being affected increases if your parent or sibling has this mental disorder. Stress and drinking alcohol increase your risk factor. If you ignore this problem, it can lead to complications like suicide attempts, damaged relationships, poor work performance, etc.

Environmental pollution associated with bipolar disorder: Study

According to research published in the journal PLoS Biology, exposure to Air pollution can increase your risk of being affected with bipolar disorder. For the research, scientists analyzed the U.S. health insurance database of 151 million people who claimed to be suffering from neuropsychiatric diseases. They compared this data with the levels of air pollution in countries where the subjects were living.

 

YOGA THERAPY

Yoga therapy for bipolar disorder can control one’s mood shift by bringing more awareness to fluctuating moods. The practice of yoga brings awareness to the body and mind. The Practitioner learns that the moods or any sensation of the body and mind are temporary. One develops self-awareness that helps control some of their manic tendencies. The practice of asana can reduce depression, anxiety, anger and neurotic symptoms.

Pranayama helps to control breath, which stabilises and enhances the activity of the brain. Meditation and yoga Nidra (guided meditation) can induce total relaxation and self-control. This is curial in case of any relapse or to cope with bipolar disorder.

The symptoms can be controlled by exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, eating right, monitoring the moods, keeping stress to a minimum, and surrounding oneself with supportive people.

Yoga is a fantastic anti-depressant and perfect mood stabilizer. It is psycho-physical science that brings physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual well-being.

How Does It Work?

Yoga usually involves stretching and balancing your body in specific stances, called poses, while practicing controlled breathing and meditation. This combination often leaves people feeling calmer, yet invigorated. It may help you manage stress. Stress can trigger mood episodes if you have bipolar disorder.

There are different levels and types of yoga. Some of the types of yoga that you may see offered at a yoga studio include:

• Hatha yoga is a calmer type of yoga that is good for beginners and is often used to help manage stress
• Iyengar yoga is a relaxing type of yoga that uses props such as blocks to help you hold a pose
• Bikram yoga, also known as “hot” yoga, is done in a heated room
• Vinyasa yoga, also known as “flow” yoga, is often faster-paced and can be more challenging for beginners
• power yoga, which is often a fitness-oriented type of vinyasa yoga

Yoga shouldn’t take the place of conventional treatments for bipolar disorder. You should continue taking any medications prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may also recommend alternative therapies, such as talk therapy.

Upavistha Konasana

This yoga pose works on your nervous system and calms your mind. Performing it on a daily basis can help you become peaceful. Also known as Seated Wide-Angled Pose, it is known to stimulate your abdominal organs and stretch your arms, legs, hips, and spine. Notably, you should perform this pose in the early morning on an empty stomach.

How to do it:

• Sit on the floor with your legs extended to the front. The legs should be together.
• Now, spread your legs, keeping a distance of approximately 110 degrees between them.
• Bring your hands forward and bend.
• Inhale and exhale deeply and continue the push forward on each exhalation.
• Stay in the pose for a minute and then release.

’m a woo-woo-hippie-what’s-it-a-all-about-Alfie-kind-of-gal at heart. If I can no longer go out completely on my own and have my feet in the dirt and my face in the sun as I used to in order to get my groove on because of medical restrictions, then so be it. I will find something else to help me keep my head on straight.

I’ve yoga done for years, but never really had a practice, as in learning more about it, working to improve, and understanding yoga’s benefits. I joined a local studio, have traded the gym for yoga classes of varied sorts, and attend 3-4 times a week.

 

“There is clearly evidence that yoga seems to be a powerful practice for some individuals with BD,” the researchers wrote in the paper. “It was striking that some of our respondents clearly believed that yoga had a major positive impact on their lives.”

Throughout the survey, there was also evidence that yoga could be problematic for some people with BD, although fewer people cited problems.