Is exercise good for someone who is bipolar?

Getting lots of exercise can help a person with bipolar disorder manage his or her symptoms. Following a schedule that includes some physical activity on most days can also help to prevent other conditions common in people with bipolar disorder, including heart disease and diabetes. You don't need to become an Olympic athlete. Simply taking a 30-minute walk every day can make a big difference. Talk to your doctor about how exercise can help you.

Bipolar disorder, formally known as manic-depressive illness, is characterized by a change of polarity from a major depressive episode to a manic episode. From what is known, exercise has positive effects for someone who is bipolar, particularly on the depressive side. The endorphins during exercise could have a calming effect on the manic side of a bipolar episode. Consistent elements of the depressive side are a negative mood and feelings of hopelessness. We all feel depressed from time to time however clinical depression is persistent symptoms for a relatively long time or symptoms that interfere with daily life. Exercise has been shown to reduce depression, even clinical depression. Exercise improves mood and is most effective when performed regularly. People who are mild to moderately depressed experience the greatest reduction of symptoms with exercise. Regular exercise has been found to be comparable in effectiveness to medication and therapy for mild to moderate depression, and exercise is often used in conjunction with these treatments.