Posted by Sobriquet Style on April 7, 2006, at 11:51:00
In reply to Re: Drugs versus Psychotherapy - Backlash?, posted by SLS on April 7, 2006, at 10:43:56
>To tell someone with bipolar disorder (BD) or a severe recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) that exercise will relieve them of their depression is to sabotage their treatment and possibly bring them closer to reaching a point of hopelessness.
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/03_treatment_app.html#Anchor-What-50896
http://www.mcmanweb.com/article-39.htm
http://www.mhsanctuary.com/bipolar/selfcare.htm
They're just random links. I don't think I've ever come across any information that doesn't suggest exercise as an anjucnt treatment when relating to mental illness. Of course this doesn't suggest that everyone must do exercise. Neither are people forced to have therapy or medication if they wish not too.
Its my belief that medication and therapy is the main treatment for bipolar disorder. However, I believe that a healthy diet, good sleep hygine and exercise plays an important role too in treatment. Relying on exercise alone, well thats not a risk I'd get myself involved with as a sole treatment, I don't know of any information that would suggest, or a psychiatrist recommend that psysical exercise be used 'alone.'
>I don't begrudge anyone who can relieve themselves of depression by using exercise. I just wish they wouldn't tell me that it must certainly do the same for me. It doesn't. They are not me. I am not them.
I'd agree. Thats similar to suggesting to someone, I like eating a particular food, so they must to!
>Studies of exercise do not demonstrate a 100% success rate.
Do any?
>As with healthy people, exercise can affect some people with BD or MDD by giving them a transient boost in activation, mental energy, or animation. This is not, however, an antidepressant response.
Nope, its not marketed as one.
>Depends on the person, I guess.
Without a doubt! :-)
I will add, for me personally, when faced with the depths of manic depression, exercise has never happened, laying in bed close to 24 hours has. In no way am I going to be exercising when feeling that way, period. On the flip side, when I've felt well, not hypomanic etc my physical energy is good, and usually i'm getting adaqute exercise. I'm working at present to mantain myself with a healthy exercise programme of weight lifting and cardiac training. Just hope I can stick to it, if the illness gets the better of me with depression, based on my previous experience it will be halted.
~
poster:Sobriquet Style
thread:629584
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060403/msgs/630092.html