Swimming is good for bipolar disorder

I'm struggling to think of a form of exercise that doesn't help manic depressives to manage their condition - perhaps boxing...

One things which definitely helps me is swimming. It's not only a gentle, full body workout but also an activity which seems to ward off anxious thoughts. Whilst swimming I am troubled with very few intrusive thoughts compared with other activities which don't appear to be mentally distracting.

Why this is, is not clear to me but it may be something to do with the structured breathing necessary for swimming.

Swimming is also a good outlet for excess energy which might otherwise manifest itself as irritability or other symptoms of mania.

If you have a swimming pool near you, it's certainly worth giving swimming a try. It doesn't matter whether or not you're a particularly strong or stylish swimmer, even treading water is good for the heart, muscle tone and managing your moods.

I'd be interested to hear what sporting activities readers find helpful in managing moods.

Top Bipolar Blogs

Once again Psych Central have come up with a great Top 10 list of bipolar blogs.

I'm particularly excited about Yoga for Bipolar who are hoping to upload some audio podcasts shortly.

Thanks to Psych Central for the honorable mention.

Gays know gays, right?

Friend: I don't know what to put in my friend's birthday card. Ideas?

Me: How would I know, I've never met him!

Friend: Yes but he's gay.

Assisted Suicide - Should it become legal in the UK?

I get very angry with people who believe "If someone wants to commit suicide you should let them." The reason for this is that most deliberate self-harm is a result of a temporary state of mind, usually due to a mental health problem clouding judgement. Once the suicidal ideation has passed sufferers can live healthy, happy lives.

However once in a while I read a story about somebody whose dissatisfaction with life is based a genuinely horrific set of circumstances that seem unlikely to change. For example Daniel James, 23, became paralysed from the waist down following a rugby injury last year and ended his life in a Swiss assisted suicide clinic on 12 September. I can only imagine how difficult losing his movement must have been and in this case, I am sympathetic towards his decision.

Nevertheless, legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia is thwart with problems. There is no cut off point more definite than having one rule for everybody and whilst Daniel's case may at first seem very clear cut, it is not.

There are many paraplegia people who are very satisfied with their quality of life and perhaps with time he would have learned acceptance and found a way to savour life without the use of his lower body. 

Allowing assisted suicide in the case of those who are paralysed would implicitly rule that the lives of profoundly disabled people are less worthy of protection than those of people who are not; which is clearly quite ghastly. We should all benefit from the same right to live regardless of disability.

Added to which if those paralysed from the chest down are permitted to commit suicide then where do you draw the line? To what extent does someone need to be able bodied before it is deamed unacceptable for them to end their own lives? How can you accurately predict which suicidal people would suffer indefinitly and which would mentally recover? Afterall is it our physical body that makes us content or discontent with life, or our attidude towards it?

Yes, I have every sympathy with Daniel James and admire his parents for supporting his decision to end his life despite the pain they must feel for losing a child but I believe that the overall effects of relaxing UK law could result in the deaths of people who would one day delight in the fact that they had come through a suicidal period, unharmed.

The outcome of my discrimination dispute

Some of you may recall that I had to make a decision about whether or not to stand up to an individual who I felt had unfairly discriminated against me. My decision was to seek compensation from the individual because I felt I'd never forgive myself if I let her get away with it.

After a long mediation process it was decided that the individual would give me a written letter of apology and a contribution toward the expenses that I'd incurred as a result of her actions.

I didn't get the maximum financial sum I had sought but the settlement was enough to make her think hard about what she has done. Since it was always the principle rather than the money that was important, I am very satisfied with the outcome.

Persuing this was the right course of action for me. Whether or not the indivual has learnt from this experience remains a mystery. Let's hope that she has.