Lifestyle Changes for Bipolar Disorder That Improve Your Quality of Life

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition marked by mood swings that range from drastic to subtle. Although the classic bipolar symptoms alternate between euphoric mania and depression, you can still suffer from bipolar disorder without ever experiencing a manic episode.

Approximately 2.8% of the United States population suffers from bipolar disorder. The most common types are:

Bipolar I

In bipolar type 1, you experience the classic swings between depression and mania, which may include periods of hallucinations and delusions. Manic periods last at least one week and may require medical care; severe depression lasts at least two weeks.

Bipolar II

You experience at least one episode of depression plus at least one episode of hypomania. Hypomania may make you feel as energized as mania, but it’s not accompanied by delusions or hallucinations.

Cyclothymic disorder

When you have cyclothymic disorder, you alternate between periods of depression and mania that last about two years if you’re an adult or one year if you’re a child or teen. 

Unspecified or other bipolar disorder

Symptoms are less severe or don't last long enough to be classified as bipolar I or II.

At Precise Research Centers, founder Joseph Kwentus, MD, participates in ongoing clinical trials for medications that help you manage the symptoms of your bipolar disorder. Candidates for clinical trials also gain access to mental health counseling and supportive therapies for no cost.

Would you like to adopt lifestyle changes that help you manage or subdue the highs and lows of bipolar disorder? Following are a few steps you can take to improve your quality of life.

Focus on whole foods

No diet can cure bipolar disorder, but the more building blocks you give your body to help it repair cells and remove toxins, the better you’ll feel. Concentrate on whole, fresh foods, particularly those that are known to have anti-inflammatory properties, such as:

• Berries
• Citrus
• Fresh and cooked leafy greens
• Variety of colorful vegetables
• Complex starches, such as sweet potatoes
• Grass fed and pastured meats, poultry, and eggs
• Wild-caught fish
• Good fats, such as olive oil and avocados
• Whole grains
• Legumes, nuts, and seeds

Avoid fast foods, junk foods, and processed foods. Although they can be convenient, they tend to be high in pro-inflammatory ingredients, such as simple sugars and trans fats, that wreak havoc on your body and brain.

Move your body

Exercise isn't just a way to manage your weight. Engaging in a variety of activities that make your heart pump and challenge your muscles enlivens your entire body and brain. 

Aerobic exercises, such as dancing or running, strengthen your heart, lungs, and veins and also increase the circulation of oxygen and nutrients to your organs. Resistance exercises, such as weightlifting, not only build strong muscles and bones, they encourage the production of new blood vessels and increase blood flow throughout your body.

Give yourself the gift of sleep

Our culture is in the middle of a shift from thinking of sleep as a nuisance that interferes with productivity to a precious tool that boosts it. If you struggle with a mood disorder, such as bipolar disorder, sleep is more important than ever.

Rather than being a passive state, sleep is an active state in which your brain processes the memories and emotions of the day; your glymphatic system clears toxins from your brain; and your cells repair and rebuild themselves. Set yourself up for the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night for adults, 8-10 hours for teens, and 9+ for younger kids by:

• Sleeping in a dark, cool room
• Using amber or red lights or glasses at night
• Limiting screen time before bed
• Avoiding meals several hours before bed
• Going to bed and waking up at the same time daily
• Getting plenty of sunlight in the morning

If you toss and turn at night, wake up too early, or awaken frequently, talk to your doctor about a sleep test.

Get the help you need

No lifestyle change and no pill can completely address your symptoms, though they can make them much easier to live with. You also need support, which you receive free of charge if you enroll in a clinical trial with us.

In addition to getting free, state-of-the-art medications (or a placebo), you also get help managing your symptoms with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other forms of talk therapy or support.

Would you like to learn how to manage your bipolar disorder symptoms with lifestyle changes and medical support through a clinical trial? Contact us at 601-685-3457, book an appointment online, or send a message to our team to see if you're a candidate.

Once you’re accepted into one of our clinical trials, you receive all medications and supportive therapies at no charge.