A team of scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California has trained a computer to be able to predict those with bipolar who will (or will not) be responsive to lithium treatments. Lithium is considered a miracle treatment for bipolar; but, unfortunately, only 30 percent of people taking it reap those benefits. Using a few cells and a powerful computer, the team has developed a method that is accurate 92 percent of the time. Breakthroughs like this are crucial to finding a better way to find the right medicine. Read the full article here. Learn more about the Salk Institute.

An article By Jess Melancholia from bp Magazine

Printed as “What I wish family and friends knew about bipolar”, Winter 2017

Here are three basic premises that I wish they knew:

You can’t understand my bipolar and you never will.

When I’m manic or depressed, that’s not the real me.

Your coping skills won’t “fix” me.

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In “A World Without”, DBSA celebrates the amazing accomplishments of some of history’s most notable figures who live(d) with mental health challenges. Visit DBSAlliance.org/LifeUnlimited to read inspirational stories of people who live their life unlimited by their experience with a mood disorder.

December has been a very busy and stressful month so far, but I couldn’t be happier that I fought that isolation urge on this cold night to join the DBSA OP group. While it seems no one knows me better than my couch while I’m depressed, I truly am understood here. Tonight is also a special night being the 3rd Annual Holiday party, complete with musical talents of some of our members. Sometimes support is as simple as being amidst others, singing, smiling, and laughing.

Whether it’s SAD (seasonal affective disorder) or just a regular old mood disorder depression, one way to combat the sadness is with exercise. Many of us do not like to workout, especially when we are depressed, but studies do show it is an effective tool in battling the blues. Here are 3 mood boosting low impact workouts to try right at home:

1. Yoga

There are many techniques to yoga that don’t involve complicated poses or even a mat. The first step involves controlled breathing. Lynn Louise Wonders, a yoga teacher and the owner of the Yoga Room, in Marietta, Georgia advises, “Breathe in through your nose to the count of five. Hold for two counts, then exhale through your nose to the count of five, emptying your lungs completely.”  She also recommends “Look for a beginner’s class with a qualified instructor (find a studio through the Yoga Alliance Registry; yogaalliance.org).” For home practice, try Yoga for the Rest of Us with Peggy Cappy. Amy Weintraub, founder of LifeForce Yoga and author of Yoga for Depression, describes in her new book Yoga Skills for Therapists “powerful techniques, which are not always included in yoga classes, including breathing exercises (pranayama), easy meditations, and hand gestures called mudras that empower one to self-regulate one’s mood and develop increasing feelings of self-efficacy and control.”

2. Cycling

Stationary cycling can get your heart rate up while limiting impact on joints. Energy levels have been shown to increase after a single 30-minute cycling session. “The cycling seemed to activate brain neural circuits that make a person feel energized,” says Patrick O’Connor, a professor of kinesiology at UGA. “We tend to think of physical activity as being tiring, but in fact physical activity adds energy to our lives,” says Kate F. Hays, Ph.D., a clinical and sport psychologist in Toronto. Another study has shown cortisol, stress hormone, levels will drop after just 15 minutes of stationary pedaling. For more information see Bicycling Can Sharpen Your Thinking and Improve Your Mood; Riding a bike is good for your cognitive health and emotional well-being. Posted May 26, 2015 on Psychology Today. For a summary of information see What are the health benefits of cycling? Posted by Bikemunk.

3. Weights

No, I’m not talking about becoming a gym rat with bulging biceps. I’m talking low intensity weight training. It’s something that can be done while sitting on the couch watching TV. Light strength training can get blood flow through your muscles and help you feel stronger. Not having dumbbells isn’t an excuse for not trying these exercises.  Cosmo magazine has compiled a list of household items that can be used in 17 Household Items That Work Just as Well as Weights. Try starting with just two sets of twenty repetitions. If it’s too easy, either increase the weight or try a body-sculpting class at a local gym or a DVD (like Step-by-Step Strength Training, With Petra Kolber). Skip a day between workouts so your muscles have some time to rest.

Exercise classes can also be a good choice for people battling depression. Classes can give a feeling of belonging as well as help to build relationships. As always, before starting physical activities you are not used to doing, talk to your doctor. More than likely they will be happy with your wanting to exercise, but you may have to start more slowly if you haven’t done it in a while.