Mental Illness can be debilitating, it can sap your strength and it can paralyze you.  There are seasons when you don't want to go out and face the world, or just go outside.  But like with anyone having a healthy active lifestyle can wonders that medications alone cannot.

One of the things I have been most thankful for especially during my first few years since my diagnosis was having a membership to a local YMCA.  For me it was a safe haven, I loved to build my day around swimming there.  It was a couple miles away, so that pushed my to walk or ride my bike often.  For me there was something more than just the exercise though, just being in the water itself was healing for me.  Sometimes just getting to the Y was a measure of success for one day for me.

And that is sometimes how you have to approach getting healthy, its one day at a time.  Sometimes its about mixing up venues or workouts.  Even just walking a half an hour brings forth some degree of mental clarity for me. 

When you take care of your body, your mind will respond, you'll gain momentum, and your outlook on life will change.  There are so many times that mental illness will make time stand still.  But exercise can be a component that can break through cyclical thinking patterns and can get you on the road to a better life.

Pick something you don't even have to be good at, just the act of getting outside, and even being around people with a sport is really helpful.  When the weather turns toward winter, I can freely admit, bi-polar and all, I don't want to move.  Its hard to get moving.  But do something you enjoy, you don't have to spend three hours at a gym to reap the benefits of exercise.  When you make it your routine you'll find that exercise gives you the mental clarity to tackle you ongoing issues.  If you can incorporate taking fitness classes to, that is a wonderful way to meet new people and try something new.

Exercise can become something you look forward to, and it can help brighten your day especially in the winter months.  When you make it a priority, you will reap immediate benefits, learn something new, and give yourself a vital tool in helping you deal with any mental health issue. 

Thank You Readers!