Is it okay to ignore Christmas?
Absolutely!
Is it okay to take the bits of Christmas that work for you and discard the rest?
Definitely!
And is it okay to enjoy the solitude of Christmas Day and indulge yourself without feeling guilty?
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Is it okay to ignore Christmas?
Absolutely!
Is it okay to take the bits of Christmas that work for you and discard the rest?
Definitely!
And is it okay to enjoy the solitude of Christmas Day and indulge yourself without feeling guilty?
Bipolar disorder causes people to experience intense mood swings – from manic highs to depressive lows. Not everyone experiences bipolar the same way, however, it is estimated that at least 75 per cent of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder will relapse, even when following a treatment plan.
In bipolar disorder, a relapse is defined as the return of depression or a manic or hypomanic episode after a period of wellness. Sometimes it is possible to predict a relapse; often it is not. For many, the onset of a relapse seems to come out of the blue.
For people living with mental illness, feeling a lack of motivation can be a common experience.
This can present in many ways. It may be lack of motivation to go to work, to socialise with your friends and family, difficulty getting out of bed, or problems tending to basic personal needs such as having a shower or brushing your teeth.
The reach and impact of mental illness is far greater than we often realise.
I know this from spending time in the SANE forums where anonymity gives rise to a rare honesty.
Physical health is important for people living with a mental illness. Not only does it help reduce the risk of physical illness, it's also a good way to engage with others, get out in to the community and get the endorphins pumping.
SANE Peer Ambassador Ceris is a passionate advocate for using exercise as a way to help manage mental health symptoms, so we asked her 'can exercise be a form of medicine?'.