Bipolar and High Heart Rate

Dauntlessness
Dauntlessness Posts: 1,489 Member
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
The people who know me would never think I was bipolar but I have been my whole life. After many years of education and learning skills to help it, I feel I am in real control of my life. Saying that, when I do have ups and downs its really not that bad. Most times I just get over emo and cry during sentimental commercials or I get super chatty and clean. :) Pretty much normal girl moods imo ;)

My question is if anyone has experienced high heart rates during the mania phase? I have been struggling to keep my heart rate under 170 during cardio sessions. I feel like I am not working at my full potential and it shoots up fairly quickly. It used to take me around 20 minutes to get my HR to stabilize around150-160 and now it takes less then 5 minutes to be 160-170.

I usually go to the gym 6 days a week and sometimes exercise on Sunday. I took like 3 days off the last few weeks because of the holidays so I thought it might be that but nothing has changed in the last few days. I have also undergone a physical a few months ago and my HR was super low, my blood pressure was low, all the blood-work was perfect.

I really want to train for a half marathon this year but I cant run for more then 2-3 minutes before I have to stop to let it go down.
I LOVE the amount of calories I am burning but dang.

Replies

  • luwalmsley1983
    luwalmsley1983 Posts: 98
    Add me if you like, I'm bipolar but only had a recent diog. Hmm regarding your problem - I've been put on bet blockers to slow down my heart rate in my heightened anxiety - I'll ask the doc about this as I go next week as I've not noticed it as I don't heart monitor when I exercise but I DO get super pounding heart, sweats and chest pains only when I'm running when I'm in mania phase (it's one of the things I do - I kind of get carried away and could run forever without stopping) .... good luck - and it's a pleasure to hear from someone coping so well. I'm at the stage at the minute where I have no meds as got taken off the bipolar ones as emergency, they've popped me on the BBs and some diazepam to try calm me down at bit at the minute and am in a whirlwind at present. So desperately hoping to get a grip on this thing :) great to hear from someone who has :)
  • RochelleBlack
    RochelleBlack Posts: 66
    I would imagine this to happen, as heart rate typically increases during times of anxiety...
  • Dauntlessness
    Dauntlessness Posts: 1,489 Member
    A recent study showed that people with bipolar who were on a low dose of a mood stabilizer such as Lamictal and had some sort of therapy had better results then someone on a several medications. Thats what I did and it has been amazing. I really don't like taking too many meds because of the side effects. I am done with the therapy part, I just dont have that many problems LOL We found ourselves just hanging out talking about psychology, studies, topics in her book that was unrelated to my stuff, drinking coffee etc etc. She has a pretty big waiting list so I opted out. It was the right thing to do. We still shoot e-mails back and forth just to talk about everyday stuff to keep in contact though :) That might be something to look in to. Also DBT classes might help too. You may not have it but it teaches you how to cope with your emotions. I attended that class too. Its like a year long commitment but it is such an eye opener. Amazing stuff! You cant tell I subscribe to Psychology magazines can you? LOL ;)
  • luwalmsley1983
    luwalmsley1983 Posts: 98
    Hi Lect,

    Sounds good - I need to look into DBT. I'm planning on looking at Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help me cope better with dealing with changes and emotions and also I'd like to book onto an introduction to counselling course so from the other side I can gain insight into how and why the brain works how it does. I'm fascinated about how seem of us function one way and others another - and equally I find it refreshing that some people can see the positives to the hypo mania (like you said clean house, with me I work hard etc).

    I'm researching other therapies and have been accepted into a great group that offer complementary therapies too free of charge - so I can try and if I find things that work I'm going to pay for them - and the career move thing I've mentioned will be in something more person centric as thats me - so you never know, it could even see me start a whole new life :) and that's me speaking... not a manic phase (I'm not about to jack in a paying job lol)

    Thanks for reply, I'll see what they reckon meds wise- I've had some pretty horrible effects from the beta blockers.

    Love x
  • luwalmsley1983
    luwalmsley1983 Posts: 98
    PS congrats on the awesome loss too!!!!
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