Adopt An Athlete’s Mindset To Overcome Bipolar Disorder

Growing up, I took part in sports, and in each sport, I trained to be an athlete. Not only did I train my mind, but I trained to think with an athlete’s mindset. Whether it was soccer, swimming, track, and field, or cross-country, my coaches always helped me to become the best athlete I could be. I carried that same mentality into adulthood, and it has served me well.

Now, how does being an athlete relate to bipolar disorder? It is all about your mindset.

Let me dive in deeper to give you the scoop.

Train Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Have you ever heard that, in order to grow, get out of your comfort zone? This concept is spot on, and I have been reminded of this idea countless times throughout my life.

To be a successful athlete, you need to break out of your comfort zone.

As an athlete, I learned to adopt the mindset of an athlete. I did this by practicing and training every day. My coaches gave me a workout, and I did it.

To this day, I remember a concept that one of my coaches taught me. He explained to me that the intensity of workouts would systematically increase as the season moved forward. Nowadays, the term is “progressive overload.”

The human body is quite adaptable, and in order for it to grow, you need to apply greater stress to it. The stress cannot be too intense, however, because then the body will simply burn out. The opposite is true, too – no adaptation and growth will take place if there is not enough stress. The human body will simply stay in its current state.

In order to improve my athletic prowess, I learned to train out of my comfort zone. This is no simple task, and it takes lots of practice, which is probably why the term “practice” was created in the first place.

Your Athlete’s Mindset

Training the mind is like training a muscle. Both grow with resistance.

Your resilience and ability to handle the stress of daily life are both built upon every struggle you endure. Whether it is a “bad stressor” or a “good stressor,” the body reacts to the stress in the same way. It does not differentiate between the two, and because of this, each day that you get through is another day to build your resilience.

The biggest question you need to ask yourself is, “How do I cope with stress?” Your answer to this question will give you an idea of how you manage adversity.

Now, circling back to the concept of an athlete’s mindset, I use daily exercise to combat stress and build the resilience of my mind.

When I battle through a weightlifting workout, it can be a challenge even to finish (especially if it is a day when I am lifting heavy weights). However, after I fully complete a difficult workout, I feel a sense of accomplishment, like I can now tackle everything else throughout the day. The simple act of getting my daily workout in is a victory. As I proved to myself, I can conquer a challenge.

Bringing Everything Together

Most of the time, adversity is not something that you can predict. However, you can prepare and train yourself to cope with it in a healthy way. After all, we know that adversity is coming, and often it’s just a matter of “when” will it arrive.

With bipolar disorder, your energy level and ability to function can fluctuate from day to day. Some days, getting out of bed is an accomplishment, or simply brushing your teeth can be, as well. Believe it or not, during those days, you are inadvertently training your mind. Battling through those challenging times – and getting through them – is a major accomplishment. Your brain is learning that, yes, it may be difficult and utterly exhausting, but you can persevere through the pain and discomfort.

During times, days, and periods when you are struggling, try to focus on just getting through it. Sometimes, it might not only be a day but also can be a full-fledged mood episode. Allow yourself permission “to just be.”

Many times, our inner dialogue will increase our stress level. It can also decrease our stress levels. This is where it is important to limit negative self-talk as much as possible. Like anything else, it takes practice and time to master. Remember, just surviving is enough.