Hello,

As the sun shines bright over Council Bluffs this July, there’s a powerful sense of calm and clarity that feels profoundly different from summers past. This year, in 2025, I’m celebrating a quiet victory: no summer mania. And let me tell you, this isn’t by accident.

The last time summer mania truly hit me hard was in 2023. Those were the days when being “overly exposed to the sun” would send my brain spinning, leaving me feeling “high as a kite,” my focus scattered, and my sharpness dulled. Learning from that and similar past experiences, I’ve come to recognize my specific triggers: poor sleeping patterns, a mood shift towards pessimism, and overcommitting to projects.

In 2024, I was incredibly diligent about recognizing those potential triggers and keeping the mania at bay. I carried that same vigilance and proactive spirit into this summer of 2025. This isn’t just about avoiding a past state; it’s about applying lessons learned. Through years of working with my providers and understanding my body’s unique reactions to specific medications like Latuda, Lumesta, Lamictal, and Lithium, we’ve identified exactly when and how to deploy them effectively. This proactive approach, informed by past experience and adapted to my current needs, has been crucial.

This diligent preparation, however, found its most powerful ally in something I’ve been exploring deeply: movement.

This is why I have built a diverse arsenal of movement options. When that particular kind of summer energy starts to buzz too intensely, when my brain feels less sharp, these practices are my grounding force, my intentional tools to tame it down. Whether it’s the meticulous focus required in Barre, the mindful centering of Mat Pilates, or the supportive, flowing resistance of the Reformer, each gives me something different. My moods and needs are constantly changing, and having this variety readily accessible is my secret weapon.

In fact, one of my biggest wishes is that I would have discovered this incredible power of movement earlier in my life. I genuinely believe it would have put at ease some of the turmoil and perhaps even prevented some of the “bad decisions” made while under the intense influence of mania. Understanding that I could physically engage to shift my mental state would have been a game-changer during those difficult trials.

This philosophy extends beyond just my personal practice. It shapes how I approach DGH Moves. It’s why I emphasize accessible and sustainable movement. I wouldn’t, for example, choose a movement like CrossFit if I had no regular access to that type of facility. A one-time intense burst, while fun, doesn’t build the consistent habit that truly serves as medicine. My goal, and what I want for you, is to choose movement that is readily available and enjoyable enough that you can consistently create a habit of attending, truly integrating it into your thriving life.

This summer, I’m feeling grounded, present, and in control. It’s a testament to learning from the past, working closely with my healthcare providers, and most importantly, intentionally choosing movement as my powerful daily medicine.

I invite you to explore your own relationship with movement. What truly shifts your mood and supports your mental well-being?

Let’s move forward, grounded and thriving, together!