Search Results

• ARTICLE

The longer days of spring bring with them the onset of my mania, but now I have the self-awareness and tools to manage my moods. I follow my very own “bipolar calendar.” And it is nearly always the same. Every spring, like clockwork, the sun returns to southern Alaska with an unnecessary force, and with...

• BUZZ

We’re breaking down circadian rhythms and bipolar, so you can keep your biological clock in sync and stabilize your mood. Our biological clock influences everything in our body. Understanding how its rhythms affect bipolar symptoms, plus what we can do to minimize its disruption, may help us to stabilize our sleep patterns, maintain our mood,...

• ARTICLE

Adapting to time changes—traveling across time zones, or Daylight Saving Time (DST)—can be challenging with bipolar. Here’s how to adjust to the change: Ben Franklin first mentioned what we now call Daylight Saving Time in a 1784 essay, somewhat satirically proposing an idea to conserve candles in the early morning hours. While DST has been...

• BLOG

Rhythms comfort us with their soothing predictability, and our natural circadian rhythm can help bring restorative sleep and a sense of order to our lives. To everything, there is a season, and a corresponding rhythm. I guess it is the musician in me, but I can’t help but observe that, just as there is timing,...

• ARTICLE

Researchers have made the surprising discovery that the number of calories people burn while at rest changes with the time of day.   November 8, 2018, Boston, MA—Researchers reporting in Current Biology on November 8 have made the surprising discovery that the number of calories people burn while at rest changes with the time of...

• ARTICLE

Scientists have found that restricting daily access to food to a 10-hour window could protect against obesity and metabolic diseases.   La Jolla, California, August 31, 2018—Scientists at the Salk Institute found that mice lacking the biological clocks thought to be necessary for a healthy metabolism could still be protected against obesity and metabolic diseases...

• ARTICLE

March 22, 2018   •   Volume 11, Issue 12   •   Subscribe to Hope & Harmony Headlines Spring Is in the Air Spring is finally here and as the weather warms up, the flowers bloom and the birds sing, positivity and optimism are in the air. With more sunshine and longer days, spring gives...

• ARTICLE

November 2, 2017  •  Volume 10, Issue 44  •  Subscribe to Hope & Harmony Headlines Is your depression seasonal? Word for the week: zeitgeber. OK, so it’s a German word, but it’s important when you’re talking about the body’s circadian rhythm—which you have to do when you’re talking about seasonal bipolar depression. Zeitgeber means “timer”...

• ARTICLE

A significant discovery has been made in the research of internal clocks that govern human behavior, and impact bipolar disorder symptoms.  Oct. 2, 2017 – The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has announced  three Americans won The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their research on the molecular mechanisms that control our biological clocks, which...

• BUZZ

For some, autumn can mean beautiful leaves and fresh, crisp air; for others, it can spell the sad ending of the warm glow of summer. For those of us with a bipolar diagnosis, fall can be the season of extreme moods. Changes all around us Change is palpable as summer fades into fall—flowers and vegetables...

• ARTICLE

August 24, 2017  •  Volume 10, Issue 34  •  Subscribe to Hope & Harmony Headlines NFL linebacker Keith O’Neil & ‘Under My Helmet’ With the National Football League gearing up for the season kickoff game in two weeks, we touched base with former NFL linebacker Keith O’Neil to talk about his new memoir Under My...

• ARTICLE

UVA researchers identify connection between dopamine neurons and brain’s circadian center Neurons in the brain that produce the pleasure-signaling neurotransmitter dopamine also directly control the brain’s circadian center, or “body clock” – the area that regulates eating cycles, metabolism and waking/resting cycles – a key link that possibly affects the body’s ability to adapt to...

• BUZZ

No matter your destination, nor your range of adventure, there are some strategies that will help make you a savvy, stable traveler. #1 Have regular meals It’s wise to keep to a regular schedule around the timing of meals because it keeps your body and circadian rhythm in check. Also, as much as possible, try...

• BUZZ

Chronic inflammation has been linked to bipolar disorder and depression. Here are some overlooked causes of inflammation that we all need to be aware of: #1 The Foods We Eat Functional practitioners have determined the Standard American Diet to be inflammatory and nutrient imbalanced. One of the biggest culprits; however, is sugar, specifically in the...

• ARTICLE

Following a regular daily routine helps keep our body’s internal clock ticking steadily, and it contributes to both better sleep and more balanced moods. Toting my workout bag, I pass a co-worker in the hallway who remarks, “You are so good about exercising.” I muzzle myself to keep from voicing my instant reaction: “Fear of...

• ARTICLE

Body clock function can break down when light and temperature levels throughout the day are out of sync, finds new UCL research in fruit flies.   November 7, 2016, Newswise — Body clock function can break down when light and temperature levels throughout the day are out of sync, finds new UCL research in fruit...

• ARTICLE

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Since good sleep is vital to bipolar management what techniques do you use to balance out your sleep schedule? DEFINITELY A MORNING PERSON. The majority of the time I am awake before the alarm goes off at 7 a.m. I love getting multiple tasks/errands done before...

• ARTICLE

October 27, 2016   •   Volume 9, Issue 48   •   Subscribe to Hope & Harmony Headlines   Slumber parties Are you a morning person or a night owl? Your answer provides a clue to your individual circadian rhythm—natural daily patterns like when we tend to fall asleep and wake up, when we feel...

• ARTICLE

People are more likely to undermine their performance at stressful tasks when they’re operating at “peak capacity” based on their preferred time of the day.   August 30, 2016, BLOOMINGTON, Indiana—A study by psychological researchers at Indiana University shows that people are more likely to undermine their performance at stressful tasks when they’re operating at “peak...

• VIDEO

With honest reflection of what sets off your bipolar disorder, you too can curb your triggers and cut your symptoms in half.     This is Julie Fast for bp Magazine. As you can see, I’m doing my video from my car today. Normally, I like to set up a location, make it beautiful, plan...