[hamster-bamster]

I have a big problem managing them. And everyone knows how important these rhythms are for prevention of BP episodes. The latest BP book I am reading and liking so far, "Breaking the Bipolar Cycle", suggests that BP people are innately "bad" at managing circadian rhythms, it is just harder for that to do it. If so, it describes me. I have a hard time but am getting better at organizing sleep, and I am hopeless at organizing regular meals.

Do you also have difficulties other people do not experience, and how do you manage to overcome them, to adjust to "correct" circadian rhythms?

[Inedible]

Circadian rhythms are 90 to 120 minutes. There is a rest period of about 20 minutes during each. It is possible to over-ride this need for rest, and it actually becomes more difficult to feel them coming. If you can't actually stop what you are doing, this is a good time to slow down. These intervals are great for standing up, stretching, taking some deep breaths. If you meditate or do self-hypnosis or anything similar, like the Silva Method, these rest intervals are the best time for it. Of course, the first step is learning to feel your body's signals and recognizing these times when it is better to slow down.

[hamster-bamster]

Thank you, and I will research the Silva method.

Originally Posted by Natalya

I have a big problem managing them... I have a hard time but am getting better at organizing sleep, and I am hopeless at organizing regular meals.

Me too! Sooo bad. Ironically, I grew up with a grandmother who... lunch at noon, dinner at 6. Come hell or high water. I usually have no idea what time (or even day) it is, let alone to be consistent. With anything.

Even with having a really hard time to remember to even attempt consistency, I do try sometimes. Mostly around the going to bed issue. As far as adjusting... when I realize it's really gotten out of whack, I try to ratchet it back in bits to bring it back into a reasonable line. (After all, it does no good to try to suddenly bring it back 5 hours and then lay awake all that time(!))

Good luck Natalya! Let us know how it goes, ok?

[Secretum]

I can really relate. Everything I read and everyone I consult tells me that I ought to stick to a regular sleeping and eating schedule. But I just can't be consistent. It's sooo much harder than one would expect it would be.

[BNLsMOM]

I have the same issue. Why is it so hard? I never go to bed at the same time every day, and I have a really hard time setting good nutrition, especially when I am in a cycle. It would be great if there were "bipolar consultants" like life coaches, who could live with us and tell us when it is time to eat or sleep, etc. But I guess that's what a Smart-Phone is for.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Innerzone

Ironically, I grew up with a grandmother who... lunch at noon, dinner at 6. Come hell or high water.

After I read what you had written, I recalled, after so many years, that my strict nanny was like that. Except lunch was a bit later

I went to the wikipedia article about Circadian rhythm. They have an interesting graphic (you need to click on it to enlarge) that shows the clock with best time for stuff and with certain events, e.g. when melatonin production stops and starts. I cannot go running at 5PM (spent after work) when it is optimum for cardiovascular efficiency , but I can begin work promptly by 10AM when it is highest alertness time. So I was happy that I can time at least something to those rhythms.

I THINK THE BIGGEST problem is that with this illness, it is so darn difficult to keep the rhythm yet for health it is so widely recommended to stick to it.

I totally need a bipolar consultant . I never eat at same time, wake at same time, sleep at same time, know what day it is, or what I am doing that day. I try but I am extremely awful at this, and then I wonder why I am sick all the time.

[roads]

Really, I will try anything reasonable that might improve my life. I hate the way it is, & apparently this is as good as it's going to get.

I see the point. But I tried controlling my big times, and I don't get the point.

I set my iPhone for wake-up, breakfast, lunch, dinner, bed. I was never ready for any of them, but I did them for two whole weeks.

I dragged through the mornings. Afternoons I got my "fake-awake" like-I'm-on-caffeine mode going. By night I was okay. Nights I lay away at least three hrs, then it was my usual sleep 1-2 hrs, wake, etc.

I ate when I was never hungry. Nothing tasted very good. I seldom finished a meal. Couldn't eat, of course, when I was hungry--wasn't "time."

I could have dragged this out longer, but it was seriously affecting my life, especially my attitude at work.

Does this always-without-exceptions-work for improving life quality for bipolars?

Okay. Of course not. Most of the time?

[kindachaotic]

Grew up in a structured household. 7a, 11:30a, 6p meals. Mom always wondered why I wasn't hungry... Also worked last 20yrs, before disability, 7a-7p and never got used to it.
Tried all that sleep hygiene stuff, didn't work for me.
I sleep when sleepy but that's only with meds. & eat when hungry, don't eat between meals.
My body clock is what it is & I don't worry about it.
Also don't work a job & that helps!