Sleep and Bipolar Disorder by Robyn Tamanaha, LMFT
The Role of Sleep
In our daily lives, we follow a regular pattern that dictates when we wake up, go to bed, work or attend school, eat our meals, exercise, and socialize. These patterns are crucial as they regulate our circadian rhythms, the biological cycles governing our sleep-wake cycle, melatonin function, and rapid eye movement patterns during sleep.
If an individual experiences a disruption or a change to their regular schedule, it can impact their sleep. Such changes, whether positive or negative, may result from significant life events such as entering a new romantic relationship, experiencing a breakup, changes in employment, graduating from college, or becoming a parent.
Sleep Changes in Bipolar Disorder
When an individual living with Bipolar Disorder experiences any of these changes to their schedule, not only can it alter their circadian rhythms, but it can also potentially trigger mood episodes. During manic and hypomanic states, individuals may experience a reduced need for sleep, while depression in Bipolar Disorder may manifest as difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping excessively.
How Therapy Can help
Addressing sleep-related issues becomes crucial in the treatment of Bipolar Disorder. Aside from focusing on sleep, treatment can also encompass areas such as relationships, trauma, eating habits, exercise routines, stress management, and processing emotions and thoughts related to the Bipolar diagnosis.
A therapist who specializes in Bipolar Disorder will provide education and help you implement strategies to address sleep that are specific to the condition. Helpful sleep interventions draw from principles of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, and motivational interviewing.
You don’t have to do this alone. I specialize in treating bipolar disorder. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
I can provide in person and video therapy. My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I provide video therapy to individuals who live in California, including Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, at more. I work with OCD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.
References:
Miklowitz, D. J. (2019). Tips to Help You Manage Moods. In Bipolar disorder survival guide, third edition: Where bipolar disorder comes from (pp. 115–116). essay, Guilford Publications.
Harvey, A. G., Kaplan, K. A., & Soehner, A. M. (2015, March). Interventions for sleep disturbance in bipolar disorder. Sleep medicine clinics. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4347516/
Gold, A. K., & Kinrys, G. (2019, March 2). Treating circadian rhythm disruption in bipolar disorder. Current psychiatry reports. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6812517/#:~:text=In%20bipolar%20patients%2C%20irregular%20circadian,about%20light%20in%20the%20environment.