Hyperthymia, Dysthymia, and Cyclothymia — Understanding Bipolar Temperament The bipolar spectrum includes baseline temperaments like hyperthymia, dysthymia, and cyclothymia, which can change how treatment targets are set. Key Takeaways ______________ What is “bipolar”? It’s encouraging that attempts to answer that question have made more progress in just the last five years than in the previous 25. I’ll present some of that progress in... The post Hyperthymia, Dysthymia, and Cyclothymia — Understanding Bipolar Temperament appeared first on bpHope.com.

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The Surprising Mood Benefits of Dark Therapy Evening darkness — or blue-light blocking glasses — can help regulate circadian rhythms and promote steadier mood states. Did you know that darkness itself can be a mood treatment? Many people don’t get enough of it — but here’s the good news: You can cheat! Let’s start with a famous case, then a famous graph.... The post The Surprising Mood Benefits of Dark Therapy appeared first on bpHope.com.

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A Doctor’s Guide to Treating Mixed States in Bipolar Treating mixed states might appear clear-cut in theory, yet overlapping symptoms, risk factors, and side effects turn each plan into a careful balancing act. If you haven’t read the first essay in this series on mixed states, consider starting there, since this piece focuses on treatment. In theory, treatment of mixed states in bipolar is... The post A Doctor’s Guide to Treating Mixed States in Bipolar appeared first on bpHope.com.

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Mixed States in Bipolar: A Risky Combination Not every mood swing fits the textbook. Mixed states are common, complex, and key to understanding your treatment needs. In my last column, I introduced the idea that mood problems exist on a wide-ranging spectrum. Many people don’t land neatly in the category of bipolar 1, bipolar 2, or depression. Instead, they experience something in... The post Mixed States in Bipolar: A Risky Combination appeared first on bpHope.com.

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Mixed States as Waves: Finding Patterns in Bipolar Mood Shifts This visual model explores how shifts in mood, energy, and thought may drive the experience of bipolar mixed states. When mood symptoms shift rapidly, the experience can feel chaotic and unpredictable. But it’s not complete chaos.  In my column, “Mixed States in Bipolar,” I described how symptoms of depression and mania can overlap and fluctuate... The post Mixed States as Waves: Finding Patterns in Bipolar Mood Shifts appeared first on bpHope.com.

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