Circadian rhythm
Your internal 24-hour body clock that governs sleep and energy.
Your circadian rhythm is the roughly 24-hour internal clock that decides when you get sleepy, when you wake, and when appetite and body temperature rise and fall. Daylight sets it. Irregular schedules unsettle it.
In bipolar disorder this is not background detail. Disrupted sleep and shifting routines are among the most reliable triggers for both highs and lows, and a shortened night can come before a hypomanic episode rather than after it. Jet lag, night shifts and sleeping late on days off all disturb the same clock.
It is why so much bipolar advice starts with a consistent wake time rather than a bedtime. Everything else follows from the time you get up.
See also
If you’re in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, you’re not alone and help is available right now. In the US & Canada call or text 988. In the UK & Ireland call 116 123 (Samaritans). Elsewhere, contact your local emergency services — Get Help Now lists lines by country.
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