What is the connection between bipolar and time zones? Changing time zones affects everyone but impact on people with bipolar disorder is amplified. It is not unusual for time zone changes to trigger an affective episode in some.

When we travel to different time zones our wake/sleep cycle (circadian rhythm) is upset and we suffer jetlag until it's back in sync.

The human body doesn't always take kindly to change. For optimum sleeping habits it responds best to consistent daily amounts of light and darkness and sleep deprivation can result if this balance is upset either by extended light hours or darkness. Generally we cope best sleeping at night while it is dark. Any disruption to the normal sleeping pattern is likely to result in adverse mood changes even in normal individuals but with bipolar getting too much light may trigger a manic episode while too little may trigger an episode of depression.

Recent studies at the university of Texas involving mice and a gene regulating circadian rhythm suggests a correlation between disturbed circadian rhythms and bipolar disorder. This would explain why bipolar and time zone changes are not a good combination.

Summer vacations are one of the joys of life but just be aware next time you take off to some far away exotic destination that time zone changes need to be factored into your management strategy for living with bipolar.