In this episode, I interview Dr. Chris Aiken, psychiatrist, editor-in-chief of the Carlat Psychiatry Report, and author of Bipolar, Not So Much. We explore bipolarity and depression as a spectrum—from depression to mania and mixed states—framing them as circadian rhythm disorders.

Dr. Aiken shares practical tools for managing moods, with a focus on sleep regulation. We cover light exposure, dark therapy, sleep schedules, and strategies to reduce jetlag, travel-related mood swings, and seasonal changes. He also discusses technologies like dawn simulators and blue-light-blocking glasses.

We dive into nutrition, including helpful foods, herbs, and supplements, and the effects of substances like alcohol, caffeine, ketamine, and psilocybin. We also explore the role of psychedelic and spiritual experiences.

Additionally, we touch on ADHD, creativity, the history of bipolar, and other factors that influence mood swings, along with resources to help you better understand and manage your mood.

RESOURCES

DRUGS
- Armodafinil (Nuvigil)
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
- Lamotrigine
- Lithium
- Modafinil (Provigil)
- Valproate (Depakote)

GENERAL RESOURCES
- Hypomania Checklist 32 (HCL-32)
- Jet Lag Rooster
- Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)
- Supplements that Work
- The Antidepressant Diet

PEOPLE
- Andrew Huberman
- Arthur Quiller-Couch
- Chris Palmer
- David Baszucki
- Emil Kraepelin
- Jan Ellison Baszucki
- Jay Olson
- Jules Angst
- Philip McNee

PRODUCTS
- dawn simulator
- light box

SUPPLEMENTS
- Ashwagandha
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
- Rhodiola rosea

**Connect & Learn More**
website: chrisaikenmd.com
books: chrisaikenmd.com/books
podcasts: The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast / PocketPsychiatrist

Chris Aiken: Tools for Managing Depression, Bipolar, Mixed States, and Mood Swings | Episode 110