Sleep problems and depressed mood go hand in hand, forming a
frustrating cycle. Michael Terman has analyzed the brain
functions that feed these disorders. In
Reset Your Inner
Clock, he reveals the heart of his findings, a powerful
program that recalibrates our internal clocks--our
exquisitely designed sensitivity to the timing and brightness
of light exposure. He shows how these need to be tuned to the
modern demands of a 24/7 society.
Beginning with a questionnaire that pinpoints the problem
areas, Terman helps readers decipher when their natural
internal night begins and ends. The treatment process then
begins, incorporating the power of natural light with
supplemental light therapy. His program has brought relief to
thousands of sleep sufferers, as well as those burdened by
bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, depression,
sleep disorders due to shiftwork schedules, and other
impediments to vibrant health.
His comprehensive coverage includes:
External vs. Internal Time: The clock on the
wall measures twenty-four hours every day, but the clock in
your brain runs a little different. How can you help them
work together?
The Pressure to Sleep: The longer you stay awake, the
more pressure you feel to sleep. But what if your inner
clock says it is not yet ready for sleep?
Owls, Larks, and Hummingbirds: What kind of "bird" are
you? And once you know, how can that help you figure out
when best to get stuff done?
Getting Light into the Brain: How do your eyes pass
signals to your inner clock, and what makes those signals
so important?
Getting Light Wrong: Seeing light and being in darkness
are basic daily experiences. But what happens when they
come at the wrong times, and why does that have such
negative consequences for mood, alertness, and
sleep?
Geography and Time: East or west, south or north, how
can where you live have such a huge impact on your mood and
sleep?
Healing Light: How can light help you solve your sleep
problems, have more energy, and feel more positive about
life? Why do the details matter so much?
Nighttime Meds and Melatonin: Do you rely on pills to
get to sleep? They may not work, and they may be bad for
you. But a new approach based on the brain's inner clock
holds great promise.
Hospitalized with Depression: When someone becomes so
depressed they need to go to the hospital, what promise
does chronotherapy offer for a quick turnaround and
continued improvement?
Beyond Light: The Charge in the Air: What is it about
spending a day at the beach that gives you such a lift? And
how can you use new technology to bring that feeling of
wellbeing into your home?
The Promise of Pregnancy: You are going to have a baby!
You are thrilled, but a little apprehensive too. How can
chronotherapy help you through the next nine
months?
Strategies for Babies and Children: When your baby or
child sleeps well and feels good, you feel better too. How
can chronotherapy help you reach this goal?
The Challenges of Adolescence: As a teen, why do you
feel the need to stay up so late and sleep so late? What
are the consequences for your mood, health, and schoolwork?
What simple steps can you take to put your life on a
smoother course?
In Later Years: Does getting older have to mean being
tired, sleeping badly, and feeling down? How can you or
someone you care about reverse these trends by using
light?
Coping with Shift Work: What if your job puts you on
duty when your inner clock says you should be asleep? How
can chronotherapy help you stay awake, alert, and in a
decent mood?
Racing the Clock, Racing the Sun: You are traveling
across the world and you need to be in high gear tomorrow.
How can chronotherapy prepare you for the trip and help you
recover from jet lag?
Chronobiology in the Home and Workplace: How will the
collaboration of chronobiologists and architects transform
the places you live, work, and learn?
Dawn of a Circadian Science: Why is mainstream medicine
so slow to put the insights of chronotherapy into practice?