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Brain Shaman
Brain Shaman is a philosophical and scientific journey towards better brain health. Michael Waite discusses how you can change your brain state and overall nervous system via behavior, nutrition, nature, and technology. Mental illness, addiction, and low brain function are destroying so many people and societies. By becoming increasingly disconnected from our natural mind-body-world and plugged into the artificial ones, we are getting sicker, weaker, and less free. We must become more conscious of how the information that we consume (in the form of action, food, drugs, sensory input, media, etc.) affects our brain. This podcast teaches you how to reconnect with your primordial nature, reprogram your brain, regain your freedom, and redirect your life.
Brain Shaman
Chris Aiken: Tools for Managing Depression, Bipolar, Mixed States, and Mood Swings | Episode 110
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