Synopses & Reviews
An enlightened approach to insomnia, depressed mood, fatigue, and other sleep-related problems of everyday life, harnessing the power of light therapy to reset the natural clock. Sleep problems and depressed mood often go hand in hand, forming a frustrating cycle. Michael Terman, PhD, has devoted his career to studying the brain functions that feed these disorders. His discoveries in chronotherapy have been widely recognized as game-changers by the medical establishment, and his 2010 New York Times op-ed, “Sleeping (or Not) by the Wrong Clock,” shot to number one on the paper’s list of most-forwarded online articles. In Chronotherapy, Terman and McMahan reveal the heart of his findings, a powerful program that recalibrates our internal clocks—our exquisitely designed, natural sensitivity to the timing and brightness of light exposure. These delicate mechanisms are often decimated by the modern demands of a 24/7 lifestyle.
Beginning with a questionnaire that pinpoints the problem areas, Terman helps readers decipher when their natural internal night begins and ends. The treatment process can then start, incorporating the power of natural light and, when necessary, supplemental light therapy. His approach has brought relief to thousands of sleep sufferers, as well as those burdened by bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, depression, sleep disorders due to around-the-clock work schedules, and other impediments to vibrant health. For the first time, his findings are now available for a general audience, sharing the essential elements of chronobiology in clear, authoritative, scientifically grounded chapters that are easy to apply to a variety of situations.
Chronotherapy chapters include:
PART ONE: TIME, SLEEP, AND RHYTHMSChapter 1: 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?
Chapter 2: 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?
Chapter 3: 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?
PART TWO: TIME, LIGHT, AND THE BRAIN
Chapter 4: Getting Light into the Brain
How do your eyes pass signals to your inner clock, and what makes those signals so important?
Chapter 5: 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?
Chapter 6: Geography and Time
East or west, south or north, how can where you live have such a huge impact on your mood and sleep?
PART THREE: INTERVENTIONS
Chapter 7: 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?
Chapter 8: 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.
Chapter 9: 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?
Chapter 10: 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?
PART FOUR: STAGES OF LIFE
Chapter 11: 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?
Chapter 12: 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?
Chapter 13: 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?
Chapter 14: 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?
PART FIVE: CHRONOTHERAPY IN YOUR LIFE
Chapter 15: 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?
Chapter 16: 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 as quickly as possible?
Chapter 17: Chronobiology in the Home and Workplace
How will the collaboration of chronobiologists and architects transform the places you live, work, and learn?
Chapter 18: Dawn of a Circadian Science
Why is mainstream medicine so slow to put the insights of chronotherapy into practice?
Review
“Like all living organisms, we have an internal clock that sets the timing of our daily behavior and physiology. Also shared is our sensitivity to the environmental fluctuations of light and darkness. Chronobiology seeks to harness this new knowledge to understand critical aspects of the ‘when’ and ‘why’ of human behavior. Why does someone become depressed at this particular time of year? Why does one’s attention flag every afternoon at the same time? Why can’t our children go to sleep until well after midnight?
Chronotherapy picks up the baton, seeking to provide rhythm-changing interventions that address these problems. And there is no one that has led the development of this field more so than psychologist Michael Terman of Columbia University. From the now-mainstream use of bright light therapy, through explanations of melatonin usage, sleep timing modifications, and dawn simulation—the full range of rhythm-shifting strategies is laid out in basic and elegant fashion. This book points us towards a new and enriched age of mental health care.”
— John Gottlieb, M.D., Northwestern University, from the Foreword
Review
“Like all living organisms, we have an internal clock that sets the timing of our daily behavior and physiology. Also shared is our sensitivity to the environmental fluctuations of light and darkness. Chronobiology seeks to harness this new knowledge to understand critical aspects of the ‘when’ and ‘why’ of human behavior. Why does someone become depressed at this particular time of year? Why does one’s attention flag every afternoon at the same time? Why can’t our children go to sleep until well after midnight?
Chronotherapy picks up the baton, seeking to provide rhythm-changing interventions that address these problems. And there is no one that has led the development of this field more so than psychologist Michael Terman of Columbia University. From the now-mainstream use of bright light therapy, through explanations of melatonin usage, sleep timing modifications, and dawn simulation—the full range of rhythm-shifting strategies is laid out in basic and elegant fashion. This book points us towards a new and enriched age of mental health care.”
— John Gottlieb, M.D., Northwestern University, from the Foreword
Synopsis
Diets Don't Work. This Does.
Thanks to Paul McKenna's revolutionary book and CD set, millions of people have watched the pounds melt away. And they did it effortlessly, without counting calories, coping with food restrictions, or fighting cravings. That's why it's already an international blockbuster that sold over one million copies in the UK, where it topped the bestseller list for three years running.
McKenna's system is so successful because it's not a diet; instead, he uses the latest psychological techniques to transform the way you think about food. No wonder this popular TLC host has a roster of celebrity clients
This innovative book and CD set shows you how to:
- Speed up your metabolism
- Stop self-sabotage
- Defeat cravings and eat less--without feeling like you're missing out
- Feel totally confident
The combination of reading and listening will change your attitude--and allow you
to take control of your diet--and reach your goal.
Synopsis
The most successful, bestselling self-help book in British history, "I Can Make You Thin" offers solutions to satisfy even the most frustrated dieter. McKenna's weight-loss system actually delivers on his promise and gives readers the power to lose unwanted pounds and keep them off.
Synopsis
Following the huge success of his blockbuster weight-loss program, Paul McKenna has created a groundbreaking new book-and-CD set that will be welcomed by millions. It reveals the secrets of getting regular, deep, refreshing sleep--and banishing insomnia for good. McKenna understands the frustration of not getting a good night's rest, and his trademarked system--which consists of the book and CD working in harmony to reset your body's natural sleep mechanism--is the solution every insomniac has been waiting for. Whether you find it difficult to fall sleep, wake frequently during the night, or get up too early, his method both increases the amount of sleep you enjoy and, crucially, improves its quality. And, one of the best things about McKenna's technique, which took him 20 years to develop, is that you needn't believe in it: just follow his instructions, listen to the CD, and watch what happens.
Synopsis
-Would you like to sleep really well?
-Would you like to feel calm and stop your mind from racing?
-Would you like to stop the disruption of waking in the middle of the night? THEN THIS BOOK AND CD ARE FOR YOU! Overcome insomnia forever and get the best rest of your life! Paul McKenna's proven, trademarked system has already helped millions improve the quality of their sleep. In this worldwide bestseller, he shows you how easy exercises and simple changes in your thinking and behavior can have a significant impact on your sleep. Plus, this book comes with a hypnosis CD that resets your body's natural sleep mechanism so that you will automatically find it easier to get deep, restful sleep.
About the Author
Paul McKenna, PhD is the bestselling author of I Can Make You Thin, whose books have sold over three million copies in the last three years. Recognized as one of the worlds most important modern self-help gurus” by The Times of London, McKenna has helped millions of people lose weight, quit smoking, overcome insomnia, eliminate stress, and increase self-confidence. He has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The View, CBSs The Early Show, Rachael Ray, The Montel Williams Show, Fox and Friends, The Mike & Juliet Show, ABCs Primetime Live, and 20/20. Paul McKennas TV shows and live appearances have been watched and attended by hundreds of millions of people in 42 countries around the world.