You may have heard people talk about cortisol, often referred to as the body's stress hormone. But what exactly is cortisol? How does it affect sleep? And can addressing stress and anxiety throughout the day help you sleep better at night?

hen a young adult lives with bipolar disorder, the experience affects the whole family. Mood shifts, changes in energy, and sudden shifts between clarity and confusion can create stress for everyone.

Sleep should be a place of refuge, a time when the body restores and the mind quietly integrates the day. But for many people living with trauma, anxiety, depression, or emotional challenges, night can feel like anything but restful. It can bring racing thoughts, tension, nightmares, or an uneasy sense that the mind won’t switch off. Whether the struggle is rooted in trauma, emotional or relational problems, or chronic anxiety, the pattern is similar: the emotional brain remains on guard long...