Analysis: Most of us can tolerate occasional late nights without lasting harm, but they can be deeply destabilising for people with mood disorders
By Ronan Lordan, RCSI
We’ve all been there. It’s 2am on a Monday. Your phone buzzes, its light cutting through the dark. You’ll just have a quick look. What’s the harm? An hour later, you’re still doom-scrolling TikTok or Instagram under a blue glow. Your eyes sting, your brain is racing and sleep is nowhere in sight.
For most people, nights like these are patched with caffeine and the promise of a lie-in. But for others, particularly those vulnerable to mood disorders, this seemingly harmless habit can trigger something much more serious.
Late-night light doesn’t just delay sleep, it can gradually shift the brain’s internal clock – our…