Manic sleeping problems are different from insomnia in many ways- with insomnia you’re tired, you want to sleep, you toss and turn, you worry about how tired you will be in the morning, you want medication relief.
With mania! Whew! you want to stay up, you’re wide awake and doing something, you have unlimited energy, a racing mind, lots of creative thoughts (whether they are truly creative or not, they feel creative.) You have no desire to get in bed and sleeping feels like a real waste of time. It takes more meds to knock you out and there is a chance you will be even more manic the next day.
Here are some of the things you may think when you’re manic at night:
Sleep is SUCH a waste of time.
It’s only 1:00 AM. I could go to the grocery store right now!
The tile really needs to come up in the bathroom.
These manic thoughts can be funny- but many people act on them! When you have insomnia, you just lie in bed and punch your pillow and wish you could just get some sleep so you won’t be tired the next day!
If you’re having trouble sleeping and it’s accompanied by active thoughts that have a lot of energy around them- such as actually cleaning your whole house at 3AM. It’s time to talk with your health care professional. Now.
Julie
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Tags: , bipolar disorder sleep, bipolar sleep, insomnia bipolar disorder, mania sleep
Hmm, that’s not my experience with mania. Both of my manic episodes started with extreme disruptions in sleep FIRST and then the manicky-thoughts later. I’m weird, though, and I don’t even believe my DX.
Hi Kimbriel,
I am amazed at how many ways mania can manifest- it’s so complicated! A lot of people have the sleep problems first- it can even be subtle changes and then the thoughts that you’re a genius, etc! Julie
Thank you for this post Julie. Sleep problems are a sign of big problems ahead with our bi-polar family member. She has bi-polar 1 and we have all learned that just one night of no sleep means a call to the Dr. in the morning to ward off a hospital visit for full blown mania.
YOur blog is great and without your cards packet I think our family would still be looking for answers on how to be of help to her. I can’t tell you how much you have helped us make all of this manageable. Sometimes even the PDOC is suprised by what we know.
We credit you all of the time for helping us to know what to do when attitudes and behaviors seem to come out of nowhere. It also helps to refer her to the books again when reasoning is difficult. I know in our case, she doesn’t want to be difficult but when she is sick she just can’t see it.
Thank you for all that you do. You are a household name in our family!
Hello Mike,
Thank you so much for your comments- I need them today! This illness is so complicated, isn’t it! I am glad you are so educated- that is essential with this illness. We all need family and friends to help us see when we’re getting manic! Julie
boy you described that perfectly. thats how i felt on a manic high. i could run a marathon at 3 am. i could go without sleep for 2-3 days
I often experience hypomania at night, especially this season, when it’s lighter much longer. At night I also tend to have more “bp conversations” and have dysphoric hypomania.
For me, I feel this incredible pull to do, do, do – to stay out of bed even though it’s not good for me. The feeling is not a good one, though – at the same time I feel like I need to _do_ (interact with people on Facebook, re-organize parts of the house, start projects I’ve been planning) I also feel like my frenetic energy is heading me for trouble. If I don’t force myself to stop _doing_ and go to bed, I know I will be in for a sluggish morning and mild signs of depression. It’s a bad cycle to start.
I am trying to restrict my Internet and TV use at night – When I am successful, I don’t go into the computer room/office or downstairs to the TV after 10:30 p.m. On weekends I allow myself some flexibility with this but then I do pay for it later.
I have a regular sleep schedule that I try to keep to. On those evenings that I’m off even by 30 minutes it makes a bid difference. I often find myself going to the livingroom and having the tv on for sound and that helps me to sleep. I don’t watch any program that I’ve interested but just the noise and the movement of the screen helps me to relax. I try not to take any sleep medication if I don’t have to because I don’t want to become dependent on it
you have explained my mania perfectly. my roommates used to love living with me, becuase they would wake up and find the entire apt cleaned. Sometimes they would even find the furniture rearranged. I still feel at times that I want to clean and organized at night. This I know is a sign that I need to take my sleep meds and put myself to bed.
Hi Corie,
Why on earth does mania make us WANT to do things we would not normally do when stable. I am not a huge fan of cleaning- but wow, the hypomania turns me into a cleaning robot. I actually have to be careful as I will get in a mood where there is just too much ’stuff’ around and I will put it on the curb! Thanks for your comment. Julie
Hi Julie,
I love your articles. Thank you very much for your insight. It helps me with my bipolar. I have been battling this disease for years and I still have trouble. Most recently my insomnia and eating disorder has started again and I just can’t believe how this has creeped up on me again. I can’t get more than an hr or two of sleep at night and my thoughts are going everywhere. I am starting and finishing projects in no time at all and going on day trips, writing, being creative, going through this manic stage, that makes me thrive, but scares me to death, as we both know, can set us off, in a terrible direction. Do you have any suggestions, to help relax me, to make this manic stage, a more comforting and inviting time in my life where I can relax rather than feel like I am going insane?
I’ve been on 300 mg of Lamictal since 04/29/2009. I understand that this higher dose will control both my
Bipolar I mania and depression.
I’ve found this info at
titled “New Study Shows Lamicatal (Lamotrigine)For Maintenance Treatment of Bipolar I Disorder”. My doctor wants me to add Depakote, although a serious side effect can occur when combining the two. I’ve
also had very severe side effects in 1996 while taking it and don’t want to try it again. She also wants me to consider adding Abilify to the Lamicatal, even though I’ve had bad side effects with it in the past and found that it did not work well. I’ve been diagnosed w/ Stage III
Kidney Disease & Intersticial Cystitus (bladder inflammation)
from being on Lithium 1200 mg >
900 mg daily since 1994. I suffered from polyuria & nocturia w/ excessive urination, uo to 26 times in a 24 hour period. That doctor w/
not allow me to go off the Lithium even though I was having bad side effects which he continued to ignore and misdiagnose. It seems that my body is a poor metabolizer of these anti-psychotic drugs. Now I would like to get DNA/ enzyme testing to see exactly how these suggested RX’s might effect me in the future. I’m 55 years old and went from 140 lbs. to 230 while on Lithium. Since having stopped it on 04/01/2009 per the advice of my nephrologist, I’, back down to 180 lbs. and still have 40 lbs to loose. What is your advice for me? Thanks for your input.
- Rhonda
I actually, had been on Lithium since only 2004. Please note this mistake of the date previously entered of
1994.
This is exactly how I feel when I am on a high, I get up at 3 am and write pages and pages of waffle, but I can’t stop myself writing. Also I want to hoover the house and do loads of house-work.
I went through a 5-month hypo mania (despite being medication compliant & taking some seriously sedating meds as always have had a problem w/ sleep) & didn’t realize it was dangerous & felt SO GOOD. Since I usually spent so much time in depression, I just thought WOW–I LIKE THIS. I had been relatively stable for about 5 yrs. so was only seeing my meds provider every 6 mos. unless I called in & was not in therapy.
But after 5 mos. of only sleeping 3 hrs. or so a night, I suddenly crashed after my husband made a negative comment about my weight gain since being on psych meds (12 yrs.–50 lbs.) that I overdosed on my meds & ended up in the ER. Haven’t done that kind of behavior for a long time.
That was 3 yrs. ago & still trying to get over the shame of that & also, fear. How could I do that behavior (mother committed suicide–bipolar, also & swore I wouldn’t do that to my children).
Now back in indiv. therapy & DBT & had meds adjusted & meds provider wants me to call if I go for 3 nights w/out 6 hrs. of sleep as she will add even more sedating meds. I need to sleep or my brain malfunctions & I can do dangerous behaviors.
I loved the hypo mania & miss it. I actually feel like I was a “better” person, more fun, outgoing, happy. Now I’m kind of blah & isolate myself.
P.S. Your books are great. I love your attitude & insight.
First,Julie, thanks for writing your books, Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, Get it Done When You’re Depressed & Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder. I am a licensed professional counselor who specilizes in the management and treatment of bipolar disorder and your books are required reading for my clients. Not only your insight and ideas are helpful, but you are also an inspiration to those facing the challenges of living with this diagnosis and trying to get a life.
As for sleep and bipolar disorder, I find it to be the most important aspect of treatment after medications for my clients. I find that lack of good sleep is what leads to mania in many cases. Those nights of tossing and turning without racing thoughts can cause the onset of a sleepless mania. Helping clients establish good sleep hygiene is a major goal of counseling. Changing their daily habits of caffiene intake, blue screen exposure and timing of exercise have all been beneficial. Whenever sleep is not happening, I always require clients to contact their psychiatrists for a consultation. Thanks for providing support for those touched by bipolar disorder.
My medications help me sleep, they calm the racing thoughts that I have daily and put my out like a light. However without them, I don’t want to go to sleep. I may or may not feel tired but it doesn’t matter because I don’t WANT to go to sleep at night. Even though I know my body needs sleep I find myself doing whatever I can to stay awake.
I’m on 300 mg. of Lamictal, with 1 gram of Ability and Welbutrin, too. This combo has probably been the best for me so far – but it’s only been a few months since I’ve been taking this concoction for bi-polar I. I’ve known I’ve had it for almost 30 years. The meds seem to keep getting better, I still gain insight after every episode, and because of my attendance at support group meetings and checking this site, I feel like less of a freak, and more like a human being with challenges like anyone else. Remember that you are not alone and that you are worthy of love and acceptance regardless of manic or depressive behavior.
Hello
I was wondering when mania hits at night what medications do most doctors favor in helping bp persons to sleep??
thanks so much!!
Hi Teresa,
The number one way to deal with mania and sleep problems is to treat the mania- which means using a mood stabilizer or anti psychotic- if they are not enough- there are other sleep aids such as anti anxiety meds- I manage my sleep by making sure my mania doesn’t go too far. My books talk about meds a lot, but mostly they are about prevention- so I do what I can to stay stable- it’s hard! I take Lamictal which helps with my rapid cycling and depression, but I still have a ton of sleep problems. This is normal. I use Ativan (an anti anxiety med) when I have to- but I really limit this! If you go to the menu on the right, there is a link to all of my sleep blogs- there is a lot of great information there as well.
Thanks for writing!
Julie
I am experimenting [ yes I know]with my medication , lamictal and valpro, which have been good , but I felt its time to enjoy a little Hypomania [ I know] Its been great for the last 6 weeks, with admittedly little sleep[but the cricket and Tour de France is on he he]I will go back on my medication [ yes i know] soon [yes i know] But just to put my experience out there. I am not leaping tall buildings at a single bound, spending money like water etc etc,Please feel free to add this to the above comments [ Or contact me if there is a way you prefer to coomunicata these experiences to other fellow travellers]
Cheers, David
Hi Julie,
I have just been diagnosed 9 weeks ago.
I had a serious physcotic episode. In the weeks before I had very little sleep and the two days before none. I am learning about this illness and I know now that lack of sleep is a sign and a trigger of mania. Maybe the most important one for me.
When I’m manic I till worried about the next day … Even my mind working so fast my body feels tired… I have a lot of ideas but i can’t put it in practice coz my body is tired… I’ve already been 4 days without any sleepy… The point is I believe that even in manic feelings your phisical can’t follow the energy of your mind… and the things u have to do request body rest … so it is frustrating… (…English isn’t my mother language..so I apologize my grammar’s mistakes I’m from Brazil)
I read many comments about supposed manic activities at night when people would otherwise be asleep. I have not been diagnosed as bipolar, but read Julie’s email posts because it gives me a greater understanding of my X wife, who was diagnosed as such.
Yep, I still love her in the heart, but obviously, the two of us cannot live together, and I am way past all that frustration. However, I’ve pulled all-nighters on projects in a manic way. I’ve normally only done this when I knew that I did not have to work the next day or meet some other obligation, ie: my time to do with as I will.
I sence that there are feelings of guilt from others that do this. Some of my best works of art or writing has come from these sortes when all others are asleep and the world seems quiet.
Again, this seems to be within boundaries of being with oneself, and knowing when and how to interact with others within (self) proscribed time frames.
Years ago, I learned meditation methods of many types. When first starting to meditate, one always gets those feelings of, “I’m waisting time – need to get up and do this project or that thing.” It is one of the most difficult hurdles to overcome before getting into the deaper more benificial levels of meditation. It is a form of self disipline, to take those precious 15 or 20 minutes to oneself and let the world pass by. It is difficult for most Anyone on the planet to sit concious, in a chair or on the floor for 15 minutes in quietous.
Perhaps if I were annalysed, they would say that I am bipolar as well, but I have (natural) meditation to help keep me regulated rather than (unnatural) medications of pills with bizare side effects of their own.
It’s just a thought. Read a book on “Trancendental Meditation,” or any other meditation technique. Then put it to practice.
=1 *thumbs up*
I was on Abilify, Lamictal & Klonopin. Trazodone was added to try to make me sleep. Didn’t help me STAY asleep more than about 3 hrs. Provider wanted to add a little Seroquel, but I didn’t want to as I’ve already gained weight on my meds.
EMDR for PTSD (by trained therapist) has really helped w/insomnia so off the Trazodone for now & decreased Abilify dosage. But if I feel a mania coming on I do increase the Abilify a bit & that usually knocks it out in a week.
Any desire I get to stay up and not sleep – whether manic symptoms or something else – I take as a real warning that manic trouble is ahead if I do not make myself go to the bathroom cabinet and take an Ambien tp myself to bed. Lack of sleep, no matter what the cause, does fuel this illness. Fortunately, it is one of the easiest signs to read in managing this illness. Best of luck to all.
10 years since diagnosis, BP II. 100 mg of Lamictal 2 x day, 1.5 mg Klonipin 3 x day, and 100 mg Wellbutrin when needed. Seroquel 300 mg at bedtime, and the Seroquel puts me to sleep within an hour. The only time insomnia occurs is when I get REALLY manic, which prompts me to use the cards and get through it, usually within a few days. The only worry is my dependence on this drug.
I know many of you cannot tolerate Seroquel, but to me it is a life saver when it comes to sleep. It’s also supposed to prevent mania and gives me a good night’s sleep almost all the time.
I still have frequent mixed states and rapid cycling during the day, and have a hard time dealing with them.
Does anyone else have success or problems with Seroquel?
Hi, this is Julie. The following post from HB is excellent- I want to make sure it’s also clear that this is not medical advice- but simply her ideas on sleeping better- so if you do try some of her ideas- check with someone who knows how the ideas will work with bipolar disorder meds, etc. Thanks to HB!
Hi Julie,
Very good post with lots of interesting comments, too!
Sometimes, when my mind keeps going but I want to sleep, I try taking something subtle that sometimes makes me tired. Like chlortab (an over-the-counter allergy medicine) or magnesium or 300mcg of melatonin. And sometimes that is enough to work. When it does work really fast, I think that it is a placebo, and that I’ve tricked my mind into quieting down!
Of course, that doesn’t always work, and then I try something a bit stronger. Sometimes phenibut (a supplement) works, sometimes not. I used to take anti-anxiety meds too (like xanax or klonopin), but because I’m without medical insurance, I’ve been relying on supplements.
A note on the melatonin. There are many different kinds and dosages, many of which I think are too strong. If you can find melatonin 300 mcg (that’s Micro Grams; NOT milligrams) that’s the lowest dose available and it really may work. I tried a stronger extended-release form and I think it caused bad dreams and didn’t make me feel good.
However, you should check with your doctor before taking supplements, as some of them may interact with medications or with your moods.
I hope this information helps!
HB
I tried Seroquel last fall with some success in sleeping. I won’t try another anti-psychotic until they come up with one that has less dangerous side effects. Since I was diagnosed and started taking meds I no longer get the urge to stay up and be productive, or write endlessly, or call everyone at midnight. I just cannot go to sleep which makes me tired and depressed. irritable and anxious. This only happens in the summer, usually I have no problem sleeping. I used to be very hypomanic in the summer where I felt great one day and suicidal the next. I am maxed out on Lamictal, Wellbutrin and take 150 mg of Zoloft a day. This combo usually works but not lately. I also stay out of the sun as much as possible.
I forgot to add that I was diagnosed with Bipolar II 7 years ago, I think I also have rapid cycling, and definitely have mixed states.
Same here-when my mind keeps going- I take a teaspoon of children’s benedryl to help ease me off to sleep. I had read this in a book about bipolar disorder and also asked my doctor and she said that was perfectly alright and better than having to take my anti-anxiety drugs. No sleep meds have ever worked very well for me. She told me to just take the adult Benedryl but it wipes me out for the whole next day. Also, I read on a Lamictal insert that the drug binds with melatonin in the body- Does anyone know about this and can it affect my sleep? I can’t tell- I have trouble sleeping no matter when I take my doses. One more thing- watch taking Valerian (helbal sleepaid)- read it can interact badly with our meds and/or our condition.
I can’t sleep at night. So I sleep in the morning from 6 am to 4 pm. And then since I have some work that my sisters give me , I will do those . When I tell my doctor she says that it is all haywire. It has been since 2005 when I have a manic episode. I am trying to find solution about it . I will see my doctor next month . So far I used a mood chart but I really do not know if I am stressed out. I feel I should do more . I learn not that is best not to work after you are hospitalized.
many thanks i identify with your diagnoses of manic depression with regards to the sleep pattern – i keep telling my wife about bp – she is still learning to coup with it – please keep your e-mails comming – many thanks for the good work.walter.
Thanks Julie for the comment on my comment! This is definitely not medical advice. I’m not a doctor!
I’ve had a series of nights recently where going to sleep without taking anything hasn’t been working. It’s quite dissappointing. I’d say it’s more insomnia than mania, but perhaps a bit of hypomania mixed in. I took 5-HTP and magnesium these last couple of nights and that did work after an hour or two. But now I am a bit “glowy” which is my descriptive term for a mild hypomania. I say things are glowing because my monitor seems too bright and the sunlight seems really bright… But my thinking is still clear.
Sometimes, it seems that changes in vision are really related to mood changes. Since the brain controls perception I guess that makes sense.
My husband also has Bipolar Disorder and has trouble sleeping. His trouble sleeping is more chronic than mine. Seroquel works great, but the hangover lasts a long time for him. Even a low dose 25mg or less can cause a grogginess the next day. So his sleep patterns are eratic. I can relate with Zab’s comment above. Sometimes sleeping at the ‘wrong’ time is better than sleeping at the ‘right’ time and then having to deal with the grogginess or other side effects of a sleep medication.
Like Zab said, the main problem with not sleeping when everyone else does, is getting work done. Not good for anyone who needs to work a regular job.
To edit my previous comment, now I think that even the low dose melatonin gives me weird dreams.
HB