People with insomnia count sheep. People with mania draw sheep and make a collage!
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 worn out you will be in the morning and you often want
medication relief.
I need a Tylenol PM!
With euphoric mania- Whew! You want to stay up, you’re wide awake and doing
something creative. You have unlimited energy, a racing mind, and rapid
body movements. You have no desire to get in bed and sleeping feels like a
total waste of time. When the euphoria gets too high, it takes a lot of
psychiatric medication to get to sleep (and you definitely don’t want to
take them and wreck your buzz!) and there is a chance you will be wide
awake and 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. I am so much more productive now.
- 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.
- I have not had sex in a long time and tonight is the night. Watch out!
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. It never feels good.
Euphoric mania feels good.
If you’re on the outside of this mania looking in, it’s very important to know that the manic brain is not really hearing you. It’s hearing that you want to ruin its FUN. The manic person can get very angry and say, “I’m not manic! I’m just finally feeling better! Why burst my bubble!!!” Mania is definitely treatable- but out of all of the mood swings, mania needs an aggressive prevention plan. It’s just too dangerous if it goes too far.
Like many people, my euphoric mania focuses on money, men, alcohol and travel. I never want to sleep when I get this way- interestingly, all of the items on that list are dangerous when it’s late at night!
Tips:
1. Monitor your sleep. If you have been manic before,what were the signs? The minute you notice these signs, take action and get help.
2. Ask others to be honest and tell you if they think you are manic. Deal with the anger you will feel and get help.
3. If you care about someone with bipolar disorder, use the Health Cards to create a plan. Trying to talk to someone who denies mania or who is manic is basically impossible. The best plan is to plan ahead with a plan!
The next time I am lying in bed with eyes wide open, I hope it’s insomnia. It’s much safer.
Julie
Related posts: Mania and Sleep Reader Comments | Bipolar Disorder Sleep Problems and Sleep Medications | Bipolar Disorder Euphoric Mania |
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
Thats how it is with me I stop sleeping even for a night will bring on My mania, I had to be on sleeping meds for 4yrs and the way I got off of my sleeping meds which were Seroquel was by doing Meditation which I didn’t think it was going to work I was very skeptical at first I have been doing it for about 4 months now without any sleeping meds and it has really been nice where I can go to sleep even if I feel wide awake it takes me no longer then a half hour to go to sleep I told my dr. and he was happy that I was able to get off the medication. I take a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant which has kept me stable for the last couple of years.
My therapist suggested the meditation she had just told me to go thru my whold body and tell each part to relax and just focus on that and from there just listen to your breath and keep your mind focused on that and nothing else it takes time to be able to do that but with practice you can do it.
I just wanted to pass this along thought it might help someone like it did me.
Hi Kimberly,
It is so wonderful to hear success stories. We all need them- including myself as I have trouble sleeping as well. Thank you, Julie
Was there a particular book or video or teacher of meditation you used to learn this? Do you sit on the floor?
In your bedroom or somewhere else? I’ve done a lot of yoga but never meditation. Could be a good idea for me
as a nightly routine. Thanks, Sarah
I didn’t learn from a book – my therapist and my brother in law practiced and directed me and I did it from there on.
I know alot of people are skeptical about it, but it works!!! Also it helps to drink some tea right before, you can do it in your bedroom just lie on your back and follow the techniques.
Let me know how it works for you
Take care of yourself
Hi Kimberly,
Do you suggest any particular kind of tea? Julie
I have a CD from a series of meditation cd’s from Jon Cabat Zinn. It is called Body Scan, #1 on the this website: http://www.mindfulnesscds.com/series1.html It relaxes me so much that I have rarely heard the end of it! Another thing I use when I have trouble getting to sleep (probably non manic times) is to listen to audio books on my iPod. That way I can get in my “sleep position” and have the lights out to induce sleep, but my mind has something to occupy itself other than worries and an endless to do list.
I recently started using guided imagery to help with my sleep at night. You can download it for free at https://members.kaiserpermanente.org/redirects/listen/. They have several different recordings to address a variety of issues, including affirmations you can listen to at any time and repeat to yourself. The guided imagery guides you through a type of body scan as well.
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.
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*
Would like to hear more about the meditation.
Hello Luisa, I answered this on the main blog. Julie
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.
You can find that about 25 to 65 percent of bipolar patients who had a manic episode had experienced a social rhythm disruption prior to the episode. “Social rhythm disruption” is some disturbance in routine affecting the sleep/wake cycle; it can be as simple as staying up extra late to watch a movie on television or getting wrapped up in an interesting online chat session, or as serious as being unable to sleep due to a family member’s serious illness or death.
Hello Rupesh,
This is completely true. Any time change, especially when traveling can lead to hypomania. This is especially true if the weather is sunny. The problem is that the hypomania usually feels so good, the person with bipolar disorder doesn’t want to do anything about it! I have been there, believe me. If you have been depressed for a while and suddenly you feel better- and want to get out and do things and see people and finally have fun! Why would you want to do anything about it? But you do need to do something about it. As it always leads to depression. This illness is tough on us!
People with bipolar have to know their normal moods- so that they can know the signs of hypomania as soon as they show up. If you go to the mania tab to the right- I talk quite a bit about hypomania as that is what I get when I get manic! Julie
Julie
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 am on 200 mg of Seroquel and it has been mostly effective for heading off mania, but it makes me VERY groggy. I am trying to get on something else. Calling everyone at midnight, sure was one of the signs for me. Haven’t done that for a couple of years.
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
Hi Julie
I have had a sleeping disorder for as long as I can remember, I have been Bi-Polar for as long as I can remember, I can only sleep if If I take Ambien, I find if I take Xanax i wake up to tired.
I have a question I have never taken anything but Xanax, is there a difference between Atavan?
Thanks Ric
Hi Ric,
Here is a list of anti-anxiety medications:
BENZODIAZEPINES
diazepam Valium 2-10 mg 5 mg
chlordiazepoxide Librium 10-50 mg 25 mg
prazepam Centrax 5-30 mg 10 mg
clorazepate Tranxene 3.75-15 mg 10 mg
clonazepam Klonopin 0.5-2.0 mg 0.25 mg
lorazepam Ativan 0.5-2.0 mg 1 mg
alprazolam Xanax, XR 0.25-2.0 mg 0.5 mg
oxazepam Serax 10-30 mg 15 mg
They are all called benzodiazapines and have similar properties. Many people choose a particular medication based on the one that gives the less side effects. I have taken Ativan (Lorazepam) since 1995. It’s an amazing drug as it doesn’t make me groggy- if I get the dosage correct. I stuck with 1mg for almost ten years- then I had to start taking more as my sleeping problems increased. I now have to take 2mg sometimes- and I am not happy about this! But, it’s better to take limited sleep meds and sleep- than stay up all night and mess up your schedule for the next day.
Ambien and other actual sleep medications are not antianxiety/benzodiazapine meds and they naturally have different properties and side effects. They work very well for some people with bipolar and make others sleep walk- so, as with all meds- it comes down to side effects and how well rested you feel the next day.
Julie
Hi Ric,
Xanax, Ativan, Valium and Klonopin are all benzodiazapines- also known as anti anxiety meds. They are basically the same and used for the same symptoms- but people respond to them differently. I take Ativan and always have (I would have huge sleep problems if I didn’t have the option of Ativan.) A friend of mine takes Klonopin. So it’s just what works for you. I never feel tired if I use Ativan to sleep- ask your health care professional if you can try some- the dosage will be different. I always try to take as little Ativan as possible and always try to get to sleep on my own. It’s hard isn’t it! But I always remind myself- sleep is more imporant that worrying that you need meds to sleep. I always remind myself of this. As long as I am not addicted and am not building up too high of a tolerence, I take the meds.
But- I also have to take care of myself in ways that will help me sleep- no caffeine (well, at least not coffee caffeine) – nothing too stimulating before bed such as a party that goes really late. I often leave events far earlier than others just to make sure I will be able to sleep. It’s hard when you’re depressed and you feel great at karaoke- but you have to leave! It’s a choice and I choose sleep.
I hope you find a drug that helps!
Julie
I put this as a blog post as well as your question is so important!
Hi Ric,
I also have some sleep problems associated with Mania. When I can’t sleep I take 25mg of Seroquel, and a-typical anti-psychotic, that I take at a much higher dose as an anti-manic when I am having a mood swing of mania. When I am suffering from mild mania I sometimes have to take a low dose at bedtime for a month or two. Then as I level out again I can sleep without it again. But my psychiatrist says it is okay to take low doses as it isn’t like a sleeping pill that you can become addicted to. If I take it too late, like wait until 2 am before I give in to the fact that I’m not falling asleep I am very tired the next day, but if I know I’m feeling revved up and take it at 10pm I wake up easily and am ready for work at my usual time without any problems.
One more to add to the list for sleep- although it’s an anti-psychotic, my doc said he uses it with bipolar patients to help them sleep at night. 25mg is the lowest dose, but apparently higher dosages have also been shown to help with depression. As long as I take it early enough, I don’t feel as groggy as I do with Ambien or xanax which I’ve tried several times before.
Kristin,
What med are you recommending? As for Ambien, I took it daily for two years and had to quit, because, I started a new job and found it VERY difficult to grasp the training I was undergoing. After a time, I feel, it just made me stupid. Unable to remember concepts. I made it through very intensive training, by being a good test taker and faking it.
I have linked sleep problems directly to mania. I am on a strict regimen, now, for sleep and follow most of the insomnia recommendations.
I am currently on 200 mg Seroquel and it takes hours, in the morning, for me to get past the after effects. I avoid morning activities, especially driving. Unfortunately, my access to my docs are regulated. I am a VA patient and have had two psychiatrists in less than a year. I am very interested in changing meds, but it seems to be an uphill battle, because VA limits the number of visits.
Julie,
You asked about tea before meditation. I like Tension Tamer from Celestial Seasonings, I can remember times when it has had a profound effect. I recommend it for sleep problems.
I was diagnosed 3 years ago with Bipolar 11. Been on many different meds. with all kinds of side effects. I take 300 mg. Seroquel at night 8:00 pm. It kicks in withen the hr. and off to bed I go. No interuption in the night unless I need to use the restroom. I get up everyday between 7:00 & 8:00 am. No caffeine just like Julie says. I also drink tea.
I still wondered why I could not really focus, however get all kinds of things done in the day, very creative, you all know what I mean. Anyhoo, I took some tests from my doctor who specializes in psychotic meds and through some med. trials I finally got on 30 mg. Adderall. Guess what? I also am ADD. If you are ADD and take this med. you kick it down a notch, which is exactly what happened to me. However if you are not, you would feel like you had way too many cups of coffee. I can watch a movie all the way through without telling someone to pause the movie several times because I have something to say. I definately can focus now and have a conversation with someone without talking a hundred miles a minute. Also, you will shed some pounds as your appetite is suppressed.
I listen to all of your stories and have not heard of anyone yet being Bipolar and ADD. I am. I wish all of us the best of health in 2011.
Hi Julie,
I wanted to add to my last comment that I have all of your books and a great support system with my family.
I have finally found a good psychiatrist, a good therapist and a good doctor.
I want everyone to know that all of these meds. that we are on cause side effects. You need to stay in tune with your doctors so they can moniter your blood levels, heart rate and blood pressure and so on.
Suggestion to all: Keep a good journal of how you are feeling from day to day and share it with your therapists. It saves a lot of time.
Hi Julie this lack of sleep and mania relationship is so dire for me. The hardest part was really accepting no sleep meant danger. I had been diagnosed with bi-polar for 2 years but the thing that finally caused my doctor to refer me to a pyschiatrist was when my second child was born. I had a 2 year old as well and on a follow up visit three weeks after taking my new baby home we worked out that I had not had any real sleep since I left the hospital. But it was so hard for me to accept anything was wrong. My house was clean from top to bottom, all the cupboards were clean, I had no laundry and I was managing enough time with my 2 year old that she didn’t miss out on any time because of the new baby. To me I just felt like I had endless energy – it’s only when I got well that I could see how badly I was affected. Now just even reading what I’m saying makes me shudder. I am even affected by a simple thing like the change in daylight savings time – 1 hour. The difference these days is I don’t want the high because the price I pay is too high.
My husband has bipolar. He goes through stages where he doesn’t sleep & I’m still trying to determine if it’s the lack of sleep first & then the episode. His episodes are always the same, he gets mean, he is super negative, overwhelmed with everything, talks about it constantly & sometimes talks about suicide. All in front of our children & sees nothing wrong with it. This is NOT my loving husband! He has never spent money excessively or had sex with anyone else. His depression doesn’t put him in bed. He still gets up – his thoughts are just way depressed & normal objects around the house can make him think of suicide. My problem is that this is really hard. If he has a “good” (what he sees as good) day or even few hours, he wants to be intimate. I just can’t do it. My emotions aren’t ready. I need him to be stable for longer than that. This can cause him to stay awake all night thinking about it. Of course, he doesn’t think about how I might be feeling. He only thinks about it in a negative way. Any help or suggestions? I love my husband & I married him “in sickness & in health”, I never realized how hard mental sickness can be. He had only really had these symptoms for a few years. They just come across so personal since “I” seem to be his trigger at these unstable times.
Hello!
So many of these stories sound like they were written by me…
rearranging furniture…i “have” to stay up all night looking for the perfect job…the perfect master’s program (which by the next day, the relevance has fizzled…); I HAVE to paint a detail on a painting, I HAVE to write inspired (“brilliant”!) answers to e-mails while euphoric…or terrible (“necessary”)rants to family, while dysphoric, hours and hours until practically dawn…
Getting so riled up at night, and then next day of course, exhausted…Kay Redfield Jamison write that she just “had” to play tennis at 3 a.m.
so we certainly aren’t alone…!
I just recently came to terms w/ fact that I AM BIPOLAR…tho have been dancing around the “being labeled” thing, but now I am liberated from denial…And now i can see it in time, for what it is, and STOP; to keep behaving that way in order to justify it, just made it worse and worse…and it went on for days, or months. Now I know.
Note to self: Do exersize (during the day!).Turn off computer at the latest at a certain time, so plan to sleep by midnight…No skyping, etc…tone down, take a hot bath, listen to calming tapes, like THE GAP, by Wayne Dyer. Breathe. Start up w/ yoga again. At night, if inspired to do a zillion things at once, don’t do them , just right them down for next day…Drink camomile and linden teas….
Anyway, THANKS so much to Julie and all for sharing-
Blessings, Mar
Hi,
I have been untreated for BIPOLAR for 6 years and was admitted to the emergency mental health ward 5 days ago. It has been in the last 5 days that I have had a further 2 diagnosis of BP. Leading up to the hospital I had lost control of my body and screamed, I was and still am, feeling so frustrated at my moods bouncing from one to the next, within a period of 5 minutes.
I was suicidal 2 days ago and luckily I rang a help line. My new psych. who I like very much put me on 12.5 mg of Seroquil, the next morning I was groggy and aggressive and so angry and by the night time felt myself again. During my mania I steal and binge eat.
I reduced my dose to 6mg last night as I am extremily sensitive to medications and after 3 years have worked up to being on 40mg of LOVAN. Today I woke up calm but still manic. I binged and I cannot seem to reason with myself at these moments, which is scary. I want to stop the seroquil as, for me, I feel so high but groggy. On the up note i DO not feel suicidal or want to self harm, I do however want to steal and binge eat.
It is very frustrating. And scary. And all I want is the moods to subside so I can feel in control.
PS. Julie. I think your site is so great, I was telling my Mum how you use such positive words, like “you can get strong again” I think that is awesome.
Kind Regards,
Can.