Comments on: Sleep Solutions http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/sleep-solutions/ by Julie A. Fast Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:13:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Judy http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/sleep-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-981 Judy Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:18:05 +0000 http://bipolarhappens.com/bhblog/2007/08/08/sleep-solutions/#comment-981 At home, in the UK, I sleep on Tuesday to Friday,simply because of a programme on BBC radio 3 called late junction. I write my nournal to it, then it lulls me to sleep. Now I know what music helps me and am sorting out some music to use on the other nights of the week. I used to listen to talk radio, but found I started to listen to it too intently. However, this only works if I have avoided the TV or computer for at least one hour before bed. As you say, it is the blue light. I am amazed by people who complain they can't sleep and when I give them the idea of not watching late tv, they throw their hands up in horror. When I staty at a friend's I tend to stay up too late, watch tv and use the computer and the heating is on in the bedroom. I do not sleep well. At home, I switch off tv an hour before bed, have no computer, no heat in bedroom (lots of cozy covers) and keep low light. I sleep much better. I am not perfect. I slip into bad habits. I realise I fight sleep. All those interesting things to do (paint, write, bake) leap into my mind. I visualise these as my child self, and kindly say that we can do that tomorrow and will enjoy it better then. Sometimes I have to just give up. Then oddly, as I am watching boring tv (repeat runs of stuff), with low lighting, and a throw over me, I begin to drift.. I have been known to be so determined in my mania to finish waht I am doing on the computer, that I have been falling asleep on the desk. Now how daft is that? One more thing. I am becoming aware of my own sleep cycle. During the evening, I will have a phase where I feel really sleepy. It may be really early 8.30 or 9pm. If I can get to bed without waking myself up, I have a good chance of sleeping. If I miss that opportunity, I have to wait for the next sleepy phase which may not be until 1am. I have banned all heavy discussions after 9.30pm. I have banned any talk of finances after 9.30pm. If anyone starts, I go to bed and read. Ultimately we have to find what works for us. After two weeks of disturbed sleep I hot foot it to the doctor and get some Zopiclone. At home, in the UK, I sleep on Tuesday to Friday,simply because of a programme on BBC radio 3 called late junction. I write my nournal to it, then it lulls me to sleep. Now I know what music helps me and am sorting out some music to use on the other nights of the week. I used to listen to talk radio, but found I started to listen to it too intently.

However, this only works if I have avoided the TV or computer for at least one hour before bed. As you say, it is the blue light. I am amazed by people who complain they can’t sleep and when I give them the idea of not watching late tv, they throw their hands up in horror.

When I staty at a friend’s I tend to stay up too late, watch tv and use the computer and the heating is on in the bedroom. I do not sleep well.

At home, I switch off tv an hour before bed, have no computer, no heat in bedroom (lots of cozy covers) and keep low light. I sleep much better.

I am not perfect. I slip into bad habits. I realise I fight sleep. All those interesting things to do (paint, write, bake) leap into my mind. I visualise these as my child self, and kindly say that we can do that tomorrow and will enjoy it better then.

Sometimes I have to just give up. Then oddly, as I am watching boring tv (repeat runs of stuff), with low lighting, and a throw over me, I begin to drift..

I have been known to be so determined in my mania to finish waht I am doing on the computer, that I have been falling asleep on the desk. Now how daft is that?

One more thing. I am becoming aware of my own sleep cycle. During the evening, I will have a phase where I feel really sleepy. It may be really early 8.30 or 9pm. If I can get to bed without waking myself up, I have a good chance of sleeping. If I miss that opportunity, I have to wait for the next sleepy phase which may not be until 1am.

I have banned all heavy discussions after 9.30pm. I have banned any talk of finances after 9.30pm. If anyone starts, I go to bed and read.

Ultimately we have to find what works for us. After two weeks of disturbed sleep I hot foot it to the doctor and get some Zopiclone.

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