How does everyone cope on minimal sleep?

Hi everyone

I am a new user on MoodTracker and one of the things I really struggle with is my sleep. some nights I can get four hours if I am lucky but it is never interupted. I work full time too so sometimes I am not totally with it during the day and find myself feeling very run down. I want to sleep but my mind just won't let me.

I have been on zoplicone before but my doctor only likes prescribing this drug to me when I get really bad sleep troubles.

I was wondering how anyone else, who has these troubles copes, as I am always trying to find new ways to beat this illness before it beats me!!!

x

Practicing good sleep hygeine is a top priority for me. Putting a blindfold on 30 minutes before I want to fall asleep and not turning any lights on when I go to the bathroom at night really helps. I try to go to sleep about the same time every night. I also take Calcium, magnesium, and most importantly GABA to calm my mind. I still don't have perfect sleep but it ranges mostly between 6 & 9 instead of 1 & 20 now.

And when I am sleep deprived I limit my social activities as much as possible.

K

Sleep hygiene is so important. When I was a teen and no longer had a set bedtime, my mom always preached to me the curative effect of sleep, but being a fully committed night owl, I always thought, "Sleep is overrated." But now that I've been officially diagnosed with BP and ADD, I realize sleep is crucial. In my support group, people have said that sleep is as important as medication, especially for those two diagnoses.

What I have to work on is not continuing have my laptop in my room and on taking my night med at 9 with the knowledge that not too much later I'll be knocked out and be cool with that. I have to get over the fact that I might be missing out on something if I'm not up past 10. I'm better at not staying up late on my laptop but I feel you shouldn't have anything in your bedroom electronic like a tv or computer, as the images are too stimulating to find rest. I've been reading before I go to bed and within about 10 pages, I've fallen asleep.

At my old apartment, I used to take a bath before I went to bed with the hottest water I could stand (not generally recommended) and soak in there until I went to sleep. My family knew to leave me alone when I was in that mode. I literally felt like any of the day's stressors went down the drain when I let out the water and I went straight to bed and did not pass go and did not collect $200. Just determine you will go to bed around the same time and develop a nighttime ritual that will signal to your brain and body that it is time to go to bed no matter what unfinished business you have. Unlike making up tests in school, you really cannot make up sleep. Short 15-30 minute naps can be curative, though, but naps longer than before bedtime disrupt your nighttime sleep pattern.

i can relate. im on celexa, and it takes care of my depression, but doesnt do much for the manic. i go to sleep around the same time everyday, i dont usually nap, or have any distractions in my room. I can be tired all day but then i lay down to sleep and hello manic! my mind races and i cant make it stop long enough to try and sleep. it drives me crazy. and now, i dread every time i have to go to sleep because i know whats going to happen. i havent found anything to help. i toss and turn for HOURS. ive tried eating, not eating, writing, showers before bed, anything i could possibly think of. if you find something that works please let me know !

As far as coping without sleep (as opposed to how to get more regular sleep), I've had such a huge sleep deficit for so long I tend to function *better* with around 4 hours of sleep than more. Getting more sleep tends to be a bit dislocating. Coping with less sleep is more about attempting to get a consistent amount of sleep than ramping up the actual individual hours of sleep. I mean, increasing your average sleep is best, but if that isn't happening, try to keep it steady.

I have to agree with everyone, we have to take care of ourselves in some areas.
I take trazadone 200mg at bedtime and still only sleep a few hours at a time, I am up and down with my up time being about an hour in-between sleeping for a couple of more.
Its so frustrating!!!!!
but some how I function during the day.
Ellen

MZElleln: You said you take Trazadone for sleep? My psych prescribed me that, and I took the prescribed 1/2 tab, and the next day I was SO depressed..I was sad ALL day long...he doubts it was the Trazadone, but I haven't taken it since, and I haven't felt that same 'type' of sadness...have you heard of a reaction liket that?

Lugoo: I don't sleep anymore, either...I'm doing much better with just 4-6 (maybe 6) hours of sleep/night as opposed to trying to rack up hours. I'm usually up til 1 or 2 am cos my brain refuses to shut off..I keep thinkng about all kinds of things and then I start stresing and before I know it, I'm watching TV with bouncy legs...it sucks.

I've had issues with falling asleep my entire life. But for over a year now I've had the most regular sleep of my life. The 2 main helps are GABA and wearing a blindfold. GABA is basically the brains brakes which allows the thoughts to stop so you can relax and fall asleep.

K

Bipolar2: no I have not heard of the effects that you described, but am sure all the meds work different for people.
Trazedone is a common drug used for depression but it has a side effect the next day of feeling hung over. I drink a cup of coffee and I seem to perk up just fine, My depression stems from having lost my 30 year old daughter to luekemia last July and am having a tough time dealing with the grief and loss. I have high anxiety attacks and cry uncontrollably...we have upped the xanax to 1.0mg for a time and I am feeling better. Depression shows up in many forms, not to mention our mania, I tend NOT to sleep when depressed and the tranz helps me, but look at the dose I am taking!!!! Its enough to knock out a horse!!! (smiles) not that I am a horse, but I can be a jackass when I am manic!!!
Be blessed.....Ellen

MzEllen: Aww, that is very sad :*( I'm sorry! I'm sure that's incredibly hard...especially with you having BP. My depression (this time) is coming from a very difficult & complicated relationship I was in for about a year with a professor of mine...I've been working on it with my therapist, but I'm still having a very hard time b/c he is still in my life and mentoring me, and I'm still very attached to him..I have what I call separation anxiety from him, but I'm rambling...Yeah, my Pdoc said the same thing about the Traz...maybe it just takes some getting used to? IDK I will likely have to break it out over break because I'm just not sleeping like I need to be.