Sleep is so vital in this illness. A regularly maintained sleep schedule should be part of our life.

We go through several cycles of sleep at night. The major one that recharges our battery is called REM sleep. If we don't get that, all kinds of symptoms can emerge. Sleep apnea, which can occur at all ages--it is not restricted to the elderly--ought to be investigated by bipolar patients, in my view. Please ask your psychiatrist what he/she thinks about your having a sleep apnea test to determine whether you are missing a portion of those cycles at night.

If you are are, using a constant positive air pressure mask at night and getting the added REM sleep can make ALL the difference in the world in how you feel, how you have added energy, lose the afternoon fatigue, and feel just wonderfully better. It is a must for me; I wouldn't be without it and I know that it works.

Barring that, about 1/2 teaspoon of unrefined sea salt is soporific
and helps you to relax and sleep. (American refined sea salt won't work. It has to be unrefined: Himalayan, French, and Hawaiian unrefined sea salt are all good.) It's the trace minerals that the salt provides which our bodies need replacing when we take psychotropic meds, in my view.

It worked for me before I began to use the continuous positive air pressure apparatus for sleep.

Take care.

Genetic