i appreciate everyone's reply to this delimma. just to add: i exercise 5-6x a week; at 71 i no longer hide the fact that i have bipolar hypomania and just about everyone at the health club whom i associate with and everyone we socialize with know about my mental illness; i know all my triggers and vegas, for example, destabilizes me even when we go only for 2 nites and i try to keep my bedtime the same there as here...traveling and time zone changes affect me as well and i require alot of quiet time and hubby and i have an excellent 32-yr. marriage as he does get it (and plays golf about 3x a week); i was just posting to see if there's a preventative way of coping with the unknown...didn't know how small this restaurant was, how loud it was and we were having to scream across the table to be heard; i limit how much stimulation i can control, but i guess all of you are saying there's really no way to prevent/avoid some triggers unless i stay home in my own world!! and yes, if i don't get those 8-9 hrs. solid medicated sleep, i have to spend almost the entire next day catching up and thankfully have the luxury to do so at 71 and being retired and having our health club right across the street!