I live across the driveway from my mom. I know it can be hard for her to understand that I sleep so much because I have to but she's seen me try to be awake enough times she understands now. It's hardest for her to understand that I can't just get up in the morning and take on the day because she's most active in the morning. I used to be but now my meds make it impossible.


If she were calling me lazy I might consider asking her to therapy for a session or two to help her understand. I've read that bipolar is a disease of energy as much as it is moods. I find that true for myself and my mom knowing that helped.


One thing you may want to ask your psychiatrist about is valproic acid and sleepiness. I was on a very high dose of it but it was amazing how much less sleepy I was as I weaned off it and then wasn't on it any more. Do you take extended release of immediate? I used a combination of both and that helped some but it was more sedating for me than some APs have been. Not nearly as sedating as clozapine but quite sedating.

I'm glad you are able to be there for your mother as well as she is there for you. That's what works here; I help when I can and my mom helps when she can. I hate that she helps more than I do but I try.