Lack of sleep triggers mania; how to travel?

For me, lack of sleep is a consistent trigger for a manic or hypomanic event, which makes travel a tough situation. Even if I stay in the same time zone, the sights and sounds of the hotel room can be enough to make me toss and turn.

But to be clear, traveling to another time zone is worse. Much worse.

Anyone out there have the same problem? How do you handle jet lag?

Jet lag? What's that?
Unless maybe it is the jet lagging behind me...
I am VERY bad on this subject. I don't travel a lot, but when I do, I just let it rip, sleep-wise. (And yes, I most assuredly go hypo.)

BUT! The best would be to try to keep everything as much the same -- schedule-wise, sleep, med-taking times etc is as your usual routine. Maybe setting your cell phone alarm for med-taking times if you don't already do that. Because one's sense of time can feel a bit warped when travelling. Trying to schedule flights at times that don't get that too whacked, allowing yourself some "buffer" time arriving earlier to help adjust and get rest before it all gets started...Eating well, staying hydrated...travel is very dehydrating! And it's too easy to eat what's at hand that might not be the best choice. Those two things can go a long way in how you feel physically, which can only help the mentally part.

Sounds are a huge thing for me too. I ALWAYS carry earplugs. And spares. And Ipod. And Zune. Sleeping (with earplugs), for sure, but also on a plane or train or whatever, I can really get on edge. Loud conversation? Screaming children? I can NOT tune it out and it really frazzles and grates on me. TG for Ipod et al.. So trying to retain some calm helps me ease in once I get there, instead of arriving as Bill the Cat. (It'd probably be good to listen to calming music, but I don't. It's the well-loved familiarity of my favorite music that does the trick. I'm in MY zone. Whatever zone works best for you! )

For sights... I'm guessing you're talking mostly about lights? Do you have one of those eye cover things? (They must have a name, though it escapes atm.) Helpful especially if even small light sources keep you awake. (If anyone has a good alternative to those, I'd love to hear it, because personally I can't really handle wearing them, despite light issues with sleeping.)

Are you going to be travelling soon, sb7777?

This was a major part of how my bipolar was identified. I recently took a trip that went East Coast to West Coast to UK without having a (major) episode. I kinda screwed myself over with choosing not to sleep enough on the West Coast, but it didn't escalate to a serious hypomanic episode because I took my hubby along to the UK and he reinforces good sleep habits.

I recently blogged a run-down of my bipolar travel tips: http://disorderlychickadee.wordpress...eling-bipolar/

A lot of what IZ suggests is what I've tried. I'm not as sensitive to lights, but most hotels have serious room-darkening curtains that will block nearly all light. Except for the damn smoke detector lights that look like alien bugs are watching me from the ceiling. A nice soft plushy black eye mask helps immensely on planes, but I only attempt to sleep on eastbound transatlantics, which are always overnight flights.

I didn't include earplugs on the list of suggestions because I always, always take them when traveling - it just goes without saying. There are earplugs packed in every backpack and purse that I own. Also my iPod earpieces are sound-blocking ones, so that actually works better. I also use melatonin (and sheer exhaustion) to help me sleep on different time schedules.

If being in a different environment makes sleep difficult then maybe try to create a sleep ritual. Little things that you do to signify to your body that it's time to sleep. Shower, teeth, listen to music, read etc identify the things that help you to relax at home and try to take them with you.

I have the same problem, I only sleep a few hours when I am traveling.
I have tried all of the above suggestions usually the only thing that works is sleeping pills.
I also travel to Vegas a lot, if I can't sleep there's always something going on to amuse me. So I incorporate the not sleeping in to the vacation.
I can usually catch a nap that helps make up for the night.

My husband is from Ireland and I can go weeks of sleeping about 2 hrs a night when we travel there. I take ambien or valium on the plane, eye mask, neck pillow & wear comfy clothes. But I always am so paranoid about making a bad impression on his family that I would probably be manic without the timezone change lol.

Peace,

TnT

As good as it would be to do, I have never been able to sleep while enroute, no matter the mode of transportation. Well, good except when driving, when it would NOT be a good thing to do! I haven't done much in the way of travelling that sleep would be appropriate for since having meds that would usually knock me out, but even those few times, no go. Didn't work. Before that, strangely enough, it never even occured to try OTCs. (Turns out it wouldn't have mattered anyway, as they have no effect on me whatsoever.) I've always had a hinky "thing" about the thought of sleeping in motion, and that might have something to do with the overall situation.

(Heheh, thickntired, Ireland's been my biggie too. Twice, 3 weeks each. Didn't know I had BP then. Thought I was just lucky to have so much energy. Other people commented on the level of it though. It'd be 3 flights going cross-country starting at o'dark thirty, followed by transatlantic, arriving 7:30 am. Not a wink. And I'd just start the day and go till 1 or 2 the next morning - full steam. Yeah. Lol. The relatives just boggled. [We'd met up about 11pm, it wasn't keeping them up at their house(!) When making the plans, they didn't know I hadn't slept and it never occured to even mention it as I knew I'd being going strong then anyway.] They were still boggling 3 weeks later when we met up again. And to think it took so long to get dx'd.....)

Anyhow! Yes, sleeping would be a good plan!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I too had my 1st manic episode while traveling. So I guess I'm extra sensitive to this. I like the idea of making the plane ride itself as calming as possible. I will have to try that.

I arrived a few days ago, didn't sleep well, and had a hypo event yesterday. Last night I had a great night's sleep, and during normal hours.

Hoping the rest of the trip will be event free!