[LiteraryLark]

One of my first posts I made was about effects of an energy drink. It caused me to stay up all night. My doctor says it's not the caffeine to worry about, but the lack of sleep.

Lately, I've been staying up past 12pm and waking up between 9am and 11am. I am also 19. This is normal for a teenager, but I use to sleep waayyy too much because of the meds: going to bed at 9pm, sleeping in late, then taking one or two naps during the day. My meds have been reduced and I am much more energetic.

I've always been a night owl, so I'm used to staying up late. But what does my doctor mean about a lack of sleep causing mania? Is he talking about staying up too late or literally staying up all night?

[cocoabeans]

Literally staying up all night. It sounds like you're getting plenty of sleep. It doesn't matter if you sleep all day or night if you're adhering to some kind of schedule and sleeping enough. With a night schedule though, you risk giving up sleep for early morning appointments, classes etc. Missing sleep might start a manic episode or just make you feel tired! Mania/hypomania usually involves staying up all night or only needing a few hours of sleep per night. Personally, I might stay up for a couple of days, sleep and do it again. I can get on a 48 hour day as opposed to a 24 hour day cycle. So I'd be hypomanic while being able to sleep 8 or 9 hours at a time but, at most every two days. It's fun!

[argv]

Originally Posted by DrSkipper

One of my first posts I made was about effects of an energy drink. It caused me to stay up all night. My doctor says it's not the caffeine to worry about, but the lack of sleep.

Lately, I've been staying up past 12pm and waking up between 9am and 11am. I am also 19. This is normal for a teenager, but I use to sleep waayyy too much because of the meds: going to bed at 9pm, sleeping in late, then taking one or two naps during the day. My meds have been reduced and I am much more energetic.

I've always been a night owl, so I'm used to staying up late. But what does my doctor mean about a lack of sleep causing mania? Is he talking about staying up too late or literally staying up all night?

It does seem to me that NOT sleeping can CAUSE manic episodes, and so sometimes I'll sleep for only like 2 or 3 hours per day. I get alot done, but holy crap, it can't be good on my body. haha

Well lately I've been feeling pretty hypomanic, I've been getting about 1-3 hours sleep a night for a week. Definitely will make me manic, if I don't get back on track. Sounds like you are getting enough sleep. I don't fall asleep till about 5:30 am and have to be up at 7-7:30 am. And I'm not tire upon waking up.

[Anneinside]

It is often stressed that good "sleep hygiene", meaning going to bed and getting up at the same time, is supposed to help as poor sleep hygiene can bring on mania. That is because staying up or not sleeping much often happens before other symptoms of mania appear. Sometimes, for me, I wonder if my mania starts first quickly followed by a lack of need for sleep.

[bipolarmedstudent]

Sleep deprivation can literally make you crazy. So if you are not getting proper sleep, it can trigger mania in those who are susceptible.

[Sparent]

My 17 year old son just was diagnosed with bipolar. I am so afraid for him that this is possibly a wrong diagnosis and 2 if correct a life life complication that he wont treat effectively like I see posts here, ie. sleep control, medication use, ect. SCARED!