Last night I didn't sleep at all, i was fine all day now I feel racy likes there's too much energy. The Acute Care Team rang and said they'll see me tomorrow, but when I asked them they said the things I was doing already were great coping skills.You taking a long warm bath, ihad 1 cup of coffee all day( that just about killed me, relaxation exercisesetc I tried to explain to them if I go more than 2 nights without sleep it becomes dangerous.
If anyone has any solutions that pref. dont incclude alcohol thet would be great. Its like iive little sparks of light coming from my fingers, i am so jumpy. I can't stop laughing which I know frightens my 14 year old.

[Victoria'smom]

Go to a store that sells vitamins pick up melitonin. If they do not have melitonin then pick up sleep medication. As the pharmacist what is the strongest sleep aid available OTC. You can take up to 10 mg of melitonin.

[LastQuestion]

First off, try to calm down. Worrying so much will not help matters. I know its hard to stop worrying so much, but I find it helps, more so when I don't let failure to stop worrying be a cause to worry.

As to physical things that can be done, I have found Darkness Therapy to be very helpful. Studies have demonstrated it can reduce the length of a manic episode, abrogate rapid cycling, and in general do more for stability than medications, especially for BP II. So, go to bed at about 7 or 8 in complete darkness. This means lying in bed with nothing to do but think, which can be boring, but that is the price which must be paid. Fortunately, boredom is the only side effect. I suggest meditation to help pass the time and try to sleep. If you wake up to use the bathroom use an amber/red source of light.

As to other methods, I believe reducing oxidative stress is helpful in mitigating the length of episodes. Anti-oxidants can be found in oranges, apples, berries, and vegatables, while other helpful nutrients which, when part of a regular diet, can further mitigate the ravages of stress are almonds, walnuts, cashews in sea salt, peanuts, edamame (boiled/steamed soybeans in their pods) with seasalt, fresh fish such as salmon, lean red meat, and skim milk.

A short-term solution directly related to aiding sleep is instant dissolve and time released melatonin. I would recommend 5-10mg instant with 1-3mg time released during, preceding, and after an episode. An MD might tell you more than 3mg is unnecessary, which is true for normal people, but research indicates higher dosages have therapeutic relevance for people with conditions which produce higher than normal levels of oxidative stress. The reason for this is, that while melatonin has some hypnotic sleep-inducing qualities it also serves many other regulatory and maintainance roles in the body, one of which is being a very potent scavenger of free-radicals, which are a primary source of the cellular damage initiated by oxidative stress. One thing you may notice, and should not be concerned by, is that your hands, feet, and head may feel hot after taking it. One of the things melatonin does to prepare the body for sleep is to adjust body temperature by dumping heat through those areas if the body. It is advisable to limit use of melatonin to times of need, as opposed to ta king it regularly.

In the long term, after you have stabilized or if you go into an episode, I would recommend quiting caffeine if you're this sensitive to sleep disturbances as it's antagonism of adenosine receptors complicates efforts to maintain regular sleep. However, if you feel you really need caffeine I suggest switching to green tea leaves (not bags) and steeping them for three minutes. Green tea has less caffeine, but more importantly it has l-theanine (studies indicate theanine has anti-depressant qualities against stress) and potent anti-oxidants. In fact, I would submit that one of the reasons the Japanese have such a low rate of mood disorders like bipolar is not due merely to a diet high in fresh fish but is also significantly impacted by their prodigious consumption of green tea and theanine (they add free-form l-theanine to many foods and beverages).

What medications are you on? Have you recently discontinued or begun getting off of any of them?

As long as this is I believe I have overlooked some things.

I got a few hours sleep feelong little better.
I can't afford Melatonin. Its $30-something a bottle over here. I have just quit Effexor and started zyprexa and cogentin.
For darkness therapy why 7 or 8 pm? Would I have to alfoil my windows? Do I just wake up naturally

[sidney1771]

Have you tried some of the sleep apps? There are several free things out there to try. I've tried both music and meditation/hypnosis. Thought it would be bunk, but I was pretty desperate too, and it helped. BW Studio, Deep Sleep, Relax and Relax M. are the ones used and held onto.

[TRNRMOM]

Originally Posted by sidney1771

Have you tried some of the sleep apps? There are several free things out there to try. I've tried both music and meditation/hypnosis. Thought it would be bunk, but I was pretty desperate too, and it helped. BW Studio, Deep Sleep, Relax and Relax M. are the ones used and held onto.

sleep has gotten worse over the years as well as the racing thoughts. thankfully i have decent medical insurance where i can buy seroquel and taking only 1/2 of 1 can knock me out and put me into deep sleep with vivid dreams. i went to goodwill and bought a cheap machine which makes noise and sometimes use rainfall or airplane noise from an app i downloaded on my phone; can't sleep in absolute quiet and the best helper for me is just putting a black tee shirt over my head/face and it makes total blackout. good luck.

[LastQuestion]

Originally Posted by Bipolarartist

I got a few hours sleep feelong little better.
I can't afford Melatonin. Its $30-something a bottle over here. I have just quit Effexor and started zyprexa and cogentin.
For darkness therapy why 7 or 8 pm? Would I have to alfoil my windows? Do I just wake up naturally

The theoretical basis of dark therapy is that human physiology evolved to go to sleep when it's 7dark and wake when light. Circadian rhythm is regulated primarily by light cues and artificial lighting confuses this process, disrupting the complex biology involved. Window blinds are most likely enough if the outside light is not too harsh, if it is then blackout curtains are advisable. Getting up at a regular time and then getting sunlight, or at least bright artificial light exposure, is important. However, another option is a simulated sunrise alarm clock, there are some good ones made by Phillips. Personally I just use my phone as an alarm then use light therapy as I have a seasonal aspect to my BP II which responds well to it. Unfortunately light therapy can sometimes induce mania. For me the manic aspect lasts a few days then quiets down without any significant crash as the light therapy treats the depression I develop around this time of year. I would not recommend trying lightbox therapy while in withdrawal, however the sunrise simulator would be fine and I doubt natural sunlight would present any complications either.

Some researchers hypothetize that increased rates of cancer, mental health disorders, and many other forms of chronic diseases which have increased in recent history are linked to the disruption of circadian rhythm from artificial lighting. It has been thoroughly observed that circadian rhythm plays a significant role in bipolar disorders and some theories postulate that bipolar is primarily a circadian rhythm disorder - the majority of imbalances being caused by disruptions to circadian rhythm, the illness becoming unmanageable as continued disruptions predispose recurrent episodes. It is, still, only theory, however, the research done clearly implicates that for many individuals darkness therapy can have a profound effect. I believe it is key to my own long-term stability, especially given that I intend to drastically reduce medications and perhaps fully discontinue them in the future.

Keep in mind that withdrawal from psychotropics is generally destabilizing and symptoms of withdrawal can mirror those of the illness it is meant to treat as well as symptoms of other disorders. For example, when I was in withdrawal from a benzodiazepine I would experience intense hyperattentiveness, stess, and had full conversations with people who I am convinced were really hallucinations. When in withdrawal disregard any new symptoms as being part of your diagnosis, assume they are caused by the drug, and if your pdoc thinks otherwise remind him of psychiatry's gross lack of data concerning the effects of withdrawal on treatment outcomes.

I recommend the time release melatonin while in withdrawal from psychotropics as I have found it very useful in helping correct my totally screwed up sleep cycle, courtesy of Mirtazapine and Temazepam dependence and withdrawal. If the local options are overly expensive look at ordering some online in order to have some at hand for times like these in the future. Also, the melatonin should be taken right when going to bed, and using it appropriately on a regular basis requires going to bed at a regular time as taking large doses of it inconsistently is likely to confuse your body, most likely imbalancing circadian rhythm instead of supporting it.

[Crazy Hitch]

Hi there bipolarartist

I'm sorry to read you're going through this phase.

The only thing that helps me through these phases is an up in meds and even then it can take a while for my sleep patterns to regulate back to normal.

Wishing you well.