Does the brain just need some rest?

Fortunately, I'm high functioning BP but I have my moments like everyone else. I feel like when my brain goes into overload, I plotz.

I'm learning to be more selfish with my time and my activities. I've read that the brain often needs some rest but I often feel a lot of pressure from other people to "do more" with myself. People pick away at me based on who I *used* to be. Some people have even gone as far as to suggest I'm lazy or just faking it so I can lay low.

Just curious if anyone else has experienced this sort of nonsense.

Numerous studies have shown that humans naturally need 9-10 hours of sleep, not 5-8 like most of the western world gets. I believe our BP brains are just way more likely to freak out at us if we try to push them too far, whereas it seems like Nons' brains just tolerate the abuse with enough stimulants and stress-induced adrenaline.

Hmmmmmmm.

This statement woud irk me if it was said to me:

"Some people have even gone as far as to suggest I'm lazy or just faking it so I can lay low."

We are so much more than this

YESSSS, the brain needs rest, especially ours which tend to go into overdrive and subsequently short circuit!!

I'm passionate about this topic, you know why?

Because I have discovered that when I'm malfunctioning, I usually just need to be knocked out for a good couple of hours so my brain can reboot.

How many episodes I have de-escalated like that I can't tell you.

The French have done some studies on this particular topic, bipolar and our brains needing time to hit the reset button.

It's probably why so many pdocs RX sedating APs like its candy.

My theory anyway, take it with a grain of salt.

Anywayyyy, on the regular rest note, I'm not big on sleep, never have been.
My average is 4-5 and has been since I was 11 years old. More than that has me feeling sluggish and moody the next day.

With that being said, do you know what I do on my first off day of every week (which is usually a Monday hehe) NOTHING!!!!!

Everyone knows its re calibration day, so nobody bugs me.

This has proven to be a very (mentally) healthy thing for me to do...
I've been back at work for over 4 months now, and I have not had an episode yet.
This is especially significant if you take into account I became unstable 2 months into starting this job and was very symptomatic for 4 months and landed up in a Therapeutic ward because of it.

Normal cycling sure, who of us doesn't go through that. But an earth shattering, my brain is malfunctioning, I can't deal with this shyt episode?

Nope

Last but not least, anyone who's ever even hinted at me "doing more", I've told them exactly what they can do with their thoughts and advice.

They were smart enough to drop the subject and get with the program.

If I can make peace with the fact that I'm not the Lia I used to be, then others can damn well make that same kinda peace or get lost.

I also have had family and friends accuse me of being lazy. It hurt at first but i cut them out of my life and im happier now. I also need to give my brain a rest. Its true, if im freaking out, having a nap usually helps hit the reset button. I empathize with this topic lots.

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Quite true......the commentary is based in the fact that I teach for a living. I used to teach summer classes but this year, I'm taking the summer off to give myself a break. I've had people in my family press me to find a job and inquire why I'm just "sitting around" doing nothing. In fact, I'm doing yard work and all sorts of projects around the house.

What I'm avoiding is having the conversation with people that my brain just needs to cool it for a while. Part of the reason I act like I do is because my mind is always "on". Many people are critical of teaching but I can say from experience that there is no break during any school day. (I was in the private sector for 20 years so I can compare as well). As a teacher, I'm always "on" no matter what I'm doing. A school is complete chaos on a good day.

My cousin told me recently she wished she could be me so she could sleep in and drink lattes like I do. it hurt my feelings as he has no idea how I deal with things. the coffee shop is a de-stressor for me. she also said before that everything is traumatic for me.

she hurts my feelings a lot.

Rest is a very important thing for me, with out it I am just thrown completely off. For me I try to get 9 - 12 hours of sleep; if I get much less than that I tend to feel all over the place.

I hate it when I wake up sluggish, tired, can´t motivate myself to even open my eyes...... the alarm is going off...... I HAVE to get up and function - I´m the main breadwinner - I HAVE TO GET UP..... and I force myself only to be met by a comment like "Well, if you will insist on staying up all night.... try going to bed earlier.... don´t burn the candle at both ends... bla bla bla..."

The idea that I wanted to be awake all night with racing thoughts, restlessness, impossible plans forming in my mind that totally make sense to me.... it just astounds me that people do not get how varied everyone's sleep patterns can be and made you feel guilty. Then they tell you to "bloody well cheer up" a you fall deeply down, down, down....

I´m not just faking it either! I´m a performer, I come home to an empty house (family have been asleep for hours). I can usually sleep by 4ish but their day starts at 6.00am. By the time I get up they are hours into their day and so boisterous and I seem lazy and they have so much advice that I want to tell them to shove up their backsides but haven´t figured out how without sounding like an angry, raving crazy-lady yet.

Sorry if that came out a a bit of a rant. Really struggling to explain to family how their "help" really doesn´t help. I´m obviously inane as their advice is sound. It´s a daily struggle...

Yes, the brain does need rest. I need "Mental Health Days"

However I also find that when depression starts settling in, I begin to feel like "I just need REST" And I feel like I can "Sleep it off" in the beginning,..... but it just gets worse and worse.

Best of luck in getting some rest.

I think one of the most important things you can do for yourself is occasionally be selfish with your time. it resets you i think and can be very good for the soul.

I need my rest and I'm fortunately lucky that my husband understanding about it. I don't have many friends but if I did I'm sure that they would think I am lazy. But I have to let my brain and body tell me when I need rest.

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