[tom2123]

Hello all, I've been getting this for a long time now but just recently it became more noticeable/commonplace. I have asked my psychiatrist about it in the past and while he didn't diagnose me with bipolar, he said it sounded maybe like something that could happen in bipolar so this is why I'm asking here. Mind you, I do have a diagnosed dissociative disorder so it could be related to that although I'm not sure. Seems I might have something else possibly going on. Anyways, what it is, is that I'll feel better dissociation wise and cognition (sharper thinking, clearer mind etc) wise when I get less sleep or go to bed later and wake up either at the same time I normally would with a normal schedule or wake up later, like a reversed sleep schedule. This is very strange and feels wrong and unnatural. If anyone's experienced this before or might know what it is, please let me know. -Thanks

[Edgar's Mom]

Tom I don't have an answer for you but I wanted you to know that I read your post and to tell you I hope you find the answer you are looking for.

One thing I wonder is, could you be hypo/manic, and that's why you are getting less sleep, but also why you feel sharper? That they are both caused from hypo/mania?

Also, for me, lack of sleep is a huge trigger for hypomania... When I've been in situations where I can't get a lot of sleep, my mood skyrockets and stays high until I crash and sleep. The less sleep I get, the less I will sometimes need.

Sometimes lack of sleep sends me happy hypo and I get less and less sleep as I bounce along, but sometimes lack of sleep makes me rage. I try to get enough every night since I'm unbearable without.

[tom2123]

Thanks for your response Edgar's Mom, it doesn't seem to have any connection with my mood nor does it affect my mood. It just happens randomly I suppose. If anything, I'm depressed or irritable when it happens but that's easily understandable. I'll get stuck in this weird sleep thing for ahwile then randomly go back to a more normal sleep schedule. Then when I'm back in it, I notice my dissociation and cognitive state being worse again. It's really strange. Could be related to my dissociative disorder I suppose, I'll ask my therapist soon.

[CopperStar]

It could be hyperarousal, another symptom of trauma in addition to disassociation.