[Pastel Kitten]

I've recently found myself in hypomania again, and it's been affecting my sleep a lot this time around. I wake up after 3-4 hours feeling rested, but as hours go by, I feel the fatigue slowly seep through my body - but my mind is so alert with tons of thoughts and noise. Last night I kept hearing Darth Vader in my head as well as other Star Wars characters when I was trying to sleep! On top of that, my legs end up feeling like they must move, or they'll run off on their own. I'm not on medication and can't be right now (seeing a pdoc soon) but in the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions on how to quell some of this energy? I like the energy and being able to stay up for a long time, don't get me wrong, but I know it's not good for me, especially when it triggers irritability the next day.

I don't know if this will work for you, but the energy I expend wears out my body. Like I work harder and longer, do exercise, eat less, then I crash (literally- asleep in 0-5 minutes) from physical exhaustion and to rest 4-6 hours. I get past my highs pretty quick though, so it's like I don't know of any long term effects or if it'll work for others.

[scatterbrained04]

I find drinking hot tea (like chamomile) and reading prior to bed time helpful for me. Also, forcing myself to go to bed even if I'm not tired. Definitely no TV before bed if I'm like that. No games, no projects, no internet close to bed. Stay away from things you find very stimulating starting a couple hours before bed.

Yes, some tea or even hot cocoa helps. My SAD therapy lamp is doing wonders.

Do not do a lot of activity before you go to bed. That just leaves you energized.

Eat a decent full dinner.

I imagine an object visualizing and 'feeling' every bump or edge, every change in colour, how it feels, even if it has an odor to it. I imagine a shell on the beach and the waves splashing over it. This really relaxes me and focuses my thoughts away from my body and stops them from racing.

Hope this helps.

[bbTofu]

Pastel Kitten, I'm going through similar stuff - can't get a decent rest. Buzzing energy and all stuff - feeling vital in life but then super exhausted while hyper, which isn't fun at all.

Let the advices roll !

I'd drink some wine to knock me out but I guess good thing I don't have wine at the moment.

[Nix]

Sometimes a guided meditation app helps me quiet my thoughts a little bit.

[Pastel Kitten]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I think I'll try drinking something warm before bed because it's not something I typically do. I finally got normal sleep last night, but I had to wear my body out quite a bit and stay up a while to achieve that (I did a lot of walking through town with my boyfriend). And oh boy, I definitely will have to try hard to get away from electronics before bed! It's been a bad habit of mine for years.

[WibblyWobbly]

My t suggests starting out by journaling, then ripping up old newspapers and magazines or vacuuming vigorously to get out the excess physical energy, then doing YouTube meditations to bring the mind down, in that order.

[alincdytyourmeds]

Once you are in bed concentrate on your breathing inhale for 4 seconds, hold it for 7 seconds, and then blow out slowly for 8 seconds, This is supposed to trigger your brain or something like that. All I know is it does work for me.