Growing Daylight

emgreen · Apr 28, 2018, 05:59 AM

I'm somewhat tired inside, but wide awake...if that makes any sense. When the daylight hours come early, as they're starting to do, I always wake up with the birds. I have black-out shades in the bedroom, but my body always knows when the sun is coming up. By June I'll only be getting 3-4 hours sleep; it's about 4-5 now. This happens every year, like clockwork. Anyone else?

SorryShaped · Apr 28, 2018, 06:23 AM

Sometimes it does. I go ahead and get up that early, if I'm awakened, and enjoy the day. Our bodies and minds, some of us anyway, are kind of hard-wired to be up with the sun because that was food/work/etc time.

SeekerSeeking · Apr 28, 2018, 08:45 AM

I sometimes think I have the thinnest eyelids in the world--because light wakes me up. So, I too have blackout shades AND an eye mask--AND I sleep with a pillow over my head...this seems to work for me. But I welcome longer nights and shorter days!

pirilin · Apr 28, 2018, 09:06 AM

Nothing like waking up at 5AM and water the plants. Eat a good breakfast full of bacon and grits and then take a nap. Another after lunch, and then eat dinner and go to bed with a bursting stomach, which besides helping sleep, is also good for sex.

SorryShaped · Apr 28, 2018, 12:29 PM

I have curtains, only just barely enough to be such in the legal sense. There's an ordinance here about window coverings in bedrooms. I have the thinnest shears I could find. I prefer that light coming in. It helps me feel better.

emgreen · Apr 28, 2018, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeekerSeeking

I welcome longer nights and shorter days!

I agree! I like it when the evening sun lasts until 9:30, or so. My problem with sleep is that it's a concern as far as the bipolar goes. 3-4 hours a night is risky business for me...It lets the sickness crawl in sometimes. I can live on 4-5 hours sleep, but anything less than that is touch & go. I should have mentioned that in my OP. Summer sun sure beats winter depression, when the sun goes down at 5:00!

Apr 28, 2018, 01:53 PM

as many of you know by now, I barely sleep (and when I do, it's minimal)

so no.... I don't think this really applies to me- because 9 times out of 10, I'm all ready up

Unrigged64072835 · Apr 28, 2018, 03:15 PM

I usually wake up with the covers over my head, so something is going yeah, not time to get up yet.

Falling asleep is another concern. The light spills through the top and sides of the blackout curtains, so it's harder to get to sleep.

BipolaRNurse · Apr 28, 2018, 04:46 PM

Sleep has become problematic for me too since about mid-March. Every year I go through the same thing: I become hypomanic, start messing with my meds, and then have trouble sleeping. Lack of sleep = increased mania. Increased mania = more messing with my meds. It's a vicious circle.

Now I'm sleeping 9-10 hours some nights, and 4 hours on others. I also go to bed very late and wake up several times a night. I'm not too manicky right now but feel like I could slip back into it if I'm not careful. Welcome Spring! LOL.

scatterbrained04 · Apr 28, 2018, 05:35 PM

My sleep has been messed up for a couple of months. I find myself waking up at 3-4am most days. This morning it was 2, but I made myself lay there an hour. I'm ready for some normal sleep.

Guiness187055 · Apr 28, 2018, 05:44 PM

I wear a sleep mask to sleep and sleep on the couch most nights. Lots of windows but no light gets through because of the mask.

Fuzzybear · Apr 28, 2018, 06:51 PM

I have black out curtains ... I’m not sure that this is as much of an issue for me. I used to be able to sleep during the day though (wish I could at least nap sometimes)

Apr 28, 2018, 09:07 PM

Yes, I think the season is making me sleep less. It's funny, only about 2.5 weeks ago I was mentioning to my psychiatrist that I was sleeping more than usual, but he kept my Seroquel XR dose the same. Now I'm waking up with the birds, like you, fully rested and excited about the day. I'm not hypomanic, but I've been feeling quite good. I have an international vacation coming up (5 hours ahead in time). I'll have to ask hubby to look out for any concerning signs. I have a history of mood elevations not only in spring, but also on trips to Europe.

emgreen · Apr 28, 2018, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I'm not hypomanic, but I've been feeling quite good. I have an international vacation coming up (5 hours ahead in time). I'll have to ask hubby to look out for any concerning signs. I have a history of mood elevations not only in spring, but also on trips to Europe.

I'm so glad to hear you're feeling well! Enjoy your trip...it sounds great. I'm glad your husband will be there to monitor your moods. A five hour dive ahead in time sounds like a real trip...literally AND metaphorically!

Shazerac · Apr 29, 2018, 07:20 AM

I do tend to wake up when the sun comes up and tend to sleep less in the summertime. I have however, mastered the art of going back to sleep

pirilin · Apr 29, 2018, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

I wear a sleep mask to sleep and sleep on the couch most nights. Lots of windows but no light gets through because of the mask.

I wear a mask too. Otherwise, the naps wouldn't be possible.

I used to sleep in another bedroom every time I got mad. Quite a few times a week. Until I realized she was sleeping better without me. Never again.

UpDownAround · Apr 30, 2018, 08:24 AM

I tend to sleep less, but sometimes it is intentional. Not deciding I need less sleep but taking advantage of being able to get up and in to work early and finishing by early afternoon and doing something recreational until around sundown before heading home. It's like having a day off without taking any time off.

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