Trouble sleeping

Sorry if there’s something like this already posted, I don’t have the energy to look.

I might make a post on how I’m doing later but for now I’ll just say I’m okay I guess.

Anyways. I have had trouble sleeping every single night!!! I am so tired of it. I think I’m mixed right now. I do feel tired but can’t stay asleep. I go to bed around 10:30 don’t fall asleep until after 1am and then toss and turn until I wake up at 5am. And that’s it. I’m on lithium, Valium, and abilify right now.

I’ve tried melatonin, NyQuil. Zzzquil, a few others. I am so exhausted

I have a lot of trouble sleeping too. It's been better lately so I'll list what I'm doing that I think is helping:

-exhausting myself during the day time. 10-20mile hikes twice a week, 2 hour walks the other days, if my body is feeling good a 45-60 minute run. all the yard work and if I'm home alone I trigger myself into rage or panic just to tire myself out.
-essential oils. I have a lavender one and one called "calming sleep" I don't know if they help but they smell nice. The lavender is a roll on so I can just put it on my wrists or neck, but the calming sleep isn't diluted so if I take a bath I'll put a few drops in the tub or a drop on my pillow. Eventually I'll get a small container to dilute it and spray it or put it on my skin but it's still in the original container.
-journaling. If lack of sleep is because of thoughts, having a time and place to put it all down and forget about it helps.
-weighted blankets. I usually kick it off in the night but it does help me stay still and calm
-good conditions: dark, quiet room, heat off/window open, favorite blanket, dog by my side
-yoga before bed. I like this routine before laying down:

If you're mixed though you can probably do anything and the only thing that's going to help is treating that, probably with some sort of med change. Do you have any strong PRNs you could take? If I go so long without good sleep it affects me too much, I'll take 1mg Risperdal and 1mg ativan which makes me feel drunk but I sleep well.
I'm sorry you can't sleep well right now and I hope you can get some rest soon.

Thank you. I don’t have the energy to even exhaust myself

The only meds I have are those. They don’t seem to be working. I just got a new doctor and had to semi start over though

Welcome to the club. Nothing seems to make me fall asleep quickly or stay asleep anymore. I spend every day fighting falling asleep. I feel for you.

I too have trouble with sleep, I have been doing the same routine now for about 2 weeks. I stop TV and I go color in adult coloring books. Crayola has some cool ones that are more teen related but I like them. I take my night meds and than have a few apps on my phone that I use for relaxing and calming. I put in my earplugs and settle in. I am not sure if I can post the name of the apps, so PM me if you would like to know them. One is a well known man that does them. I have had some good nights and seem to be getting better . I am also going to try some CBD oil, as I have been researching it for the calming side of it.

I took trazodone for sleep for a while and it helped. You should probably talk to your doc about this.

Hi! Good to hear from you!
Sorry you've been having insomnia.

Does your pdoc know about the insomnia?
It's important your pdoc knows as sleep is so very important to stability, etc.

I use temazepam at night in order to sleep.


WC

K-pin does the trick for about 3 hours. Then I get up and play games in the computer like for two hours. Then fall sleep for another 3 hours. Of course, I take naps during the day.
K-pin was good for six hours before. But I refuse to take more than .75 mg.
It's way better than Xanax for me.

Abilify messed with my sleep. It messed with me in general though so that's not a huge surprise as I was extremely agitated on it. Everyone's reaction to drugs is different but for me that was a problem even though I was on a tiny (2.5 mg) dose.

Try taking the abilify in the morning it might help a little.

Thanks everyone. I do already take the abilify in the morning. I’ve been trying zzzquil these past few days and it’s not helping. Tonight I’m going to try double melatonin at 20mg. I don’t think I’ll be on abilify long because it doesn’t seem to be working. I’ve never been on trazodone but I’ve heard of it. I’ll ask.

Try walking, running, working out, or hiking. You'll sleep like a log and it will last for a few days. You don't have to exercise every day. Not only is is physically engaging, it clears your head as well. Good luck, Sister J.