[Fuzzybear]

Just wondering

As for me... I've been having severe sleep issues, depression, agitation, anxiety and more lately.

Just trying to get some sleep occasionally (tonight... paws crossed)

Does anyone have any advice/strategies etc re agitation and anxiety, depression etc aside from meds?

(this is not about the situation in the world )

[*Beth*]

Hello Fuzzy Dear, I sleep for probably 10 hours each night, but that's only because I take meds to help me fall asleep and stay asleep. If I didn't I wouldn't sleep much, at all. I wish I had advice for you regarding agitation and anxiety. I also take meds for those (with moderate success).

I do practice good, healthy breathing. I find that oftentimes when I am anxious or agitated I tense my shoulders and don't breathe deeply, which of course makes anxiety even worse. The feeling when I relax my shoulders and take a few good, deep breaths is amazing!

My therapist does guided meditations with me, which are calming - at least while we're doing them, and for some time after. Of course those types of meditations can be found on youtube.

If I think of anything else I will chime in.

[Soupe du jour]

Hi Fuzzybear. I'm sorry to read that you are not getting as much (or as quality) of sleep as you like. I think if you are not happy with your current sleep situation, it should be addressed. I will say that not getting 8 hours of sleep can be perfectly fine and acceptable for some, but that's as long as such people don't mind. For example, I think my husband sleeps maybe four or five hours per night, regularly. He does not have bipolar disorder. He doesn't mind only getting that much because he enjoys being a night owl. I think that as some people reach middle-age and older, sleep amount often decreases. I don't know exactly how old you are, but I assume around 30 years old or above?

I think that it would be great to determine the exact source(s) of your sleep issues. Is it just because of bipolar disorder? Or also anxiety? Medication? And/or some other non-mental illness related issue?

I sleep quite well as long as I'm not very hypomanic or full blown manic. Of course I do take 650 mg of Seroquel XR and 0.5 mg Klonopin every single night. I know that when I don't take these (usually by accident or if I'm changing time zones or traveling), I can't sleep much at all. Probably not more than two or three hours, or even at all. I discussed that once with my psychiatrist and he said that my insomnia without the Seroquel XR is because of my bipolar disorder, but I'm not so sure that would always be the case. I think that if I was stable (or depressed, when I often have hypersomnia) and not dependent on Seroquel, that I could likely sleep. I just think that since I am dependent on the Seroquel, that when I skip it, I have withdrawal insomnia. Of course I never skip it hardly ever, and when I do it's only for one night MAX. I also believe that if I stopped Seroquel XR that I would become manic. Then, I'd surely have insomnia from mania, itself. Of course if I became totally unmedicated (or inadequately so), I assume that after a manic episode, I'd become depressed or (if lucky) a little stable. I'm only basing this on my years BEFORE my diagnosis, though I'd say that those years were quite often elevated mood years. Plus, the course of my bipolar disorder worsened.

[Mountaindewed]

My sleep has been awful these past few weeks. I had nightmares last night for the first time in a couple months. Then I woke up at 2 and couldn’t fall back asleep even with my Geodon. I can always fall back asleep after taking that.

At least now I know I can handle taking it and also work at the same time. I wasn’t too tired today.

[Travelinglady]

Fuzzy, do you get tired before you go to bed? I make sure to be yawning and ready to conk out before I even get in the bed. I have listened to relaxing music, too.

But, I admit, I do take Trazodone that supposedly helps, but I don't see that it does anything.

Are you willing to try over the counter aids such as melatonin? (I think I have the right thing.)

I hope you can get more sleep soon, dear bear.

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by Travelinglady

Fuzzy, do you get tired before you go to bed? I make sure to be yawning and ready to conk out before I even get in the bed. I have listened to relaxing music, too.

But, I admit, I do take Trazodone that supposedly helps, but I don't see that it does anything.

Are you willing to try over the counter aids such as melatonin? (I think I have the right thing.)

I hope you can get more sleep soon, dear bear.

I do usually get tired before I go to bed (sometimes ''over tired'' and too tired to brush my fangs)

I have tried some over the counter aids such as melatonin. When I tried those, I was allergic to those too

It's possible my allergies are not quite as bad now as they were a few years ago. I could try an over the counter aid again.

I wrote a long post in the check in thread and deleted it.

Thanks, I hope I get some better sleep soon too

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think part of the issue might be some physical dependency to benzos, and more anxiety recently too (a few reasons for this, I posted a couple of them in the check in thread but deleted my post. It was a long post)

[bizi]

hi fuzzy, am sorry that you are having trouble sleeping....I know how awful that feels.
I read a bit of a news letter every night...until my eyes can't stay open and the newsletter hits my face. then it is time to sleep anywhere around 11;30-midnite.
I also take 1mg of klonipin to sleep.
bizi

[Fuzzybear]

Thanks bizi

(it's really sucking lately.... and the awful thoughts )

[intergalactictraveler]

I'm 70 & been wrestling with treatment resistant rapid cycling/mixed state for 15 years. All those years, poor sleep and barely functioning. All I've had is Klonopin, in various doses and its efficacy has greatly diminished...unless I want to increase the dose to 1 mg or higher, nightly, which revs up my agitation, anxiety and depression. Also have had, for years, feverish type dreams; some bizarre, some scary. Basically, I cycle even in my sleep. I don't know how I'm still here. I've consulted, either in person or via Skype, several of the cutting edge psychiatrists in this country; the doctors who do the research that other doctors read. Nothing, though I tried some of what they suggested. Nevertheless, every time I get knocked down, I get back up, albeit, slowly. We must keep trying, even though it can seem hopeless.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by intergalactictraveler

I'm 70 & been wrestling with treatment resistant rapid cycling/mixed state for 15 years. All those years, poor sleep and barely functioning. All I've had is Klonopin, in various doses and its efficacy has greatly diminished...unless I want to increase the dose to 1 mg or higher, nightly, which revs up my agitation, anxiety and depression. Also have had, for years, feverish type dreams; some bizarre, some scary. Basically, I cycle even in my sleep. I don't know how I'm still here. I've consulted, either in person or via Skype, several of the cutting edge psychiatrists in this country; the doctors who do the research that other doctors read. Nothing, though I tried some of what they suggested. Nevertheless, every time I get knocked down, I get back up, albeit, slowly. We must keep trying, even though it can seem hopeless.

Interesting, and it makes perfect sense, that you've mentioned that you cycle in your sleep. It seems that anyone who has a mental illness has it in our sleep, just as much as during our waking hours. I've never thought of it before.


If I'm understanding correctly, you've tried only Klonopin?