[mommasuesue]

I had no idea so many people do the same thing are you all bipolar like me ? I dread coming in here to my room and shutting off the lights and falling asleep and yes its like I dont want to miss anything but I want my mind to rest but it wont stop or something . and I am afraid of shadows, shadows of people so I do try to fall asleep with my tv on but it has a timer to shut off . and I usually dont remember dreams and the ones I have had are not good I always wake up hateful . anyone else?

[Gr3tta]

Hello, no, not everyone here is bipolar, but we all share sleep problems! It can be very very difficult to shut your mind off at the end of the day. If shadows distract or frighten you, nothing wrong with leaving the tv or a light on. Does that seem to help? Could it be that the bad dreams are making you reluctant to fall asleep as well? Sometimes it helps me to concentrate really hard on what I want to dream about. I lay in bed and imagine wonderful, beautiful dreams I might be having as I try to go to sleep. This doesn't always work, but sometimes it does, and sometimes is better than never! Thank you for sharing with us.

[Skully]

I have a hard time shutting off my mind to fall asleep. My pdoc has prescribed Ambien and I also take Melatonin and I usually go right to sleep with no problems. Make sure your doc is aware of the problems you are having sleeping.

[Elana05]

Originally Posted by Skully

I have a hard time shutting off my mind to fall asleep. My pdoc has prescribed Ambien and I also take Melatonin and I usually go right to sleep with no problems. Make sure your doc is aware of the problems you are having sleeping.

Hi mommasuesue,

I think Skully pointed out some good measures to take. I have had terrible trouble sleeping in the past. Addressing the depression has helped me overall (therapy and meds) and so I sleep much better nowadays than I did a year ago. But I know just what you mean about dreading going to bed and not wanting to wind down at the end of the day. My partner even jokes that she'll "put on a pot of coffee" around 11pm so we can "go clean the basement tonight."

What I do (instead ) is when I kind of feel like I'm getting tired I make sure to take my sleep remedy right then and there - even as my mind is protesting. If you decide to take medication for sleep you just need to check with your pdoc to make sure doing this is OK on that particular med. But for many I think it is OK to take it 15-30 minutes before retiring (enough time to brush teeth etc.) By the time I'm done getting ready, my mind has caught up with my body and I can go straight to bed without debating whether to do "just one more thing." Hope this helps.

ps. I take melatonin and valerian - both are very strong for sleep imho.

Good luck.

E

[mommasuesue]

Originally Posted by Gr3tta

Hello, no, not everyone here is bipolar, but we all share sleep problems! It can be very very difficult to shut your mind off at the end of the day. If shadows distract or frighten you, nothing wrong with leaving the tv or a light on. Does that seem to help? Could it be that the bad dreams are making you reluctant to fall asleep as well? Sometimes it helps me to concentrate really hard on what I want to dream about. I lay in bed and imagine wonderful, beautiful dreams I might be having as I try to go to sleep. This doesn't always work, but sometimes it does, and sometimes is better than never! Thank you for sharing with us.

well sometimes but it keeps me awake too but I feel more comfortable with the tv on so when I wake up I dont feel so alone and scared.

[Denise26]

I am bipolar and I have the same problem with wanting to go to sleep. Part of me is scared I will miss something, part of me is scared something bad will happen to me while I sleep, part of me is scared I will wake up the next day and part of me just doesnt want to wind down (my mind)... I have found a good bowl or joint helps me tremendously...