[1D10T]

I have recently found that I have to have very specific things happen in order for me to sleep.


1. I have to take me meds. (Lithium/Depakote)

2. Room has to be practically pitch black.

3. I have to have absolute quiet. (I have to wear ear plugs if I am sleeping with them next to me as breathing keeps me awake).

4. Have to have air movement over me otherwise it is hard to sleep.

5. I have to wait if my anxiety flairs up to sleep.


If, for some reason, one of these conditions is not met, I tend to get really angry and become someone no one wants to be around.


I want to know if others go through this too, some details please.


Diagnoses BTW is BiPolar & ADHD, GAD (BiPolar treated through meds, GAD treated holistically, ADHD not treated yet)

[Altered Moment]

Its good you are aware of this. Good sleep hygiene is very important. Many many of us have sleep issues. Very common for us.

Two nights ago I didn't sleep a wink. I don't know why....hypo manic in a weird way maybe. Last night I slept like a baby.

Dark, quiet, adequate external lighting when looking at your phone or computer. Blue light from screens messes up sleep hormones. No blue light if you wake up during the night. Relaxation techniques, etc.

Maybe try Melatonin. That often gets messed up in us. It might help.
Melatonin-Overview

Chamomile Tea before bed has helped me lots of times.

[hidesad]

It is good that you realize all those factors. Sleep is an issue for me and I m just now learning how to deal with it. In my normal routine (right now I am not sleeping because of a work issue) I would just keep busy until I was exhausted and then fall asleep in front of the TV. Realized I was never letting my brain to slow down and relax.

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[1D10T]

As I wrote the message last night, I realized I could not sleep. Ended up falling asleep at 0300... Was irritated over facebook and that scared me for sleep.

[Rohag]

My sleep-onset difficulties are not as severe as yours. I nevertheless rely on a relatively strict "bedtime ritual" to prime my mind for sleep.

1. I slowly and fully back out of my computer and power down.

2. I take my nighttime meds including an antidepressant and an antianxiety med.

3. The room cannot be totally quiet. If it is too quiet, I start to ruminate and that can lead me down the wrong path. I set the TV timer and select a program that is neither too interesting nor too boring -- the goal is to take my mind off the process of falling asleep without stimulating me; a form of light distraction. (Yes, I know that the official canons of good sleep hygiene frown on having a TV in your bedroom. This technique, however, is the product of years of trial and error.)

4. Being slightly too cold doesn't prevent me from falling asleep, but being too warm will.

[1D10T]

Well, here I am, into night 2 and once again I can't sleep. Me and my fiance choir into talking about our recent miscarriage and that was enough for me. *sigh*