Help - I don't sleep anymore

[MellowYellow]

I recently had a big scare that my husband and I may be divorcing and ever since then, I DO NOT sleep.

[sepia]

I don't know what'll happen, and I don't know what's going on, but lying down and "resting" for a total of six hours or so per 24 might mitigate the seemingly-inevitable crash. (If non-sleeping is just making you more stressed, break up the "rest" time with a soothing activity. Sort wood chips, take a leisurely walk -- whatever.) If you can get some sleep via the marvels of psychopharmacology, take it. If not, just try to rest.

Learn and practice relaxation breathing. Meditate. Perhaps do yoga before bed. Just try to get your brain into a tranquil state to match your physical inactivity. It might help you break the insomnia cycle, or it might not, but when I'm a non-hypomanic insomniac, this helps keep me from cracking up.

[MellowYellow]

Thanks, both of you. I slept 3 hours last night. I finally got an appt with a new pdoc in a few weeks. I forgot about music and headphones.

It's just SO weird not sleeping on lithium. I guess you call that a symptom breakthrough?

[saltiest]

Thanks, both of you. I slept 3 hours last night. I finally got an appt with a new pdoc in a few weeks. I forgot about music and headphones.

It's just SO weird not sleeping on lithium. I guess you call that a symptom breakthrough?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I started my lithium this last month I has extreme insomnia, something that never happened in the past. Not sure what the deal was, but shortly after I upped to two pills it faded away.

I know the only think I could do was like it's already been suggested, and that's just lay down.  If the bed wouldn't cut, it, laying on the couch, floor, anything...just to rest my body.

I hope you make it through this okay!

[Guest saintmartha]

Since you are bipolar, ask your doctor for a sleeping pill dosage of Seroquel.  I didn't sleep for years, and tried EVERYTHING.  When I went over the edge last time, I got a new pdoc who told me "You're going to sleep tonight" and I'm like "Oh, I've heard that before." 

That night, God reached down from heaven, tucked me in bed, and kissed me goodnight.  Seroquel is manna from heaven. 

I would beg, borrow, prostitute and steal for seroquel.  If today I knew I could never get it again, I would volunteer with the army to be a suicide bomber. 

Please check into seroquel.  I'll be praying for you.

luv~

sanitmartha

"Life's hard you know, oh-ay-oh, so strike a pose on a cadilac." the Bangles

[lilie]

I agree with Saintmartha. Get some seroquel. if that doesn't help maybe lunesta or change your cocktail to add zyprexa it has some sleep inducing qualities. I totally know how you feel before seroquel and zyprexa I would have to "rest" for a few hours each night just to try to relax but there was no sleep involved. It made me highly manic then highly depressed. One other thing that really haped seriously was that I bought a cd with rain sounds. That thing helped me on some seriously bad nights. I hope you find something that works for you.

Hang in there

Lilie

[ethereal]

I've had the same happen before while on lithium and Ambien. It can be transient. I have found that it's important to rest in bed even if I don't sleep. This is how I discovered the wonder of audio books. I lay in bed, close my eyes and listen. To wind down in the evening, I color in coloring books. (Music doesn't work as well for me b/c my thoughts keep racing. With books, I pay attention to the story.)

[MellowYellow]

Thanks again, all. I actually got some sleep last night. Not as much as usual, but some. It was all due to fear and stress about my husband wanting to leave me. But, guess what! We went to a Mars & Venus trained marriage counselor and my husband said he wants to keep trying now. Also, I got him to watch the Marriage Breakthrough DVDs with me.

So it was all stress. Now I know it IS transitory.

P.S. Seroquel gives me horrible morning headaches; I was told that Zyprexa had no effect on me in the hospital; Trazadone wakes me up, but thanks for trying! I think I just have to wait it out when this happens. 

[MellowYellow]

OH guess what guys! I didn't sleep again totally! It's got to be the BUPROPION.  Not even Ambien and Lithium is overcoming it!!! I'm friggin' miserable. This is NOT right that I have to go through all this crap.

[lilie]

My husband was on wellbutrin and was fine but me on wellbutrin was like me taking a hit of speed. Can you titrate down and get an add-on med? Maybe that'll help.

lilie

[paco]

well i can say that i know how you feel because in the last 2 days i slept 7 hours. not so bad except for the 10 hour days at work. past the bullsh*t, i have noticed that if i have big things on my mind i do not even want to sleep until there is resolution. for this like possibly your divorce try and write down what you are going to do in the best and worst circumstances.  secondly someone mentioned above the muic in headphones, this is great for me. only the classical music doesn't usually get it. it has to be something i am used to. good luck.