How to stay up during day?

[confused]

My sleep is wacky.  I wake up several times at night and stay up at 5am until I get my kids to school. Then, I crawl back in bed and sleep some more.  I think if I stopped sleeping in the morning I may be able to sleep through the night.  But, I don't know how to stay up.  I'm really tired.  I've been feeling spacey, too, maybe because of fatigue. I'm also going through a med change.  I've gone from 20mg abilify to 5mg so far.  My pdoc wants me to end up between 2-7 mg.  What can I do to stay awake when I am tired during the day?

[hagar]

Coffee? And/or exercise. For me, anyway, exercising always gives a little energy boost that can carry me through the rest of the day.

[confused]

thanks, I took a short walk, showered, ran some errands.  Hopefully, I'll sleep well tonight

[Phoenix_Rising]

When you take your kids to school, stay out and run an errand or do something you enjoy.  I have to stay out of the house to keep myself from napping.

[melissaw72]

I agree with the staying out of the house and constantly doing things.  Or if you are at home, clean or something to keep your hands busy.  Maybe after the med change things will get better. 

[CrankyMe]

I find attacking a project I've been putting off usually energizes me, even if it is something simple, liking totally emptying the litter boxes and washing them out (which I don't do nearly as often as I should).

 

Calling someone and pacing while you talk to them can also help.

 

Coffee doesn't necessarily keep me from being tired, but makes me anxious. What works better for me is to make a smoothie from fruits & veggies foraged from the freezer and fridge.

 

If I really, really can't keep my eyes open, I'll go sit or lie down someplace where I'm not fully comfortable. That usually results in a 10 to 30 minute nap and is enough to get rid of that fuzzy tired feeling.

 

If you don't have the energy to exercise in the classic use of the term, just do something as simple as walking around your house or down to the end of the street and back.

 

Stretches are also really good at getting the fuzzies out while at the same time relaxing and energizing you. Just simple things, like stretching up as high as you can to try and touch the ceiling; doing neck circles; placing one arm across your chest and reaching under with your other arm to grab the upper arm of the stretched arm and just hold it in place.

 

Cold compresses on my face, especially my eyes and forehead.

 

Eat something crunchy, like an apple or some carrots.

 

Chew gum.

[melissaw72]

I agree with the cold compresses ... or opening the freezer and putting your head in it for maybe 10-15 seconds.  That works well.

[confused]

Thanks for all the ideas.

[Savannah]

I take Provigil for daytime sleepiness. It isnt perfect, but it does help. It is expensive though

[melissaw72]

I take Provigil for daytime sleepiness. It isnt perfect, but it does help. It is expensive though

 

I do too, but it only helps to an extent; I still need naps, but am much better off taking it than when I wasn't.

[CrankyMe]

confused, how've you been doing? Did you find something that helps?

[confused]

I have been sleeping through the night which is good, and I try to stay up during the day but sometimes I give in.  I napped this morning, but it's 10:30am now and I'm going to try to stay up.  

[Wonderful.Cheese]

That's good to hear that you are sleeping through the night. That's a very hard thing to do. I hope you are able to figure the daytime sleepiness out.

[anon34]

I'm jealous of you guys that actually get sleep and get tired! I got excited because after a week of no sleep I finally had 2 days of good sleep and now I'm back to square one no sleep for this girl!