Dear Bizi,
I like my therapist and I trust her.
But she thinks that even though the sleep may have started as a psychologial problem it may have turned into a medical problem by now. She said something about the synapses having grown new paths.

Dear Nikko,
I tried melatonin. Nothing.
And yes, it is hard to be tired during the day when it seems that the rest of the world is a wake and functioning. Maybe many of them are faking it too.

Dear Mymorgy,
My mother used to insist that we were in our beds by 9:30. She wanted "lights out" and "kitchen closed" so that she could go to sleep. Then she got up early and she and I had fights every morning because I slept as late as possible and was almost always (but never actually) late for school.
Night time was time for staying up with my father when he was home to listen to his classical music with him or to listen to him talk about his book that he was reading.
Day time is for efficient people who like to make lists and run around like they are important. I could skip all that.
Sleeping in the day feels luxorious and decadent somehow. I feel lucky when I can wake at 1 or 2 or 3 pm with out anyone yeling at me.
Well, this isn't the whole thing of course, but I like the night.



I was so happy that the pdoc understood immediately what I was talking about when I said I don't go to bed. He said that he and I have medicated the moods pretty well. He said he can't medicate my getting off the computer (or whatever) and putting my body in the bed.
I need to do that for myself. He said I can reset my clock in 10 days. I thought that he was being a bit optimistic but I liked hearing something that almost sounded like a plan.
He explained alittle bit about the brain and sleep.
And he told me a little about his own sleep hangups -- he likes to fall alseep watching Letterman even though he ends up with poor quality of sleep with the TV on.

Mari

Have you tried light therapy?

Being bipolar you would need doctor supervision, but with the right unit, you
could try to reset your circadian clock and see if that helps. Bipolars risk overstimulation if timing is off, or intensity is too high, however.

I have been using a visor since Feb, and it has been nothing short of miraculous. I was sleeping way too much, and couldn't get anything done!

1/2 hr first thing in the morning and on the lowest setting, fixed that for me. (I have been using it since Feb, daily)

You can PM me if interested.

can it work if you don't get enough sleep?
Bobby

Dear Mari,
That reminds me of a movie...
"What the bleep do we know"
Have youseen it?
It is very thought provoking and discusses this very subject about how we can retrain our synapses, emotions, hormones by how we think. It has something to do with quatom physics too, if I remember right.
I will see if I can find a link for you.
bizi

Hi,
I CAN sleep at night. I choose not to. If I accidentally fall asleep at night, I wake myself up so that I go to bed later in the night/early morning.

Until very recently (past 12 months made some changes with therapist and accupunturist), I had a sense of panic-like feelings about going to bed and a great deal of anxiety associated with falling asleep. I felt vigiliant/responsible/watchful.
By sheer force of will, I overcome my fears and make myself go to bed at some point in the night/morning. Sunrise used to be my favorite bed time. I went to bed at 6:00 am the past two days --sunrise is at 6:30.
I completely dread going to bed.


The pyschological block to sleep is very strong -- more powerful than my body's deep need for sleep.
Mari

There are a ton of night owls...people who work the night shift. Perhaps you are in the wrong field...anyway to get a night job? Research?
It sounds like you are fighting yourself....
(((HUGS)))
bizi

Bizi,

I make myself stay up at night too but I thought I was the only one who did that. There is something about the night that perks me up. I attribute it to finally getting over the hang over of my night sedating meds and not wanting to ruin a good alertness by going to bed. I use to dread bedtime when I did go to bed at a more decent hour because of the anxiety.

I usually take my shower late at night when I'm more peppy.

befuddled2

Dear Bizi,
I AM fighting myself.
Mostly I've learned to live with the sleep issue and take it as who I am.
But a large part of me knows that my life and general health will be better when I find a way to make the sleep issue less of an issue. Maybe I can sort of find a workable compromise with myself.

M.

Dear Befuddled,
I appreciated your post. I think many people are on "alternate" schedules.
We need the rest of world to make better accommodation for us. This sounds weird perhaps but I wish business offices did not all close at 5:00 pm. I'm not ready to make my phone calls and take care of my business sometimes until later.

And yes, I put off taking the sleep meds in part because I like having that clear feeling before I take them.
I hope that you no longer have that anxiety that you mention.
Mari.

Mari,

I mistakenly addressed you by Bizi's name. Sorry. My anxiety has gotten better but not the staying up late.

befuddled2