Natural Sleep

[z101]

I am Bipolar for decades now. My problem is sleep. I am working with my doctor to get off sleep medications. I got off ambien -- successfully. Now, I am scheduled to get off Benedryl. So far so good.
I am learning to meditate than let my mind go bipolar on me. I excercise and I go through sleep rituals in the evening before I go to sleep. The funny thing is, I sleep better and feel better now that I am off Ambien.
In the past, when I wake up at night, I go online on the computer. Now, I go to prayer and after some time I go back to sleep. I pray God's glory be upon us all.

 

[Alive again]

I am Bipolar for decades now. My problem is sleep. I am working with my doctor to get off sleep medications. I got off ambien -- successfully. Now, I am scheduled to get off Benedryl. So far so good.
I am learning to meditate than let my mind go bipolar on me. I excercise and I go through sleep rituals in the evening before I go to sleep. The funny thing is, I sleep better and feel better now that I am off Ambien.
In the past, when I wake up at night, I go online on the computer. Now, I go to prayer and after some time I go back to sleep. I pray God's glory be upon us all.

Amen, May we all get some doses of natural sleep!!!

 

[walshclan]

I am Bipolar for decades now. My problem is sleep. I am working with my doctor to get off sleep medications. I got off ambien -- successfully. Now, I am scheduled to get off Benedryl. So far so good.
I am learning to meditate than let my mind go bipolar on me. I excercise and I go through sleep rituals in the evening before I go to sleep. The funny thing is, I sleep better and feel better now that I am off Ambien.
In the past, when I wake up at night, I go online on the computer. Now, I go to prayer and after some time I go back to sleep. I pray God's glory be upon us all.

Here I am up at 12:30 at night getting some stuff done for church tomorrow and I know this is gonna throw my whole sleep sched off. Now I won't be able to sleep tomorrow until 1:00 and the next night until 1:30 and then before I know it I'm hypomanic. Darn I do this to myself every time.

Blessings,

Connie

 

[lemonflavor]

Natural sleep, I can't imagine that. You must have worked very hard (in a way) to get it. That's very admirable.

Connie, I'm in the same loop right now except I'm not having to get anything done, just plain insomnia. I even got out some old Trazodone that isn't helping tonight. What used to knock me out isn't doing anything.

 

[berry2000]

I never got normal sleep, my whole life, until I started taking Remeron. Now if I don't sleep well its more the exception than the rule. Does that mean I'll never be able to get off Remeron? Do all/most bipolars also have sleeping problems? Is it a direct part of the illness?

 

[z101]

I want to report victory this morning. I woke up in the middle of the night by a dream. My mind went bipolar to figure out the dream. In the past this would have been enough to lose sleep and stay up all night. This time, I got up and wrote a one page journal - confessed victory. Then I turn on worship music softly and knelt down in prayer. After 30 minutes, I felt soothed, comforted and nurtured by His presence. Then I went right to sleep to wake up at my usual time this morning.

Don't get me wrong, I am Bipolar I (the worst kind). Sleep problem haunted me all my life. I figured, if I can't pray to God to heal me from my bipolar, I can pray for a sweet natural sleep (read Psalm 4). I am glad we can encourage each other and get healed a little at a time.

God can turn this monster illness into something meanigful. Remember Paul's "thorn in the flesh". Everthing that comes our way has a divine reason. We all can claim "sleep healing" from our loving heavenly Father.

It is a choice, we can let bipolar run our mind the whole day and night come we reach for medicine. Or we can believe God for "sleep healing" and walk intimately with Him for His glory.

Remember to work with your doctor, though. The illness is quiete a humbling one. Thank you for your encouragement and God bless you for sharing your life on this subject.

We are kingdom people. And we have kingdom resources. May God use our illness to draw us closer to Him and use us as an effective tool in His Hands towards His kingdom.

May I say one thing, we need to respect our illness. We cannot compromise our sleep rituals and we need to go to bed on time. Think of yourself as fragile -- and make a mental note that you (of all the people in the world) need to handle it with extreme care. If we respect our illness (given to us on purpose from a loving Father), the reward is for us to reap. May God's grace be with us all.

One day at a time, rejoice in the Lord,
Amen, Lord Jesus Come!

 

[Alive again]

I never got normal sleep, my whole life, until I started taking Remeron. Now if I don't sleep well its more the exception than the rule. Does that mean I'll never be able to get off Remeron? Do all/most bipolars also have sleeping problems? Is it a direct part of the illness?

Too little sleep when manic or hypomanic and too much sleep when depressed are definitely symptoms of this illness. Recent research is looking at the possibility of an underlying circadian rhythm disturbance and is finding that maintaining sleep hygiene is a valuable part of treatment for any mood disorder.

Computers and tvs (electronics) are to be avoided during sleep hours as the light they emit is super bright and messes with the body's sleep/wake signals and came make your body think it is daytime in the middle of the night.

And btw, I had the worst night of sleep in a while last noc migraine complete with nausea this am as well.

The other part of the puzzle is that your expectations for sleep can effect your actual sleep. As silly as it sounds, tell yourslef as you get ready for bed and into bed that you are looking forward to a good night's rest, etc and "reset" your thoughts about sleep as your bed quickly becomes thought off as a restless place when you have one night where you do not sleep well.

ALso be aware about the possiblity of sleep apnea. Talk to your regular doctor about whther this may be something you shoul;d be checked for.

Blessings and prayers

And btw, I had one of the worst nights of sleep I have had in a long time, last night. I usually wake up 4-20 times a night. I had a migraine with nausea and everything (still here this am).

 

[angelkiss]

z, so good to know you can actually experience natural sleep.
God Bless!
's and es!!

 

[z101]

Thank you!

I am off both sleep aids (Ambien + Benedryl) starting yesterday. I woke up ten times. I was tired to pray or make any sense of it. I sticked to it. I want to give my body a chance to adapt. I am sleepy today. Hope to sleep tonight. May God help us all.

 

[wonderwaleye]

Dear Bipolars


This sleep thing use to bother me to.


I've made some very bad drug choices to overcome this problem!!!


I constantly increased my dosage until my body had no choice but to go to sleep.


Then the adverse reactions started and I suffer with them to this day.


Maybe I should of had my doctor give me what I needed but I took it upon myself and now I'm in a fix.


I do not recommend ANYONE try this and in fact I suggest you stay far away from it!!!


This is not uncommon with bipolars.


When we become manic there is no end to the use of this drug.


As a result of my drug addiction I now suffer from other health problems.


Some I may be Abel to overcome and some not.


I could probably stop if I went cold turkey but that seems to be an impossibility.


My doctor gives me constant warning about this but it hasn't done that much good because I still find myself doing it.


I have tried to reduce the dosage and take it just before bedtime.


But my doctor told me not to take it that way!!!


I just can't seem to win!!!


But I will say it's still my drug of choice!!!


There is one good thing about it though. It doesn't have all those mysterious chemicals.


It seems as if there is a dealer on every corner. It's about impossible to put it out of you mind!!!


Ahh well, I think I going to go get another dose.
I wonder what flavor it's going to come in today???


But I don't have to worry about running out because my wife keeps the drug cabinet full.


Ohhh it just came to me!!! I believe I'll have the peanut butter an jam flavor with some crackers on the side. And it's soooo yummy.



WARNING!!!

WONDERWALEYE HAS DETERMINED THIS TO BE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH. WOMEN SHOULD NOT OVERINDULGE WHILE PREGNANT!!!



Ya'lllll make sure you remember:





X Even though you can't see him, GOD is there!!! O
( click on the x and drag to the O ) ( then see who is with you ) steven