What if you absolutely can not eliminate your trigger?

[CraftyTurtle]

My biggest trigger for hypomania (restlessness, delusions of grandeur, heightened awareness, etc) is something that occurs daily - it is evening.
By 10pm I'm fully engrossed in a craft project, or a game or a TV show, and by 12 I'm so wide awake I start having delusions that I only need 6 hours sleep, so I have a couple more hours to keep playing. By 2 am I might go to bed, but I need to occupy my busy brain, and I believe that 4 hours sleep is fine, so I have a couple of hours of sudoku, reading the bible, or a game on my phone. It's usually all 3, cos once I put down my phone, I feel the need to grab the sudoku book, and once that is put away, I want to read my bible .... then read the same thing in a different translation, and thus it never ends.

I am lucky to get 2 hours sleep a night, and consequently am overtired the next day, and often sleep anywhere up to 16 hours till the next evening, where the cycle starts again.

So... my trigger is "evening". It comes every day, and cannot be avoided.
Evening starts late (often 9 or 10pm) because I am out (at a sewing class or some-such) and I need a couple of hours to wind down. The problem is, never wind down.

What is a person to do?

 

[quietpraiyze]

I don't think it's so much the evening as much as what you do with it. I think you've created some habits and you're going to have to undo them.

Like change how you wind down. Maybe soak in the bathtub with some lavender aromatherapy. I know sometimes I use a lavender aromatherapy linen spray on my bed pillows and it does work!

Have a cut off time. It's hard but it does work. Don't do the regular things that you would do. Instead maybe Journal so at least you're releasing instead of taking things in.

I know it's not this simple but I'm just saying make a different routine where you start to see evidence of yourself coming back into balance. Again if you can get a sleep aid that will help. You don't have to take it every night. Just a couple of times a week can help you turn things around.

I don't know if I've said anything that helps but I tried...

 

[single eye]

What has been done to rule out potential nutritional/ dietary possibilities?

 

[CraftyTurtle]

Thanks guys,
Yes I have a sleep-aid now. It gives me 4 hours of nice deep sleep. Then I wake up. [frustration]

I like the idea of "release" instead of "input". I must think about that - what to do, what to do.....

Dietary - I don't drink coffee much - one a day maybe. And my main meal is at lunchtime, so tea (supper) is light.

I know that a regular getting-up time is more important than going-to-bed time, and I have that in hand.

I used to (for years and years) do alot of crafts, and could fully engross for several hours, till 9 or 10, when I actually felt tired/sleepy. I used to read (National Geographic, other interesting stuff) for 15-30 minutes, then fall asleep.

Reading the bible is good. (Well we all know that) And I enjoy the kids' bibles. (I have several).
I think that my creative/crafty outlet is not being properly stimulated by Minecraft. It is very creative, but it's not knitting or painting. I think with MC I need to concentrate too much. OK then. Minecraft stops at 8:30. THEN I can knit, sculpt, paint, etc.

I never thought *I* would have to think up projects to do. LOL

Actually, the next 3 weeks' evenings are taken up with the Landmarks of Prophecy Seminars. Anyone else doing this? It's probably more of interest to SDA/Protestant faiths. Others might find it a bit "fringe".

 

[Loven God]

My doctor has me on a low dose sleeping pill to put me to sleep which last about half the night and if I wake up and can not get back to sleep I can take another one which will do no harm because of the low dose . That is what is working for me right now .

 

[Goodbook]

I think with restlessness, cut out the tv and video games.
It's too much stimulation it's probably far better to listen to music while relaxing in bed with your eyes closed than have your eyes constantly bombarded with flickering images.

Also hot baths are good, try epsom salts and a bit of essential oil. Hot chocolate and a biscuit also before you go to bed, perhaps?
If you wake up, just read your bible and pray it through. You'll fall asleep eventually. Whatever you do, DONT go on the computer or do anything stupid, like ring people up or txt.

 

[CraftyTurtle]

I like to do artistic / creative things. Sometimes it is relaxing, but other times quite stimulating.
I nearly always have the TV/DVD on - I rarely look at the TV, I just listen. I especially feel relaxed when its a DVD of an old favourite show (Like MacGyver, or something I know so well). It's like having a close friend nearby. There are episodes of Star Trek I could quote word for word.
Even a nice soak in the bath with my eyes closed, is accompanied by my "friends".
Some people find comfort in music, but I've never been musically inclined. There's maybe 4 or 5 artists I could listen to. I can listen to classical or "songs of praise" cos I grew up with them, and they remind me of good times.

For me, "relaxing" is not with something new. It needs to be a familiar craft with a familiar TV show. It's only then my mind is filled with comforting feelings. I am an introvert, and I recharge on my own. People are exhausting. I think when I have an evening out, getting home at 10 or 11, then I am pretty wound up, and need to relax, in order to get to "normal", then relax some more, to be relaxed. A lot of people don't get that - I NEED alone time.

 

[angelkiss]

I get it. I too, am an introvert. I don't go out much and when I do, I'm in for a few days so I can recharge. As I type, I have a movie going beside me and am paying no attention to what's happening. It's my adult pacifier. Also, some days I put in Enya or Wakay if I'm not listening to Gospel music. It helps keep me focused and in balance. I no longer listen to a lot of upbeat stuff as I once did. I found that it made my mind go even faster than normal.
They do have a good point. I used to play games, but I limit myself so I can let my brain rest. If you're brain is stimulated by constant games, the mind is much harder to settle. It is best to cut the games off at an earlier time of the evening.
I started meditation and yoga. Wonderful way to relax and give the mind a break. I used to think that doing such a think was impossible for me, but found it to be a great source of healing. A hot, relaxing bath afterward makes it even better.
I usually get motivated in the afternoons, so I know how easy it is to get in that pattern of winding up the later it gets. However, loss of sleep is not healthy. Especially for people who suffer from bipolar or anything of the like.
Doing so lowers the seratonin in the brain. Seratonin is a necessity that is increased with sleep. The more seratonin we lose, the more icky wacky things can get. Thus, triggering manic/psychotic episodes, as well as other things.
Hoping things go well for you.
Blessings,

 

[parsley]

Evening has the nature of being free time, where you can finally be yourself. I was like this after having babies -- being up at night started a desperate attempt for peace, and ended up an intoxicating lure.

Look at what it means to you to have time to yourself. You are doing creative things when no one is judging you, measuring your time, setting value for your artwork or hourly work.

That timeless freedom is very similar to a sabbath rest -- where people teach themselves not to think about work and achieving things in life. They are alone with themselves (or with family, God, fellowship). So I think to a point, we all need that. You are craving it and seeing it go overboard, but it seems you should give yourself permission to allow some of that abandon.

Great that you found the trigger!

Someone I know, goes into bp manic phase when a project idea hits them. Then they go into overdrive until it's accomplished (days, weeks). I'm not sure if it's the opportunity/idea, or the phase that comes first. Your description was helpful to see.