Coturnix notes that our internal clocks, unlike a lot of animals, are sensitive to environmental and social cues. “Whenever you start a new relationship, get a new job, buy a new pet, or have a baby, your schedule is disrupted.” And people with bipolar disorder are extremely sensitive to these changes.
Marcia notes in Mood Disorders and Sleep that “studies have found that 25 to 65 percent of those with bipolar disorder who had a manic episode experienced a social rhythm disruption prior to the episode.”
Have you found this to be true? Do changes in your schedule or surroundings throw you off? Have you found anything to be really triggering? What helps when this does happen? Post a comment sharing your experience. ~Kimberly
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makes sense. both Fall and falling in love have been triggers for me. Also traveling, and I don’t think that is just because of the time change.
Yes, I fully agree. Especially when my mania is bad, I do not sleep well. I end up waking up in the middle of the night and it does a number on my brain (so to speak).
I have had sleep disturbances for many years (so many I can’t count anymore) and wish I could go a whole week without waking up in the middle of the night.
Stress on the job does it for me or stress in family relationships–like when my mother and mother in law were both diagnosed with cancer within a month of each other. Traveling to Europe did it the worst for me. Then I had a small manic episode but was able to avoid hospitalization by consulting with my doc over the phone and just laying low a couple of days.
Altho I’m a formally diagnosed bipolar, type 2, and an ultra-rapid cycler (3 times daily), as a result of two sleep studies, I’ve also been diagnosed with chronic obstructive sleep apnea, and so use a bipap to help my breathing during sleep. Throuout my 69 years, I can and do fall asleep within 5 minutes flat of closing my eyes. A stick of dynamite will not wake me up, once I’m asleep.
I’ve found that any significant changes in my routine upset my sleep schedule as well as my monthly cycle. Two weeks prior to menstruation I can’t seem to get enough sleep and then 1 week before I can’t sleep to save my life. It’s difficult to keep things on an even keel as just when it seems like things are falling into place something changes and I start the process all over again.
I cannot mess with my sleep pattern at all, it starts a mania, as well as not needing to sleep when manic. I only fly in daytime hours. I am a nurse, but cannot work night shift. Sleep management and meds are the essentials in my management
I have found as a ‘bipolar II’ that a regular sleep schedule is what keeps me sane. When I had my son, the sleep deprivation was disastrous for me. I had panic attacks, dizziness, you-name-it.
Depression and rapid cycling are my main symptoms, as well as low grade mania w/ acute impulsiveness. Anger is big part of it all and I’m learning to deal w/ that better.
My cure? Sleep and exercise, a regular schedule, and a bipolar support group that meets every week.
Yes, sleep is my major problem. If I stay up rhan normal I will over sleep. For example wating for my mother to arrive at 12am, i who usually sleep at ten , gt to sleep fitfully at2am. When I am in hypomania, I get less than 4hours of sleep, tips me over to mania. Early intervention is necessay. I dislike the strong drugs, so right now I am experimenting with over the counter remedies which knock me out for 4 hrs, at a time. But they do nothing for the mania i am sure.
I thank God for AmbienCR – works for me.
I am diagnosed with Bipolar I,I have always had sleep trouble, right now stress with my youngest daughter is keeping me from sleeping well. When I am manic it is the worst, I also have been diagnosed a couple years ago with chronic sleep apnea and use a Cpap machine to help with that, I still wake several times a night, especially with vivid dreams. Very seldom I feel well rested. Change in job positions really throw me off or anything out of my normal schedule.
I Have Always Just Considered Myself A ‘Night Owl’…But Now I Know Why…I’ve Spent Most Of My Life Manic, Just Didn’t Know It. But Since Being Diagnosed BP, I Have Found Out That It’s External Pressures Or A Situation That Triggers The Insomnia…I Lay In Bed, Caught Up In My Neverending Thoughts & Sleep Eludes Me. The Only Thing That Has Helped Me, Is Ambien, Taken Everyother Night. It’s Truly The Only Real Sleep I Get. Just Know, Your Not Alone. Talk To You Dr. & Maybe You Can Finally Get Sime Sleep!!
I am a BP1 and haven’t been “normal” about anything ever..even as a small child, I would get up in the middle of the night to play. Over 50 years later, I am still up most of the night and sleep in the day, in small bouts. I could get trazadone to sleep (which is great) but I take care of my grandson so I don’t take it. I am afraid I wouldn’t wake up if he needs me so..its just weird sleep patterns for me !
I find this to be very true in my situation. I also have fibromyalgia. I find that if i don’t get enough sleep during the night that I am a bear the next morning or the least little things tend to tick me off. Now maybe this will explain things. Is there something that can be done about it, a certain medication that I need to have changed cause the Trazodone I’m taking sure ain’t helping any.
I work night shift and I totally agree. I have to switch my sleep schedule back and forth or I would not have any time with my son. I have found that I’m having more episodes due to my sleep schedule changing around so much. And, I’m unsure what to do…
I am soo tired lately. I guess I’m manic because very stressed about everything n just ended relationship..very sad. I’m on Lithium/Serequel..usually makes me sleep but only for 3 hr intervals. What should I take?
Benadryl helps me significantly. I am Bipolar 2 rapid cycling. My doctor says I can take up to 3 at a time. This has helped me so very much… I hope this helps someone out there.
I have bipolar disorder and my sleep schedule is the most important thing to me, other than my meds. A couple nights of poor sleep and I’ll go into a manic episode.
I had bipolar disorder several years ago and I cured it with light therapy and a high salt diet (isotonic). The light therapy has an obvious connection to the circadian clock – it lengthens daylight. But it took me a while to find how salt was connected. I discovered that in the evening my urine sodium level rose dramatically. This implies that my sodium blood level falls at this time, probably in preparation for sleep. When my sodium level goes below a certain level it causes a condition called hyponatremia which includes mental symptoms. The high salt diet prevents me from going below that critical level and the extra evening light therapy slows down the loss of sodium during the evening hours.
My sleep is always disrupted. I dont sleep much. Especially when off my meds. I am a ultra rapid cycler. I cycle several times a day. I get manic, then irritable and then depressed and back again. I dont sleep well at all. I also have sleep apnea but i dont use a cpap machine. I dont like them. I am tired all the time and I even get manic at times at night. So I can write lyrics or do whatever at night. I know I need sleep, I take seroquil at night but it has such a sadative affect, it feels like I can never really wake up.
I have something else to say. I am also very worn out. I get panic attacks too. Right now there is just too much going on and sometimes feel like I am going to go crazy. I need a good sleep schedule and dont have it. My life is kind of on the caos side right now. I just hope it slows down soon. My dr. is trying to help me with my sleep cycle but nothing has really changed yet. Wish me luck…….I need it.