ok - those with bipolar or

[klmno]

with bipolar family members....

difficult child has told me 2 or 3 times this evening that he realizes he's hypomanic or manic (I think he's hypomanic right now but cycling a lot lately). Anyway, he says he knows he should be in bed right now but he can't sleep- he's done a pile of schoolwork and cleaned half the upstairs this evening.

I've tried to suggest just laying in bed, lookiing at a book, or taking a bath/shower. He says he's tried those things before and they won't help him sleep. He said he tried just going to bed anyway Sun night and he looked at the clock once an hour all night long until he finally got up at 6:00am.

I told him I could hit him over the ehad but he said passing out wouldn't exactly be the same thing.

He says he'll consider any suggestions given from his board aunties....

soooooo.....anyone have any?

 

[tiredmommy]

Unfortunately, I think this is why so many with bipolar end up self medicating.

He probably won't sleep, the best he may get is relaxing for awhile. Maybe he could lay in bed or on the couch and read a good book? Maybe taking some quiet time and maintaining a routine will help him prevent this episode from throwing him too far out of whack.

 

[pepperidge]

Have you tried Melatonin? Sometimes that helps my son fall asleep.

Hot bath? A really boring video?

Sorry, I can't help more. Sometimes the anxiety about when one will fall asleep and whether one will get enough sleep only makes it worse.

It is great that he gets his homework done and cleans. At least its productive and he can feel good about himself. Can he get some reading for school done ahead? Maybe talk to his teacher and find out what books they will be reading next?

 

[gcvmom]

Glass of warm milk?

Jigsaw puzzle?

Crossword?

Waxing the car?

Does he get much physical exercise during the day? Maybe he can go for an hour-long walk in the snow (just don't do it too close to bedtime) before dinner?

 

[Nomad]

Our child takes Seroquel at night for sleep and it almost always does the trick. Once in awhile, she has some difficulty sleeping still and then she adds 1-3 mgs. of Melatonin and that always provides the additional help she needs.

I have seen commericals for something "natural" called Alteril. It is a 3 in one type tablet that contains Valerian, L tryptophan and Melatonin (I think). I think that would make one very sleepy!!!

 

[klmno]

Oh gosh- gcvmom- he just read this and wanted to go out for a walk- it's 11:00pm here. LOL!!

 

[TerryJ2]

Valerian will work. I'd forgotten about that.

My BiPolar (BP) friend suggests boring books. He said if it's too good of a book, it will keep you awake.

 

[gcvmom]

Oh gosh- gcvmom- he just read this and wanted to go out for a walk- it's 11:00pm here. LOL!!

Well he didn't read THE WHOLE POST! I GUESS I NEEDED TO HIGHLIGHT THE PART ABOUT NOT TOO CLOSE TO BEDTIME!!!

 

[klmno]

Well, we need something we can get to tonight so medications are out. I've tried to get him to read- anything- but he despises it.

He's going to try warm milk. He says he can't remember ever having it so we'll see. He's going to put a little chocolate in it. I know.....but like I said on my thread in General...I'll take this over aggression any day.

 

[gcvmom]

Maybe he can try doing some homework after he has the milk... that oughtta put him to sleep! Works for my kids every time

 

[klmno]

Ha gcvmom- you snuck in on me!! I showed him that and in his ornery way said "it's not close anymore- it's way after his bedtime". (He is joking- he's pretty fecisious tonight.)

I sent him back to make his milk.

 

[Hound dog]

Benedryl.

Works like a charm.

They even use it in the hospital for sleep, especially for kids.

by the way I know how he feels. Not manic, but meopause. lol

Hugs

 

[smallworld]

Do you have any leftover PRNs like Risperdal, Seroquel or Zyprexa? Those will help with sleep. As Lisa said, Benadryl works for my daughter.

 

[crazymama30]

It is morning, and hope your son slept. My husband who is BiPolar (BP) cannot take anything to help him sleep if he is not on his other medications. Benadryl and melatonin will not do anything. He takes percocet for pain on a regular basis, and that knocks out any normal human. It wires him. He will not shut up. Thankfully over time that side effect has lessened, as it seems to be the most helpful with his pain. I know from reading your posts that your difficult child is not stable right now, and that could be the problem. When husband is not stable he does not sleep. Good luck, and I hope good morning, meaning you have not been up all night.

 

[klmno]

Well, he suddenly switched gears on me last night. It might have been wrong, but I looked for any tiny pill or half pill of a previously rx'd AP to knock him out. I figured he'd take it because he had been in the "elated" and hyper-focused mode. But, I had gotten rid of them all.

Then, he locked himself in the rooom with the computer- my guess is that the compulsion hit to look up porn (another of his indicators of mania) and I could see by the way he became defiant about "defending" what he wanted to do instead of being willing to talk or anything else that he was in mania at that point. Music with filthy lyrics were turned up pretty loud. Every so often he'd be hitting the door- now it has holes in it. I went to my room with our 2 dogs. He came in my rooom (slid through the privacy lock), grabbed my keys and went to the car. Came back in house and threw keys on floor. I had taken the phone to my room, I was scared to death that he'd gotten the knife that was locked up in the trunk, so I called 911 and hung up. I didn't wANT them keeping me on the phone 1/2 hour if difficult child was walking around the house or locked up in a room with a knife. Then, I went outsiide and checked the trunk- the knife was still in the trunk. Shewww.....

Cop came anyway, I explained what was going on. We talked about difficult child not exactly qualifying for acute, per tdo requirements, but they came in and talked to him anyway, hoping maybe he'd willingly go to psychiatric hospital. He didn't.

I told cop I'm getting something applied for today- somehow-

Oh, he did take the knife off my hands. I was thankful- I told him I'd been scared to just throw it in the trash. (This is the knife I found 2-3 mos ago- not the little camping knife that was part of eating utensils)

Anyway, he did go to bed about 45 mins after cop left. Now, of course, he won't get up. And- it was the camera he'd gotten out of the car. Good thing I called cops and found camera with difficult child- otherwise, he would have taken picture of self- or some part of self- and put on internet.

I felt pretty dumb for making light of it all earlier when I thought this was just going to stay at a hypomanic, elated mode.

 

[Critter Lover]

I am with Daisylover on this one.....Benedryl always works for my difficult child when he has trouble sleeping. Since difficult child is not living here anymore, I do have childrens benedryl for my dogs because of their allergies (per vet)
to give to them. When difficult child was home for holidays, he got in to the dogs'
benedryl so he could sleep...LOL. I told him what ever worked was great.
He said....well that did! Lately his Haldol puts him to sleep pretty quick but would not recommend that unless your difficult child needs it for other issues.

Good luck!

Critter

 

[compassion]

klmno, lots of exercise is very important: I know when manic sometimes my difficult child will not comply. She has been known to do hundreds of crunches and jumping jacks. Her volunteer job at Humane Society involves walking dogs and that wears her out. She is on 100 Lactimal at night and 15 Abilify during day and is much more stable. She will be doing at least 6 hours a week of volleyball.
She does the same thimg with camera and Inernet.
I dn't like it but she puts raucous music on to go to sleep. Compassion

 

[totoro]

I'm sorry you and this poor kid need some help.
The only thing that has been helping me sleep has been Trazadone.

 

[Lothlorien]

Sounds like a tough night, klmno. Sorry that you had to call the cops. Have you called psychiatrist today?