The Bipolar Lock keeper

Mood: 7

Hours of sleep: 5 hours in 3 sessions

Often when I’m in hyper-mania state, my sleep pattern gets affected and I get periods on insomnia and if this spans a period of 3 or more days then sleep deprivation.

Last night, I was falling asleep on the sofa so went to my bed. I woke thinking it was 7am but when I checked my watch it was just past 11pm. I could hear shouts from Mum’s room so rushed to find her on the floor near her bed. She wasn’t injured so I helped her into bed.

Insomnia I can usually cope with, as hyper-mania generates enough adrenalin to get me through. Sleep deprivation is hard, my legs don’t appear to be connected to my brain. It is as though I am really drunk. Not the most pleasant of states to be in when I am trying to function in work and as a carer. I fully appreciate why it is used as a method of torture! 😱

My “means-out” of insomnia is to get a two week prescription of Zopiclone sleeping tablets.

The downside is I feel very “groggy” in the morning when I take them so never take them if I will need to drive.

When I checked my phone, I had messages from my brother & sister and a missed call from Taking Care (the trip alarm company). As they hadn’t received an answer, an ambulance 🚑 had been dispatched.

I went downstairs and seeing flashing lights outside opened the door. They’d got lost on the way & couldn’t find the house – it’s a common problem.

The two paramedics came in. One checked mum over and the other asked me a lot of questions. They left just after 1 a.m. I stayed up and fell asleep on the sofa around 2 a.m. but woke at 4 a.m. as Mum appeared at the lounge door scarying the 💩 out of me.

I managed to get her back to bed. I fell asleep on the sofa around 5 a.m. and had a repeat appearance from Mum at the lounge door at 7:30 a.m.

It is hard enough not sleeping through the night but when mum is doing it too, it is very tough. Hope it is short lived.