Summary at the bottom, if this is too long to read (I wouldn’t blame you).
I was too stressed out last night to sleep, so I’ve been up for 28 hours so far. Maybe it’s not such a big deal; when I would get severely manic I would be awake and racing for 3, 4 or even 5 days at a time. That was different, though. When I was severely manic I was so overwhelmed with physical energy that I couldn’t stop moving, and my thoughts would race so damn fast that I once described it to a psychiatrist as feeling like “my mind was running away from me.” I think that’s an accurate description of severe mania. Hell, if I was hypomanic I’d be feeling on top of the world right now; hypomania is wonderful.
I’d rather not say what has me so stressed; I’ll just say there is some ■■■■ going on right now. I talked it over with a friend today, and I feel a little better, but it’s still a stressful situation.
So yeah, if I find myself unable to sleep tonight, I will do what I have to do, I don’t give a ■■■■. Hell, I’ll knock myself out with a combination of alcohol, trazodone and melatonin if I have to. Those three things are all I have. I know we’re not supposed to talk about drinking, and I normally am quite respectful of forum guidelines, and I also know it’s bad to mix alcohol with meds, but dammit it’s also bad if I go two nights back-to-back with no sleep. If I end up drinking, I’ll have the decency not to post under the influence.
Sorry if this came off as me whining like a little ■■■■■, but I’m frustrated at the moment, still wide awake and unable to relax.
I just needed to vent my frustration. I don’t expect anyone to read all of this ■■■■.
Summary: I didn’t sleep last night, but I know I am not manic or hypomanic considering nothing else about those mood states fits with my current state. I just want some damn sleep, but I’m all wide awake and irritable.
I don’t think you’re coming off as whiney. Being up that long is tough. I get manic sometimes, too, and it’s easy then. But when you’re just dealing with insomnia and can’t fall asleep it’s a whole other thing. I really hope you’re able to get some sleep tonight. Good luck, man.
What about a benzo? I really find klonopin very helpful. It helps my ruminations, plus my irritability. But its up to you to see if you take it.
Take care
Oh ok, yeap You are in usa, you probably have problems having benzos. In my country (east Europe), you have them easily lol… But whatever. Try to up your ap then probably. Me too I feel worse if I didn’t get my sleep. I over ruminate then and its not a pleasure at all. I ruminate till hell and I don’t feel it as a pleasant mania. Try some anxyolitic teas or at the worse, have a beer if you need. It’ll be just one night, don’t blame yourself hardly .
When I was up for 38 hours after my cat passed away last week, I took double melatonin and it worked. It’s safe up to 10 mg, I took 6 mg but you could try taking two of your 5 mg tablets. Try that or the trazadone before the alcohol.
I hope you get some good rest. I crashed for 13 hours after being awake for so long. Sweet dreams.
Only Solgar brands melatonin 10mg works for me. No other brand does. I’ve tried chamomile tea, and it’s relaxing but doesn’t help me sleep. I’m not allowed to take benzos- I’m not an addict but my county health doesn’t allow it. The only old school antidepressant that worked for me was Doxepin. So I take Doxepin now. Good luck!
I spent the past hour lying awake in bed. The trazodone/melatonin combo usually works for me, but not this time. This is just plain frustrating. I might get up and go to the living room for a bit, then try bed again. I’ve heard it’s not the best idea to lie awake in bed endlessly with insomnia like this.
You’re not falling asleep because you’re anxious, so let’s treat the insomnia as we would a panic attack.
Make sure the temperature is comfortable in your bedroom. No lights (not even alarm clock lights). Place the tip of your tongue behind your front teeth while doing this breathing technique:
[Breathe in through your nose for four seconds. Hold your breath for seven seconds. Slowly breathe out through your mouth for eight seconds. Repeat this process until you fall asleep.]
Thanks @anon17132524, maybe I can try some breathing exercises when I go back to bed. I was driving myself crazy lying there awake, not helping matters any. I really think I need to sit up for a bit before trying again. I’m not really physically tired, just mentally exhausted, so I have my doubts about getting any sleep tonight. I will try to focus on breathing when I go back in there, though. I’m just going to chill for a bit first.
You are in usa, you probably have problems having benzos. In my country (east Europe), you have them easily lol… But whatever. Try to up your ap then probably. Me too I feel worse if I didn’t get my sleep. I over ruminate then and its not a pleasure at all. I ruminate till hell and I don’t feel it as a pleasant mania. Try some anxyolitic teas or at the worse, have a beer if you need. It’ll be just one night, don’t blame yourself hardly 
