Odd sleep mania
September 4, 2021 2:17 PM Subscribe
So I normally don't sleep well. As noted on here nine years ago, on a bad night I awake after five hours and 45 minutes, which I think means I'm sleeping and waking up after four, 86-minute cycles. I have anxiety, and neurodivergent, blah blah who know. So the other day I was exhausted and feel asleep around 8:00-ish and woke up at 4:00 a.m. and today I feel amazing. According to my Fitbit I had one hr and 22 minutes of Deep and REM sleep, and 41% restorative sleep. I have so much mental energy today that I almost feel manic. Is this what life is like for non-insomniacs? Or did I juice my brain chemicals by getting up at 4:00 a.m.? Or is something else going on? How can feel this way ALL THE TIME?
(I also took some MCT with my ginger tea this morning which didn't hurt)
I've also been diagnosed with ADHD and show signs of what used to be called Asperger's. Another factor may be that it's Saturday, and my subconscious doesn't have to deal with work stress. I don't know.
(I also took some MCT with my ginger tea this morning which didn't hurt)
I've also been diagnosed with ADHD and show signs of what used to be called Asperger's. Another factor may be that it's Saturday, and my subconscious doesn't have to deal with work stress. I don't know.
Yeah I usually feel pretty good too after a nice deep sleep. Unfortunately for you this means you have to find something to help with your insomnia if you like how this feels.
posted by bleep at 3:27 PM on September 4, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by bleep at 3:27 PM on September 4, 2021 [3 favorites]
Yes, as someone diagnosed as and treated for Bipolar II Disorder, what is written in this post sounds identical to my experiences prior to treatment.
The mania feels great. Like nothing else. Eventually, one finds it wasn’t worth it.
IANAD. Please take good care of yourself mecran01. Feel free to memail me.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 3:54 PM on September 4, 2021
The mania feels great. Like nothing else. Eventually, one finds it wasn’t worth it.
IANAD. Please take good care of yourself mecran01. Feel free to memail me.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 3:54 PM on September 4, 2021
I have bipolar type 2, and while sleep can indeed trigger mania it's usually the opposite way, with too little sending folks into mania or hypomania. Your situation sounds different to me; it's a good night's rest affecting you. I'm sure it's possible, but this isn't the experience I have had or heard about from bipolar folks.
8 hours of restful sleep a night is a hell of a drug if you don't usually get it. I would experiment with melatonin at night if you haven't tried it, implementing a very regimented bedtime routine, anything you can do to continue to get nights of rest like this and see where it takes you.
posted by nancynickerson at 4:06 PM on September 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
8 hours of restful sleep a night is a hell of a drug if you don't usually get it. I would experiment with melatonin at night if you haven't tried it, implementing a very regimented bedtime routine, anything you can do to continue to get nights of rest like this and see where it takes you.
posted by nancynickerson at 4:06 PM on September 4, 2021 [2 favorites]
When I started getting regular good sleep once my baby was older, I too felt like a whole new human being and wondered where good sleep had been all my life.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 4:39 PM on September 4, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 4:39 PM on September 4, 2021 [6 favorites]
Upon review I realize I misread a critical hour marker. nancynickerson FTW. Apologies mecran01 (though you are still welcome to memail me). Mods, feel free to delete my post above.
posted by armoir from antproof case at 4:51 PM on September 4, 2021
posted by armoir from antproof case at 4:51 PM on September 4, 2021
echoing Rock'emSock'em, maybe it is the specific time frame that works well for you. During the periods of my life where I have felt well and alive and energetic, I have gone to bed relatively early (not as early as 8 PM) and gotten up at 4 AM. This summer, I have been trying to do that, but other people have ideas about socializing after 6 PM and it can be difficult to reach exactly. Still, I recommend listening to the inner clock.
posted by mumimor at 1:39 AM on September 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by mumimor at 1:39 AM on September 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
did I juice my brain chemicals by getting up at 4:00 a.m.?
took some MCT with my ginger tea this morning
On a good nigh I "I awake after five hours and 45 minutes". For me it's the extra couple of hours of sleep that screws things up. I'm with Rock 'em Sock 'em on the chronotype thing. You just might be happier sleeping from 8/10 pm to 4 am.
I think means I'm sleeping and waking up after four, 86-minute cycles
Roughly right, but not quite. You sleep in approximately 90 minute cycles but they get a little bit shorter over the night. So it goes more like 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90 (six hours) but take a few minutes off of all of those second 90's in succession and it's more like 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65. This ends up being the reason why if you don't physically need the rest, staying in bed beyond when you wake leads you to weird dreams and such. You don't get more rest, you just have shorter and shorter periods of nodding off into dreamland. You can do that while you're awake.
How old are you? To me age has turned sleep into a "bit less than six hours" magic normal. Like I literally wake up in a sleep mask not even opening my eyes but just noticing that I was thinking about WTF odd things and then I think "oh, I'm awake", remember about when I went to bed (midnight after a talk-show monologue) and know that it's between 5:45 and 6:00 and then check the clock (yep, 5:50).
I wouldn't overly go into the "everybody needs 8 hours of sleep" thinking. But would suggest you keep thinking about the ~90 minute cycles and keep that in mind. To me it's more about not waking up at the end of a cycle than the actual number of cycles that got fit in. There's nothing worse than waking up for some reason in the middle of a cycle.
posted by zengargoyle at 6:48 AM on September 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
took some MCT with my ginger tea this morning
On a good nigh I "I awake after five hours and 45 minutes". For me it's the extra couple of hours of sleep that screws things up. I'm with Rock 'em Sock 'em on the chronotype thing. You just might be happier sleeping from 8/10 pm to 4 am.
I think means I'm sleeping and waking up after four, 86-minute cycles
Roughly right, but not quite. You sleep in approximately 90 minute cycles but they get a little bit shorter over the night. So it goes more like 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90 (six hours) but take a few minutes off of all of those second 90's in succession and it's more like 90, 85, 80, 75, 70, 65. This ends up being the reason why if you don't physically need the rest, staying in bed beyond when you wake leads you to weird dreams and such. You don't get more rest, you just have shorter and shorter periods of nodding off into dreamland. You can do that while you're awake.
How old are you? To me age has turned sleep into a "bit less than six hours" magic normal. Like I literally wake up in a sleep mask not even opening my eyes but just noticing that I was thinking about WTF odd things and then I think "oh, I'm awake", remember about when I went to bed (midnight after a talk-show monologue) and know that it's between 5:45 and 6:00 and then check the clock (yep, 5:50).
I wouldn't overly go into the "everybody needs 8 hours of sleep" thinking. But would suggest you keep thinking about the ~90 minute cycles and keep that in mind. To me it's more about not waking up at the end of a cycle than the actual number of cycles that got fit in. There's nothing worse than waking up for some reason in the middle of a cycle.
posted by zengargoyle at 6:48 AM on September 5, 2021 [1 favorite]
Maybe it’s time for a sleep study if you feel like the sleep you usually get isn’t that restorative.
posted by oceanjesse at 9:14 AM on September 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by oceanjesse at 9:14 AM on September 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: sleep maintenance insomnia seems to be a useful search term. I am 55, but have been having the 5:45 sleep duration or lack of restorative sleep for a while. Going to sleep much earlier, like close to 9:00 pm, seems to be helpful because I'm still able to fall back asleep. Stress obviously plays a roll because I can generally sleep in better on weekends, and Monday nights are not great. Lots of pieces to this puzzle, I appreciate all of your suggestions.
Find a sleep therapist
posted by mecran01 at 11:54 AM on September 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Find a sleep therapist
posted by mecran01 at 11:54 AM on September 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by nebulawindphone at 3:11 PM on September 4, 2021