Count Some Sheep

1 sheep…. 2 sheep….. 3 sheep….. Getting enough sleep is vital for anyone with Bipolar Disorder. Too little sleep and you could cycle into mania and too much sleep can trigger depression so a balance is needed. Eight to nine hours of sleep is the amount you need to function properly throughout the day. Losing just an hour or two of that time has a big impact on your day and your mood. Think of it like the difference between the grouch and the tooth fairy. The grouch is moody and quite honestly scary (sort of like me before my coffee) the tooth fairy is upbeat and full of energy (little too perky for me but that’s just my opinion) It helps to follow a routine with your sleep. Going to sleep the same time every night and waking up the same time every day will get your body used to that schedule and make it easier to go to sleep and wake up. If you have trouble sleeping avoid drinking caffeine late into the day. Yes that means putting down the mountain dew you’re having after dinner, and picking up the water or if you like flavor tea is good too. With the hundreds of different flavors out there your bound to never run our of options. I find peppermint tea before bed helps. If you have trouble with racing thoughts at night it’s also helpful to turn off the TV an hour before you go to bed, because studies have proven that watching TV right before heading to bed makes falling asleep harder, and turning it off an hour in advance gives your mind enough time to process all your thoughts from the show before heading to the land of darkness. And of course if necessary start counting those little sheep in your head. (Not to be confused with the little voice inside your head)