Kitt O’Malley

Ramping Up

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Have not been falling asleep on my own recently. Have had to drug myself, dosing myself with a combination of clonazepam, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and a sleep aid herbal supplement. I chew the clonazepam and herbal supplement to get them to act more rapidly.

Find myself up until the wee hours of the morning, intermittently reading ebooks and blog posts, commenting on blog posts, responding to comments on my posts, researching any number of things that come to mind. One thing leads to another. Read something that I must then write about or research. Mind all over the place. Mind thinking. Not tired. Crap. At least taking the clonazepam knocks me out. Wait too long until I take it. Well, maybe one am isn’t that bad. At least I still get a decent night’s sleep. But this morning I dragged. Never been much of a morning person.

My husband, on the other hand, is the Energizer Bunny in the morning. So annoying. I drive him nuts at night, reading in bed beside him as he tosses and turns. He drives me nuts in the morning as he rattles off his ideas and the projects he wants to complete for the day. It’s as if I have a hangover. Shut up. Be quiet. Stop talking so much and so fast. I’m not awake yet.

Comments

  1. stockdalewolfe Avatar
    stockdalewolfe

    I do mix sedating drugs with Pdocs okay. Can’t take mood stabilizers so have to make do. Thanks so much for reading my book. Glad you liked the prologue. It feels incredibly exposing when someone reads my book. I do hope it gives you something positive for your work. Take care and blessings for you and your family, Ellen

  2. Kitt O'Malley Avatar
    Kitt O’Malley

    If Benadryl keeps you up, don’t take it. It can be a stimulant for some. As you know, it is not wise to mix sedating drugs (even though I do when I can’t fall asleep). Last night found myself up after midnight reading Eyelocks. I especially love your prologue, which sounds odd, but it was beautifully written. Up to the point where you will soon meet Dr. Michaels.

  3. stockdalewolfe Avatar
    stockdalewolfe

    Sounds all very familiar. My husband says, and I know he is right but will not admit it to him except occasionally, the reading posts etc. at night overstimulate me and keep me up longer. I use Ambien but maybe you are reluctant to try. I don’t like adding drugs to an already full regimen so I understand. Will try the Benadryl. But the generic I found keeps me up ALL night. Also read about your parents. Have added you and your family to my prayer list. Actually you’re there already but will add your parents. I know how hard this can be. Two at once is tough!! Blessings, Ellen

  4. Kitt O'Malley Avatar
    Kitt O’Malley

    Thank you for sharing what works for you. Now I am prescribed clonazepam for insomnia. Disruptions in my regular schedule trigger mood cycling for me. My son’s summer vacation began on June 25th, shortly before the Ramping Up post, so that threw me off. If I drink caffeine too late in the day, I cannot fall asleep. In the summer, my son and I sleep in and fall asleep late (we are both night owls unlike my husband the early bird), which sets me up for hypomanic cycling. Wake up late, drink coffee late, cannot fall asleep until the wee hours of the morning unless I take clonazepam (in conjunction with herbal sleep supplements and additional Benadryl — yes, I chemically hit myself over the head when needed).

    I am chemically sensitive, sensitive to exposure to sun and lack of exposure to sun, sensitive to changes in schedule or life circumstances, and sensitive to the amount of social stimulation I receive. Life is a careful balancing act for me.

  5. bipolar2what Avatar
    bipolar2what

    I have often had major problems with insomnia. Temazipam has really worked well for me. I have been on it for over 2 months.

  6. Kitt O'Malley Avatar
    Kitt O’Malley

    Best of luck with your insomnia. Using your sleep meds or Klonapin is better than staying awake all night. We must maintain regular sleep patterns for our health and stability.

  7. Mandi Avatar
    Mandi

    This sounds like a copy of me. I take Klonapin and if really need to sleep, benadryl. I also let melatonin melt under my tongue. 🙂 I have sleep meds but won’t use them, they scare me too much. I had some bad experiences and I’m also afraid of not being in control. I’ve never thought of Klonapin for sleep, though I guess it does help me get to sleep in controlling anxiety. It’s almost 4am… I’m gonna try and get some sleep! 🙂

  8. Kitt O'Malley Avatar
    Kitt O’Malley

    For me, this too shall pass. I may need a higher dose of divalproex for the summer.

  9. glenn2point0 Avatar
    glenn2point0

    My seroquel is great for making me sleep, I have sleep apnea which also causes some problems. Sleep is so much easier with my racing thoughts abated by the seroquel. No more running through everything that has happened in the past and what may happen in the future. The downside is the lethargy during the day, but that is easier to cope with than the old disordered, delusional and suicidal thoughts.

  10. Kitt O'Malley Avatar
    Kitt O’Malley

    Yes to hypomania, and also to anxiety. My mom is going through radiation. She has battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma for the past 30 years. A long time to wage war with cancer. She is undergoing radiation right now. My father has dementia. So together, they are under quite a strain. Guess I could use your prayers. My mother has responded well to treatment over the years, obviously since she’s still alive and active. My father’s illness is degenerative, no chemo or radiation will get beat it into submission.

  11. dyane Avatar
    dyane

    I hope you aren’t being too hard on yourself having to resort to med. assistance to get to sleep. I’m glad you found a trio that eventually helps you fall asleep. Do you think there’s any hypomania going on since you noted that your mind was going all over the place? Hope not!!!
    At least the clonazepam is knocking you out at 1:00 a.m., & you’re getting a decent night’s sleep so it seems like what you’re doing will nip hypomania in the bud.

    I laughed when I read your description of you and your husband, because Craig & I have the same attributes. I love to read later into the night; he most definitely does not & he gives me a “tude” about my keeping my Kindle on to read. He’s the early bird who I want to scream at! Oh well, they are our soulmates and worth the minor aggravations.

    p.s. I don’t really become awake until 11 or noon!

  12. gertiesjourney Avatar
    gertiesjourney

    You’re very welcome!

  13. Kitt O'Malley Avatar
    Kitt O’Malley

    Thank you, Gertie. That is why my pdoc prescribed clonazepam. Perhaps for the summer I need more divalproex. When I see him tomorrow, I’ll mention it to him. Thanks again.

  14. gertiesjourney Avatar
    gertiesjourney

    Kitt,
    I’m not a morning person either, however unfortunately, I don’t sleep very well either. Cant fall asleep to about one or two in the am and then waking up several times throughout the night and finally not being able to get back sleep I get up about 6am. Sleeping into me is 8am with exception of today. I slept in till 10;15. I usually just want to be left alone when I get up. It takes me forever and a day to “wake up.” Talk to your doctor about your sleep issues. They might be able to help you out.
    Gertie

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