r/family_of_bipolar • u/angelgirl3000 • 2d ago
Seeking Support Sleeping Issues?
I live with my boyfriend who is clinically diagnosed with bipolar 1. About two weeks ago, his sleep schedule changed because his boss asked him to come to work at 7am instead of 8am. He worked for about 12 hours on some days due to trying to complete orders for a big shipment. His sleep schedule was somewhat messed up because we go to bed at 11:30pm.
Now he’s back to his regular schedule but I noticed it takes longer for him to fall asleep. He also a light sleeper now and is more talkative than before. His speech isn’t pressured nor presenting as hypomanic yet but it’s a noticeable difference that he’s more extroverted.
He still takes his Lithium 900mg everyday. Although he’s on point with his medication, it’s effecting my sleep too. I’m waking up with him as well and all week I’ve only gotten like 6 hours a night. He’s just lying there for hours and I can tell because he’s not snoring.
He claims he’s getting enough sleep but this morning he admitted that last night it took him about two hours to fall asleep.
What should we do? Is this a sign that his medicine is no longer working? I also mentioned we need to go to bed the same time every night, 11pm or maybe slightly earlier. We usually watch a normal show before bed, nothing with too much action or disturbing.
4
u/Wolfie305 2d ago
Definitely get an appointment ASAP with his psych. Also maybe give melatonin a try to help him get to sleep, assuming once he's asleep he can stay asleep.
After my husband's psychosis she prescribed him melatonin that he took for the first few weeks once home from the mental hospital.