Sleep & Bipolar Disorder | Prof. Greg Murray | #talkBD EP 5 💤

Prof. Greg Murray, co-director of CREST.BD and professor of Psychological Sciences at the Swinburne University, and mental health educator Victoria Maxwell discuss how bipolar disorder affects sleep, how altered sleep is a risk factor for mood episodes, and how you can maintain your sleep when schedules have been significantly adjusted. They discuss cognitive behavioural therapy, ways to maintain routines, and answer important questions about sleep. Hosted by Dr. Emma Morton.

#talkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
talkBD gathers researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts from around the world to discuss and answer the most important questions about living with bipolar disorder. Our episodes are available on all podcast platforms:

Since being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, psychosis, and anxiety, Victoria Maxwell has become one of North America’s top speakers and educators on the lived experience of mental illness and recovery, dismantling stigma and returning to work after a psychiatric disorder. As a performer, her funny, powerful messages about mental wellness create lasting change in individuals and organizations. By sharing her story of mental illness and recovery she makes the uncomfortable comfortable, the confusing understandable. The Mental Health Commission of Canada named her keynote That’s Just Crazy Talk as one of the top anti-stigma interventions in the country.

[Phoenix-mdsh]

As someone living with bipolar disorder, I found this interesting. I sometimes struggle with sleep especially when I am stressed or anxious.

[m.i.t.h.]

In the last year I've averaged 2 hours of sleep a night without crashing... last month I got less than 8 hours even with doctor intervention with mood stabilizers, Benadryl, melatonin, and various related vitamins. I get lack of sleep on both ends of the spectrum and in between episodes and my episodes are mixed. Mixed episodes on 8 hours of sleep can be quite frightening to go through alone.

[markholliday]

If I dont eat all day then take meds for sleep before food I sleep great for 2 hours. If I forget and eat then take meds they don't kick in to sleep. for 8 hours.
I have the option of melatonin and if I take 2 after food can get to sleep sooner but it can take 5-6 hours.
I have ADHD and it's not always possible to remember meds before food.
I've had this insomnia since birth only sleeping 2 hours a night as a child.
My sleep time through school and when I worked, before meds, was 5am
I'm 52 now and learned to tolerate it.

[LIVdaBrand]

It’s rough! We are geniuses by definition but it’s hard to sleep. Thanks for reducing the stigma! I will be doing my own brain research on BP disorder: starting in Denmark🇩🇰

[chieduegwim]

How do you curtail or manage increase in blood pressure due to insomnia or lack of sleep whilst treating and managing bipolar??

[dodgdurango]

I find that i fall asleep early in the morning after a night of tossing and turning. apparently that’s typical for bipolar disorder

[suzanneward-crowe]

I sleep half the day away. Sleep mostly during daytime and get up around 6 or 7pm. Want to turn this around. So hard to do.

[elimiller]

Would love to be able to reach out and talk with one of you about sleeping/eating with BP I have been doing well for about 2 years and feel like I do okay getting out of the cycles. But when I cannot sleep it makes days incredibly tough. Please reach out to me or I can reach out to you. I really enjoyed this video and know it’s important to keep a close line of support.

[e.]

Sleep in itself is like the best mood stabilizer, bad sleep bad mood.
…..😢

[Sunflowers-like-these]

As a woman who has been dealing with bipolar disorder for decades, I know that sleep is actually a barometer of how I can predict how my mania and depression are going to affect me, in terms of intensity and duration. Also, I do find that naps during the day help in my cognitive functioning, but I often struggle with not being able to sleep at night.
Thank you for your every informative and thoughtful insight.

[m.i.t.h.]

...Sleep? What's that again? It's been a while...

[geoffmathieux]

Why don't all bipolar patients get tested for sleep apnea? Treat the cause, not the symptoms.

[zachmcgrain]

I have a friend with Bi-polar disorder on 80 mg of medication which I think is Geodon and 5mg Kilonapin.. twice a day. Should they be sleeping all day and not get out of bed pretty much just use restroom?