Dear sir, I have been suffering from bipolar mood disorder from 2011 and since 2014, I am taking divalproex ,quetiapine, amisulpride and neuro vitamins. But now, I am facing serious sleep disorder or say insomnia as I could not sleep properly and totally dependent on medicines. If I don't take medicines at night ,I can't sleep at all and in day also, after lunch sometimes ,I cannot sleep if I don't take medicine. 1) Kindly suggest me are these divalproex 250 mg, quetiapine 50 mg, amisulpride 50 mg which I am taking are as pain killers or medicines which can cure the disease from its root? 2) I want to know the duration of period for which I have to take medicines in order to cure my bipolar mood disorder 1 from its root. 3) my third concern is that please let me know how to improve my sleep and get it normal so that I can sleep without medicines too.

Dr. Saul PereiraPsychologist47yrs exp

95% (41717 ratings)

Ask Free Question

Permanent cure is dependent on your seeking the help of a counselor too and cooperating with both therapies. This is a serious condition and medication can stabilise the chemical imbalance in the long run. In counseling you will be put on a program that will include exercise, proper diet, good sleep and how to handle emotions, particularly fear and anger. For the sleep you may try the following although the bipolar condition will affect the cycle tremendously: In your case particularly, do not sleep during the day; don?t even lie down. Go for regular exercise (breathing through your nostrils only) at a fixed time (at about 6 am) every day, whether you sleep or not. You must develop this habit of sleeping by 10 pm latest every night and wake up at a uniform time by 6 am every morning, even if you do not get sleep. If you do not get sleep, just lie down and if you have a bed lamp (or you could get one) lie down and read something light but not exciting. Your eyes will tire and you will fall asleep. If you like you may also put on light and soft music with the sleep function on. Depending on whether you are a visual or auditory person, you may watch TV in a lying down position until you feel sleepy. Have a warm bath before going to bed (for some people a cold bath at night seems to induce sleep! If you are one of them, please do so). Place the head side of your bed in a North-South position. The room must be as dark as possible and there should be no electronic items that give off even a light LED glow. There must be ample ventilation in the room. Avoid strong odors, except lavender, on your body or in the room, or on your sheets and clothes. There should not be any live plants in your bedroom. Sleep with the lightest of clothes or without any clothing. When lying down to sleep, lie down on your left ear as much as possible. Do not sleep directly under an overhead fan. You must eat a good breakfast, a fairly light lunch, and an early dinner, which should be a very light meal. Whatever you eat in the other meals, have only a pure carbohydrate meal at night with any vegetables, and preferably before 8 pm. Do not drink much liquids after or near about dinner time. If you know Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT (check this out either on YouTube or Google), then please practice this too for sleep induction. Self-hypnosis and slow relaxation techniques, at night will be tremendously useful. Acupuncture or acupressure will both be very useful too. You can also try the 4-7-8 breathing pattern, which is to breathe in for four counts, hold your breath for 7 counts and exhale with a whoosh sound for 8 counts. This is to be four times at a time first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and any number of times during the day. While doing this exercise place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth. The effects will be seen after a few days. Pray last thing at night before you sleep.  

3 person found this helpful