Sleep Issues (mania or psychotic episodes?) And coping skils

Hello I'm newly diagnosed schizoaffective bipolar type. I have ptsd and anxiety as well. I'm on meds but still working on the right combo. Unfortunately no sleep meds seem to work (minipress, trazodone, temazepam, lunesta). It often has the opposite effect leaving me anxious, agitated, and unable to sleep. I've told my provider and I'm waiting on her response.

Last night was my second night of 1mg lunesta and when I realized I wouldn't be getting rest I went to the living room so i could turn on a light without bothering my husband. I stayed up for hours with racing thoughts and a pervasive feeling I was being watched. I tried to journal but that set me off writing a bunch of repetitive, paranoid ramblings occasionally getting stuck on rhyming certain words or using too much alliteration in my sentences. I got even more paranoid and felt unreal like the world was fake and I was dead only living in a hell realm or simulation. This has been an ongoing belief usually when I get overwhelmed by crowds at work (retail).

I couldn't ground myself, I felt too watched to feel comfortable with reading or watching a familiar show/ movie. I've posted similar questions on reddit but the answer is always get your meds checked and talk to your doctor. I'm still searching for a therapist so I have no professional help navigating my recent diagnosis or growing paranoia/delusions. Hallucinations aren't bad usually knocking/tapping and occasionally some visual stuff like people without faces or eyes on things that shouldn't have eyes.

Basically does anyone else have the opposite reaction to sleep meds? Is that a manic thing? I'm on lamictal 75mg but we're still working up to a therapuetic dose so I'm not sure it's helping yet. Or is it a psychotic thing? I'm on 10mg of Zyprexa too. And 40mg propranolol for anxiety twice daily.

Aside from sleep I really need coping tools for these episodes. They're very distressing and impact my work and sleep.

Hello and welcome to the forums!

I've heard of people having opposite effects to over-the-counter stuff, mostly feelings of restlessness and/or quickened heart rate. I know I can't take Valerian Root; and I know people who react badly to Benadryl.

I take half a Trazodone at bedtime and it only rarely makes me sleepy- so that if I have a restless mind it does me no good- but it does help me sleep sounder, when I do fall asleep.

As far as I know I don't have a psychotic disorder, however. I do have bad OCD, which can sometimes get a bit on the delusional side. I only take the trazadone, and escitalopram for general anxiety.

If you've taken so wide a range of meds to help with sleep, I'm guessing it has more to do with mania or psychosis, however again, at least with over-the-counter sleep aids, yes I know of people that it has the opposite or at least, an agitating effect. Sure, Valerian Root made me sleepy, but it's hard to sleep when your heart is pounding...

Your post caught my eye especially this part " I stayed up for hours with racing thoughts and a pervasive feeling I was being watched. I tried to journal but that set me off writing a bunch of repetitive, paranoid ramblings occasionally getting stuck on rhyming certain words or using too much alliteration in my sentences. I got even more paranoid and felt unreal like the world was fake and I was dead only living in a hell realm or simulation. This has been an ongoing belief usually when I get overwhelmed by crowds at work (retail)."

I'm Bipolar 1 with Manic episodes however my original diagnoses was schizoaffective with Bipolar and of course anxiety. I tried telling my doctor that some of the medications that were meant to relax and help you sleep were keeping me awake. This is why I thought I could be ADHD because stimulants would have an opposite effect like to calm me down. My brother was diagnosed with ADHD and he was taking adderall. I tried that and to my surprise it made me more relax and less racing thoughts. But this was only for a very short time. I don't have the Medical degree so I let my doctor make the choices which can be frustrating because they don't know whats going to work until they try. Its up to us to be more vocal and right away.

I also feel like the world is FAKE and this is HELL we live in. Somehow I'm not supposed to be here like everyone else. I feel different and act different therefor I'm not normal. I feel like everyone is always watching me or the have to look at me and say something. Part of my condition is being empathic. I feel others emotions and can tell if they are misleading or lying. This also does something to others that makes them attracted to you like they have no control over what they do when your around. It hurts right down to the core. Like my stomach goes all knotted up. I started to isolate and wont lie it helped but not sure if its a long term solution. Xanax or ativan worked for me but but they don't want you taking that for too long.

The schizoaffective for me was caused by drinking alcohol thought my life. I don't drink anymore and its been years later. Today I do not have the schizoaffective disorder. I replaced alcohol with Weed which helped me sleep and consume food when I'm depressed. Now my doctor said that will make my bipolar worse especially my manic episodes. I listen to him and quit and its been over two months and so far its making me worse. My second week off weed made me skyrocket and be ion the manic state longer. I got less sleep and now I'm lucky if I get three hours. I'm lost just like you to the point of wanting to find a new doctor but its like were doomed. They don't have the knowledge or experience when dealing with people like us I guess.

I wish I had an answer but we can only continue in one direction hoping that one day we will get it right. Until then I have to deal with a lack of sleep and the fact of suicide ideology. Please be careful and don't do anything that could cause you harm. This is a life long
disease that will not go away and could even get worse like mine did after I was diagnosed with Cancer. But one thing that has pulled me from thew gates of hell is turning to God and letting the Holy Ghost in to protect. It's a wonderful feeling because its all faith driven. Perhaps that is the key to unexplained phenomenon in my life. Even though I feel doomed I also feel blessed. Be safe and eat well.