As the mentally ill know too well, is that psychiatric medicine can be sedating. It gives you a different look in the morning, and many feel a "drugging effect", which can be disturbing by those who are clean and sober. Looking dopey is just one of the side-effects, others are having high amounts of rest.
Rest is a good way to combat fatigue, but too much sleep and you have other problems. Maybe you are awake during the night after having a 16hour sleep. Maybe, your family thinks you sleep too much so they interrupt your sleep trying to wake you. So even though you slept 16 hours, you are still fatigued because it wasn't an uninterrupted sleep.
What is a normal sleep pattern for those on psychiatric medicine is different for each individual. But, having a sleep diary might help you when speaking with your doctors. I try to be in bed about the same every night. It helps that my roommates also go to bed at the same time. I try to get a nap in every now and then.
On average, for me, I need at least 9 hours of sleep in order to fully function for the day. I try to keep the same routine. Take my medicines at the same time every day. Eat at the same time every day. Shower at the same time every day. This gives my brain the 'illusion' that there is a regular time of day for every daily function.
If I am still too tired during the day, then it is time to talk to my doctor. I might have to take my morning medicine at night and vice versa take my night medicine in the morning. It is critical that any medicine adjustment be discussed with your doctor prior to the change because there might be withdrawals and that is dangerous.
So, I got on a daily living schedule, I get as much rest as possible, I exercise (daily walks), I consult my doctor, I take my medicine. As long as I can still do this, I have more freedom. I am proactive in my treatment and know how to explain symptom flare-ups with my psychiatrist. Knowing symptoms is one thing, working through them proactively with your doctor is bringing treatment to another level.
Vocabulary ABC's
Rest is a good way to combat fatigue, but too much sleep and you have other problems. Maybe you are awake during the night after having a 16hour sleep. Maybe, your family thinks you sleep too much so they interrupt your sleep trying to wake you. So even though you slept 16 hours, you are still fatigued because it wasn't an uninterrupted sleep.
What is a normal sleep pattern for those on psychiatric medicine is different for each individual. But, having a sleep diary might help you when speaking with your doctors. I try to be in bed about the same every night. It helps that my roommates also go to bed at the same time. I try to get a nap in every now and then.
On average, for me, I need at least 9 hours of sleep in order to fully function for the day. I try to keep the same routine. Take my medicines at the same time every day. Eat at the same time every day. Shower at the same time every day. This gives my brain the 'illusion' that there is a regular time of day for every daily function.
If I am still too tired during the day, then it is time to talk to my doctor. I might have to take my morning medicine at night and vice versa take my night medicine in the morning. It is critical that any medicine adjustment be discussed with your doctor prior to the change because there might be withdrawals and that is dangerous.
So, I got on a daily living schedule, I get as much rest as possible, I exercise (daily walks), I consult my doctor, I take my medicine. As long as I can still do this, I have more freedom. I am proactive in my treatment and know how to explain symptom flare-ups with my psychiatrist. Knowing symptoms is one thing, working through them proactively with your doctor is bringing treatment to another level.
Vocabulary ABC's