Bipolar Disorder & Sleep Part 3

Getting Into A Proper Sleep Routine Tip#4
Self-Massage
Massage is one of the easisest ways to maintain optimal health. It's a great way to
alleviate stress, tension headaches, insomnia, aches and pains, you name it. It also
improves circulation, relieves muscle tension, aids in digestions and increases the
elimination of waste products.

And according to the Massage Therapy Association research also shows that massage can increase your endorphin levels. Those chemicals within your body that help you feel good.

A couple of of techniques you can use are long strokes or specific finger pressure, sort of shiatsu style. I liked to do a combination of both.

You can always tie this into your bath time routine as well. I liked to massage my legs, abdomin and arms while in the tub. I found it extremely relaxing and it would help me sleep like a baby all night long.

Getting Into A Proper Sleep Routine Tip#5
Easing Back Out
Just as we eased into sleep it will be of tremendous benefit to you to ease back out of sleep. I'm not sure when we as a society signed up for the shock doctrine alarm clock reality but it has to go.

And that's exactly what I did.

Knowing well that I had to plan for my mornings as well as my evenings I thought about things that I could do to make my days start off right.

The first idea I had was that I'd really enjoy the mornings if I could wake up to the music I liked to hear. I could set the pace for the rest of my day. Sort of waking up to a morning anthem of sorts.

I knew I couldn't do that with the radio though because I was always waking up to either commercials, Disc Jockeys rambling on about something or there'd be some song playing that in know way I wanted to have imprinted on my psyche for the rest of the day.

So what I did was go shopping. I found a little mini-stereo that gave me the ability to wake up to CD. Any track on the CD that I wanted. And to make it even better the volume would gradually climb to the level that I had set from the night before.

It was one of the best purchases of my life and I still have it today.

I loved waking up in the mornings and it helped with the fundamental elements of my healing journey; Sleep.

Sleep Some Final Thoughts
Sleep is an essential element that you'll need to work into your life somehow. It is one of the foundations for a fantastic life. Do what you can to get into and stick with a routine.

It' ll be a saving grace in your life.

Try to cut out naps during the day if you can as well. I know napping is great, especially on a nice fall day, but they wreak havoc on your sleep routine. Try to push through the urge if you can. Not with coffee or any other substance, but with willpower.

The final balance that I worked out for my sleep routine was Sunday-Thursday I would go to bed at 11pm. I would do my wind-down routine on those days laying the foundation for well-being in my life. On Friday and Saturday's I would go out with my friends.

Usually I would get home around 3-4am, totally wiped of course, but happy. Happy
because I wasn't letting my diagnosis kill my joy. I was having fun, going out still
enjoying life, my family and friends.

The key to it all was that it was responsible fun