I’ve wanted to write a post about this topic forever. In fact, during my slightly grandiose moments of depression — not even hypomania — I’ve entertained thoughts of returning for a PhD in Film and writing a dissertation on this topic. But now, there’s no need because Cracked.com has done it for me!

This article shouldn’t be taken too seriously but not with just a grain of salt, either — and particularly the 300+ comments (no, I haven’t read them all and don’t recommend that you do). For example:

• The movie referred to in #1 is, in fact, spelled “memento” (see Memento). If you haven’t seen the movie, and you definitely should, you may not want to read the link because of spoilers.
• ECT is most definitely not painful nor is continuous ECT necessary to remain healthy. The most painful thing about ECT is if your nurse can’t get an IV line in on the first try and you end up with a blown vein. Or two.
• ECT can cause memory loss, both long- and short-term, both anterograde and retrograde amnesia. Maybe that’s redundant. Personally, my retrograde amnesia hasn’t improved much, but my anterograde, which is nowhere nearly as bad as the dude’s in Memento, is still iffy. This explains why I often can’t remember online or offline conversations I may have already had with you — it’s not that I don”t care enough to pay attention — it’s just that, well, I sometimes have trouble creating new memories.

I’m sure there are other inconsistencies and some incorrect information, but come on — this is Cracked.com and the article is supposed to fun, though it does touch on a very serious subject. So, here it is:

Maintaining good sleep hygiene is important when it comes to managing bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, unlike taking meds, seeing your therapist, and possibly getting exercise, this isn’t something you can always control. Ideally, you should go to bed at the same time every night (which I do, give or take an hour, maybe 2), and get up at the same time every morning, which I do because I wake up too early and either toss and turn for a couple of hours or sleep very lightly so I might as well get up.

It’s weird because I’m getting about 8 hours of sleep. The problem is that it isn’t good sleep — you know, like REM sleep. And then I’m exhausted the rest of the day and don’t feel like doing anything like showering or getting dressed, let alone going anywhere — except maybe for a latte and my new food thing — Starbucks peppermint brownies. And you know, they aren’t even the bomb, but I’m stuck on them for some reason.

Anyway, sufficient sleep and plenty of rest is good for anyone’s health, whether or not you have bipolar. I’m not getting it and it’s making me very irritable. Sometimes I’ll fall asleep for an hour or so in the afternoon and even that doesn’t help — I feel exhausted physically and mentally when I wake up. At least the naps don’t keep me from being able to fall asleep at night.

My sleep med (trazodone) helps me fall asleep right away. The extra 1mg of Klonopin at night has finally seemed to kick in because I’m not waking up in a knotted ball of muscle. But for some reason, I can’t sleep through the night. I suppose I could sleep past 7am, which is when I usually get up, but I hate sleeping so late into the morning. Something needs to happen because I can’t stand it anymore — I’m like, climbing the walls.