CP with TrackIR goes to sleep

I typically fly tubeliners and leave the sim while the flight is going to return at descent.  The plane pauses at the top of descent.  CP seems to go to sleep and takes a approximately 30 seconds or longer to come awake when I disengage the pause.   Is this normal and is there a work around for this?   Is there a simple way to disengage CP while I have the flight in auto pilot on long hauls?

Thanks in advance.

Ken