It is not a matter of going crazy as much as it is of becoming unbalanced.
Sleep in humans and other higher animals seems to have two completely different functions. One is physical. The time during sleep allows the body to repair itself faster because there are no active muscles requiring great amounts of energy and oxygen. Hormone levels in several parks of the body are also adjusted.
Sleep also has several functions that seems to be strictly mental in nature. These are less understood. During not REM sleep, the brain does housekeeping functions, some of which seem to be relate to long term memory. It also seems to restore the neurotransmitters required for effective brain functions.
In addition, REM (dream) sleep seems to be required for proper emotional control in humans. This is why a "good night's sleep" will often help during times of crisis.
The effects of sleep deprivation covers a very wide difference in type and severity. Some people need far more sleep than others. It is one thing to get less sleep than you need for several days running. It is entirely different if you get NO sleep for more than a couple of days.
Any person who goes more than two nights without any sleep should seek help or move to a location which is less stressful. In times of crisis, short naps are better than no sleep at all.
Experiments done on preventing humans from getting any sleep (not just studying what happens long term when a person does not get enough sleep), all seem to report that the brain (and therefore the mind) begins to have serious breaks with the perception of reality after 72 hours. Things just get worse after that.
2007-08-07 06:10:32
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answer #1
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answered by Richard 7
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Hi, I didn't sleep for entire week for some reason and I had problems after that for about a month. I think the human body has to sleep to rest so you can dream as well. I think dreams are like outlets. Sleeping is good even if you sleep every other day, but a week is not Good at all. I feel bad for anyone who cant sleep past a week, its like torture.
The Germans used only 3 days of sleep deprivation to question soldiers. It was enough to crack someone without torturing them in a physical way, but it damages the brain.
2007-08-07 06:11:49
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answer #2
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answered by NICK A 3
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If you don't sleep for a few days nothing major will happen, you'll just be extremly exhausted! Any YES Halloween, whatever you full name was, you can go crazy, maybe see halucinatons, imagie things! You have to have sleep....If you watch the movie insomniac you will see..I know its a movie but it is true...I have read up on the subject before. If you cannot sleep you must go and see a doctor
2007-08-07 05:53:33
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answer #3
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answered by kaykins85 2
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It is NOT true that if you don't sleep you'll become crazy... However, dreaming is a very important function to keep us mentally healthy and, when you do not dream, you can become quite confused.
When my dad had open heart surgery years ago, the nurse warned us that he may seem to have "lost his mind" at times, but that we shouldn't worry, it's just the sleep deprivation that brings on the confusion.
I have also had hallucinations from sleep deprivation... but it will neither kill you nor drive you crazy if you don't sleep.
2007-08-07 08:24:37
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answer #4
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answered by Christy 6
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Yes, the reason is that when you sleep, in particular REM sleep (rapid eye movement) which is when we dream, our brain is rebalancing itself. Also a great deal of healing takes place when we sleep. If you can not sleep at all for days at a time then your brain chemicals are out of balance and you need to seek medical advice.
I have found that a handful of walnuts just before bedtime really helps me to sleep. The reason for this is that it is efficient in supporting the body to produce melatonin without which you wont sleep. Also, some lavender oil on the pillow at night helps you to relax and sleep more easily.
If you go with out sleep for more than a few days you will be in a manic type cycle and this is not safe for anyone as anything could happen during that time. Please seek medical advice if you have cronic sleep depravation. It is a dangerous condition and needs to be addressed.
2007-08-07 06:38:44
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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sleep deprivation is bad, but if you find that you slep after a few day you will be fine.
My partner is an insomnia and I worry for her but thats insomnia for you; however sleep deprivation is different.
We all know that long-term sleep deprivation (lack of sleep) can cause major problems. Fewer people realise that studies have shown even losing a couple of hours a night on a regular basis can have serious effects. Since different people need different amounts of sleep, a night that is fine for one person can result in sleep deprivation for another. Don't assume that your partner is "lazy" because he or she needs more sleep than you!
In our modern 24-7 society many people (not just students and new parents!) regularly walk around in a sleep deprived state. It's probably one of the commonest sleep disorders around today. Unfortunately the potentially serious problems that result from sleep deprivation effects are rarely recognised or taken seriously.
What Are The Effects of Sleep Deprivation?
Problem Caused by Sleep Deprivation - The Symptoms
If you're regularly not getting enough sleep then you could be setting yourself up for problems.
Obviously sleep deprivation leaves us "feeling tired" and suffering from possibly chronic fatigue. This results in irritability and lack of concentration. That might not sound very serious but those two symptoms can result in poor job performance, unnecessary arguments with loved ones and even serious accidents.
Lack of sleep can cause the body to react with a "micro-sleep", where we fall asleep quickly for a period of just a couple of seconds. A couple of seconds might not sound much, and nodding off briefly during a meeting might not be much of a worry. But what about dropping the scalding hot coffee pot? Or dropping off whilst driving?
As well as the behavioural effects of sleep deprivation there are direct physical consequences.
In the longer term sleep deprivation results in a depressed immune system, leaving us prone to other diseases. In particular research by the University of Chicago Medical Center links slep deprivation with impaired insulin and sugar regulation, possibly leading to diabetes.
There are also reports that sleep deprivation can increase the risk of obesity by reducing the production of leptin, a hormone that causes you to feel full and stop eating.
2007-08-07 05:47:44
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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you probably did not make love, you had intercourse ! massive distinction He cried, possibly from guilt, yet extra probable through fact he replaced into scared his spouse might discover out. of direction he did not spend the evening with you, that would take too plenty explaining away to his spouse of direction he seems at you longingly - you presented him intercourse on a plate and are happy to grant him intercourse back . i don't trust the distinctive posts right here that decision you a slag .... on one point he's the single interior the relationship, you at the instant are not.. yet you're being naive and quite stupid in case you think of this is going to get you everywhere..you're 31 years old, not a stupid teen who does not understand from now on acceptable. And definite if he have been happy in his marriage then he does not be chasing you, yet possibly he's the variety who needs casual intercourse as and while he can discover somebody to grant it to him.. if it wasn't you it would be somebody else.. Have extra admire for youself please. If not the rest, do you extremely should be with somebody who can manage his spouse that way... down the line that's YOU he cheats on ! to your very own sake and peace of recommendations, forget approximately this loser and finally end up a good guy who's loose to be with you. do not demean your self by using throwing your self at a guy, who isn't loose to be with you and has informed you that somewhat it replaced right into a mistake and could by no potential take place back.
2016-10-09 10:10:23
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answer #7
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answered by ? 3
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No it isn't true you don't go crazy. But I've deprived my self of sleep many times because I just has too much to do. I've gone for 48hrs without sleep at a stretch. The downside is that you feel very tired both physically and mentally.
2007-08-07 05:58:18
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answer #8
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answered by anonymous 3
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Sleep deprivation destroys not only physical health, but mental health as well. It can cause everything from minor irritation to outbursts of temper to full-scale mental illness.
There is a close relationship between depression and sleep deprivation. Those suffering from depression either sleep much longer than normal, perhaps in an effort to escape the things that depress them, or they are unable to sleep, and end up sleep deprived.
What happens if you don't get enough sleep? Plenty. You'll probably feel very sleepy during the day and you may have trouble staying awake in class. This can affect your ability to concentrate, make good judgments, and get good grades. Most importantly, you run the risk of falling asleep while driving your car, which could lead to a serious accident. Some teens experience emotional problems such as depression if they don't get enough sleep. You might also feel irritable, cranky, or more emotional than usual. Not getting enough sleep can also contribute to skin problems, such as acne.
If you want to make good sleep a habit, take a look at your everyday schedule. Are you working so many hours at your after-school job that you end up staying up late to finish homework? Does football practice take up so much time that you never get to bed before 11 PM? If so, think about ways to make your schedule more manageable. Can you work fewer hours if your job isn't essential? If football is especially important, can you drop another activity to make time for sleep?
If you are getting enough rest at night and you are still falling asleep during the day, it's a good idea to visit your doctor. He or she will look at your overall health and sleep habits and may do a test to find out whether anything is happening during the night to disturb your sleep, like sleep apnea.
There are ways that may make it easier for you to fall asleep when you hit the sack. Here are some tips for good sleep "hygiene":
Have a regular bedtime and try to arrange your schedule so that you can stick to it.
Don't nap a lot during the day. If you do take naps, limit them to 20 to 30 minutes.
Leave some time to unwind before bed. This may mean saving a little time for the stress-reducing techniques such as meditation that work best for you.
Don't exercise right before bed. It's important to get enough regular exercise, but plan to do it in the early afternoon if possible.
Avoid beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee or soft drinks, after late afternoon.
Try to stay on schedule even if it's a weekend. Don't go to sleep more than an hour later or wake up more than 2 to 3 hours later than usual.
Get into bright light as soon as possible in the morning, but avoid it in the evening. Bright light signals the brain that it's time to wake up.
Say no to cramming for exams with all-nighters. The best way to prepare for a test is to spread your studying out over time and to get plenty of sleep.
Well, I hope this helps. Best of luck!!!!
Gaby
2007-08-07 05:56:23
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answer #9
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answered by Scarlett 3
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so true - last year in uni my dreams got so bad that i only allowed myself to sleep for 2 or 3 hours a night - after only a few days you start acting really really weird and you get on these cycles of being hugely energetic, and hugely sad.
2007-08-07 07:01:34
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answer #10
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answered by Faith 4
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