How does lack of sleep affect academic performance in college? Effect on emotions? Social life?

Question

How does a sleeping disorder like insomnia, or something like it that results in a less than ideal amount of sleep, affect one's life in college - from academics (paying attention in class to missing class) to emotional life, to social life?
Personal experience and information more than welcome.
Thank you. :)

Answer 1

I have has a similar experience. Ever since i have been injured in football. i have felt lifeless. I get dirty looks sometiems becuse people want me to be back too soon. It is hard because i dont feel like my calling is football but premed. I am very active during the night and have no energy during the day and no want or need to socialize. I have had major thoughts of suicide and even almost attempted it. I resorted to sleeping pills and they seem to help a little. The doctor thought i had insomnia.This affected my classes a little but not too bad becaue i forced myself to go. I am only a frosh but i felt i was doing ok. insomia and no want for a social life are signs of clinical depression. I am actually getting seen this week about it to maybe prescribe something. If you want to talk i would really appreciate it because i might be in the same boat as you. If not that is ok, im used to it. anyways email me if you would like, [e-mail]

Answer 2

lack sleep affect academic performance college effect emotions social life

Answer 3

Here's an instructive article from Yahoo News on the subject, that I read just recently:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20071022/sc_livescience/emotionsrunamokinsleepdeprivedbrains;_ylt=ArrNDv8o.7FHiN25XYstZfJxieAA

And here's another, later article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071024/sc_nm/sleep_emotions_dc;_ylt=Aj9witnt7CSaBBvnaON9qmJxieAA

The point of both of these articles seems to be that sleep deprivation will put you into a "fight or flight" mode of thinking at some point. You'll become emotionally more intense, erratic, and much less likely to think things through.

In fact, one of those articles, I think, briefly mentions that some of these newfound emotional symptoms resemble the effects of a mood disorder in their strength.

And while I personally wouldn't take it that far....my own experience does suggest that there's something to this. I've been dealing with depression issues all of my life, and have been getting help for them as an adult for the past 15 years or so. One consequence of this is that my sleeping is rather screwy: when I am not on medication, I don't get enough sleep, and when *I am* on it, sometimes if I don't manage things right, I *still* don't get enough sleep.

And it does mess with you. I find myself mean, grouchy, whiny and borderline incoherent if I'm *forced* out of bed before 10 a.m. really. Part of this is me--I don't sleep deeply enough to dream until after dawn--but I think part of it is just that I've been so used to being deprived every day that my baseline has shifted, and now I really *cannot* take any more deprivation. And yes, I've had sleep studies done twice with me on this, I really sleep very lightly at night, until it gets light outside.

But I digress. My point is, the earlier you get me out of bed, the more likely I am to either freak out and shut down (flight) or to be very angry, grumpy and anti-social (fight). My intelligence and concentration don't take a hit so much, but my ability to rein in impulses and emotions sure does.

So yeah, I'd say it could trash your emotional life entirely, and by way of that make you anti-social enough to trash your social life. And while you can function intellectually in a classroom setting (done it), you'll still be on edge and resent the situation (doing what you're told to do by an authority figure *you're paying*), which is hardly the attitude to have going into a final exam or any sort of group project (been there, ruined that).

I hope this helps out....have a star, and take a nap already! ^_^ Really, even a brief nap of an hour or so can help out...

Answer 4

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 5

all the things you listed can be affected by lack of sleep. when your tired, you dont want to talk to people (social life). you cant pay attention in class (academically). if you do have some kind of sleeping disorder, you should maybe consider being prescribed a sleeping pill. getting the proper amount of sleep is crucial in college if you want to do your best.

Answer 6

I played with what I was given and that is good looks, a presence that lights up a room, eyes and smile that melted hearts, and a thirst for adrenaline that stood up to anyone. Street smarts with a wit matched by few but book smarts that would have needed Einstein to get the grades out of the crapper. So I was the life of the party and was thankful to squeak out of college. P.S. Thank God for spell check or this would be much more evident.

Answer 7

Lack of sleep affects EVERYTHING! Lack of sleep affects appetite, energy level, the ability to concentrate, moods, emotions, and physical well-being. If you're not getting enough sleep, it's negatively affecting you. Plain and simple.

Answer 8

Check this link out. Though it doesn't regard insomnia, it identifies the acadmic affects of lack of sleep in students.

I do hope you are able to find some rest!

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-06/aaos-csw053007.php

Answer 9

Yes it does. Especially academically.