The sleep deprived brain.

[dennis08]

Why is it that when I am deprived of sleep the conscious part of my brain becomes subconscious and I feel sad and stressed out not to mention tired.

Also I am unable to engage in conversation normally because i tend to go to la la land unwillingly and have a very hard time concentrating on anything.

Why does this happen and what parts of the brain are responsible for producing these feelings? Is there a way to counteract this?

[bert eats dirt]

Weird things just happen when you don't get enough sleep. Lately I've had a cold and for a few days didn't get enough sleep, and I found that in the evening when i started feeling tired I also started feeling down/anxious. The best thing I could to stop myself from feeling like this is distract myself in conversation with friends, either on msn or by going to parties/gatherings (wayyy more effective), or take a nap or have an early night. I always feel much better in the morning. Of course the only real long term solution is to always get plenty of good quality sleep (as opposed to restless sleep). Getting enough sleep is vital to your health, both the health of your body and of your mind. Pleasant dreams!

[WilliWibald]

I could only think of 3 ways to counteract this:
1. Get more sleep
2. Get the same amount of sleep, but better quality (keyword: sleep hygiene)
3. Mind Control (observe your thoughts that make you feel anxious or sad and counter/question them with positive self-talk)

by the way: when I'm really sleep deprived for some days and then cancel a whole night of sleep, I get afraid of nearly everything (loud noises or what might happen in traffic). Somehow I think Sleep-Deprivation acts as an amplifier of all the fears, that are already there.

[tylerlloyd]

From what I understand there is not a clear reason on why the brain needs to sleep - if I'm mistaken in this please let me know.

What science has discovered through observation is that if you don't sleep you seriously start sucking at everything. There are a few cases of people who never sleep or almost never sleep, but they are exceptions - the rest of us needs to get our Z's in regularly to operate.

At least you know you're not the only one that gets messed up in this way - and the only way you could conteract this (without amazing willpower) is substance abuse. Stories of lawyers and wall street types snorting lines to work longer hours come to mind. But as the military and pharmaceuticals are working on pills to keep you from falling asleep - who knows what to expect?

[Brutha]

What science has discovered through observation is that if you don't sleep you seriously start sucking at everything. There are a few cases of people who never sleep or almost never sleep, but they are exceptions - the rest of us needs to get our Z's in regularly to operate.

We don't really know whether he sleeps. He might have stage 1/2 sleep.
When you awake from stage 1/2 sleep you think you haven't sleept.
It would be interesting is someone would study him.

Modafin allows you to be 3 days awake and sleep afterwards a normal night. One forum member (if you use the forum search you might find the post) told that someone he knew got pretty screwed up from multiple years of Modafin use. Use it on a permanent basis is probably not healty.

Normally people don't feel sad when they are sleep deprivied. In general they rather feel happy. Sleep deprivation is considered as a short term solution against depression.

[bluskygirl]

The only way I know how to counteract that is to get more sleep. I myself have a hard time with sleep. Once I'm out you could drive a truck through my window, but getting to that point is tricky business! I have never even been able to fall asleep in a car or on a couch. Only in a bed, with perfect darkness, etc. SO, naturally I can get sleep deprived once in a while and I feel the same effects that you do too. I hate pills of anything, so I have avoided sleep aids but I do know many people who swear by a half of one every night to take the edge off and they don't feel groggy in the morning.

[Amandaaa]

when I am deprived of sleep the conscious part of my brain becomes subconscious and I feel sad and stressed out not to mention tired.

same here.

i get absolutely miserable when i'm sleep deprived.


the brain needs its REM sleep...

if i had paid closer attention in first year psychology, i could explain why... but unfortunately, i didn't. so i have no explanation.
just try to get on a solid sleep schedule, and you'll feel better.

[silicon toad2000]

The body needs delta sleep, science seems to be pretty sure of that.
The arguments about the brains need for REM sleep in adult humans is ongoing.
They believe that REM sleep is necessary for brain development and that the brain continues to develop as late as 20.
Dolphins are born fully developed apparently and they have no REM sleep. Human infants have a much larger portion of REM sleep compared to adults. In mammals, the less developed the brain is at birth, the greater the percentage of REM sleep that species has.
The consensus seems to be that REM sleep is necessary for brain development and the ordering or memories and they believe that dreams are a result of that memory ordering. But then I have read a study that indicated we dream during all stages of sleep