Influence of sleep deprivation on speaking

[eezbo]

I'm wondering whether there are any people out there having made similar experiences like me.

Whenever I haven't slept enough, my way of speaking and thinking is severely influenced. It becomes more difficult to think clearly and express my thoughts in a comprehensive manner.

My social competences suffer heavily as well. This expresses in feeling uncomfortable when being around people and I also make lots of verbal mistakes which I wouldn't normally do.

As a student (18 y.o.), this is especially annoying because nearly all subjects require mental and/or social interaction.

What's interesting, though, is that I'm not aware of anybody where sleep deprivation has such severe an impact on them because they seem to be able to speak very fluently even though they've only slept 4 or 5 hours.

Over the past years the above-mentioned has lead to many bad marks and embarrassing situations. Therefore I wish I could still be able to deal with people even when having spent a bad night. Is there some way of practicing it? I'm not thinking of taking medication. Having tried that, it only made things worse: rapid heartbeat, stress, etc.

The obvious answer would be to go to bed earlier. That's another issue I'm currently facing: It takes me about 1-2h until I've finally managed to sleep. Sometimes I end up going to bed after school, but then it's even more difficult to fall asleep.

Listening to sleep meditation CDs hasn't proven to be working for me so far. I also go to school by bike for about 1h+ per day. Thus, lack of sports cannot be the reason either. The only reason I can think of is that I'm reading a lot and also watch movies on a LCD screen right before I go to bed. (I've read an article that green light may "reset" the body clock. Perhaps that's the culprit?)

I'd be happy to hear your advices.

[Philemon]

I've experienced what you've described. I have to do a lot of public speaking and critical thinking at my job, and sleep depravation hinders me.

When I was in H.S., I was prescribed sleeping pills - - I slept more, but I was even more lethargic, so I stopped.

In college, I discovered meditation, and that worked pretty well for me.

Also, I'm the type of person that can't sleep to TV. If I put in a movie, no matter how tired I am, I stay awake. TVs are like crack sometimes.

It sounds like TV affects you similarly - maybe try cutting that first. Reading helps me fall asleep, but I've known people whom it keeps awake.

If you do have to speak and think while sleep deprived, keep in mind that things will move a little slower. Accept it, and just take your time. It's usually when I try to go at "normal" speed that I develop a stutter.

[ssandra]

I have the same thing. It is even worse, because Spanish isn't my first language, being tired just makes it almost impossible to communicate in Spanish...

A few things that I do;

Before going to bed, I take the time (30 minutes to an hour) to calm my mind from outside influences. I read, or I go to bed with the specific intention to not sleep yet, but to think and/or daydream for a bit.
(choose daydreams that are relaxing.. the other day I got thinking about sales, and selling and the excitement kept me up until way past where I wanted to be awake... )

If it is the middle of the day, I take a 20 minute or 1,5 hour nap, depending on the time that I have.

It is enough to keep me coherent for another few hours.

Good luck!

(oh, and you might want to consider that although to you it seems very bad, it might not at all be that noticeable to others)