The Horrors Of Sleep Deprivation: 11 Days Without Sleep

Sleep is one of the most basic bodily functions, yet we still don't know exactly why we sleep. What we do know is that sleep plays a vital role in our physical, cognitive, and mental well-being. So, what happens when we don't get enough rest? The longest anyone has ever gone without sleep is 11 days, or 264 hours, achieved by Randy Gardner in 1964 as a 17-year-old. By the end of his experiment, Gardner grew paranoid and started hallucinating. Here's what else you can expect after 11 days with no sleep.

After 24 hours: impaired decision-making, impaired vision and hearing, decreased hand-eye coordination, etc

After 24 hours without sleep, you can expect to experience some degree of tiredness and exhaustion. However, the effects can be more severe than simply feeling "off". According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), being awake for 24 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%, which is above the legal limit to drive in most states. This level of sleep deprivation can lead to impaired decision-making, vision and hearing impairments, decreased hand-eye coordination, increased muscle tension, and an increased risk of accidents.

The effects of sleep deprivation are cumulative, and they will worsen the longer a person stays awake. After 24 hours, individuals may experience difficulties with concentration, alertness, and memory. Their coordination may be reduced, and they may have trouble with complex tasks. The brain attempts to conserve energy by entering a state called "local sleep", where certain regions of the brain shut down while others remain active. As a result, people may appear fully awake but struggle to perform complex tasks.

In addition, sleep deprivation after 24 hours can cause a rise in stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, as well as increased blood sugar levels. This can further impair cognitive function and increase the risk of accidents. It is important to note that these effects may not be immediately apparent, as individuals may believe they are functioning well despite being sleep-deprived. However, their performance and ability to handle complex tasks will be significantly compromised.

To put it simply, going without sleep for 24 hours can have significant impacts on an individual's ability to function safely and effectively. It is crucial to prioritize sleep and practice good sleep hygiene to avoid the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation.

After 36 hours: decreased motivation, inflexible reasoning, speech impairments, etc

After 36 hours without sleep, the effects of sleep deprivation intensify. The physical health consequences become more prominent, and the body starts to be negatively impacted.

At this stage, you are likely to experience decreased motivation, inflexible reasoning, and speech impairments. You may feel sluggish, and your reaction time is likely to be delayed. Your memory will be foggy, and you will have difficulty concentrating, learning new information, and processing social cues.

The sleep-wake cycle helps regulate the release of hormones, including cortisol, insulin, and human growth hormone. Going without sleep for an extended period disrupts this cycle and can alter several bodily functions. High levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, will be present in the bloodstream, which can eventually lead to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.

Additionally, your body's hormone imbalances can cause mood swings and increased anxiety. You will likely feel cranky, on edge, and zombie-like. Your cognitive abilities will be impaired, and you may start to have microsleeps, which are brief periods of rest where your brain switches off.

After 48 hours: microsleeps, hallucinations, perceptual distortions, etc

After 48 hours without sleep, the body enters a state of extreme sleep deprivation. At this point, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay awake, and the likelihood of experiencing microsleeps increases. Microsleeps are brief periods of light sleep that can last up to 30 seconds, during which the brain enters a sleep-like state. These microsleeps occur involuntarily, and individuals may feel confused or disoriented upon waking up from them.

In addition to microsleeps, other possible effects of staying awake for 48 hours include perceptual distortions, increased irritability, and temporal disorientation. The immune system also becomes disrupted, with inflammatory markers circulating at increased levels, impairing the body's ability to prevent and target illnesses. Research has shown that natural killer (NK) cell activity, which is crucial for responding to health threats like viruses or bacteria, decreases with sleep deprivation.

Hallucinations may also occur after 48 hours of sleep deprivation. Hallucinations are perceptions of something that is not actually present, such as seeing a cat that isn't there. They can involve any of the five senses but are most commonly auditory or visual. About 80% of people will hallucinate if they experience severe sleep deprivation, which can mean just a few hours of sleep over one night or several days without any sleep.

The effects of staying awake for 48 hours are not limited to the physical realm; there are also cognitive and emotional consequences. Individuals may experience cognitive impairments, such as a reduced ability to think and make decisions, as well as speech impairments, including poor word choice and intonation. Emotions may also be affected, with increased irritability, anxiety, and paranoia being common.

After 72 hours: uncontrollable urge to sleep, impaired thinking, severe mood changes, etc

After 72 hours without sleep, the urge to sleep will strengthen and may become uncontrollable. Sleep deprivation will significantly impair your perception, and you may experience complex hallucinations. You may also experience longer microsleeps, which are brief periods of complete unconsciousness that can last for several seconds.

Going three days without sleep will have a profound effect on your mood and cognition. You may experience a depressed mood, anxiety, paranoia, and irritability. Research has shown that sleep deprivation at this stage can make it difficult to process others' emotions, and you may have trouble recognising angry and happy facial expressions.

Your ability to think will be severely limited, especially executive functions such as multitasking, remembering details, and paying attention. This level of sleep deprivation can make it difficult to complete even simple tasks. Your perception of reality may be severely distorted, resembling acute psychosis.

It is important to note that the effects of sleep deprivation can vary from person to person, and there is no universal timeline for the stages of sleep deprivation. However, the longer you stay awake, the more severe and intolerable the symptoms become.

After 96 hours: distorted perception of reality, unbearable urge for sleep, etc

After 96 hours without sleep, you will likely experience a severely distorted perception of reality, resembling acute psychosis. Your urge to sleep will be unbearable, and you may experience an overwhelming desire to rest your body and mind.

During this time, you may find it challenging to perform simple tasks, such as writing a sentence or choosing the right words when speaking. Your brain will be significantly impacted, leading to potential difficulties in spelling, word choice, and speech. You may also experience visual hallucinations, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there.

The effects of prolonged sleep deprivation can be intense and far-reaching. Your sleep-wake cycle plays a crucial role in regulating the release of hormones, including cortisol, insulin, and human growth hormone. Disrupting this cycle can alter various bodily functions and increase the levels of inflammatory markers, impairing your immune system.

Additionally, sleep deprivation can affect your emotions and mental state. You may become easily irritated, anxious, or paranoid. It can also make it challenging to process others' emotions, such as recognizing facial expressions of anger or happiness.

It is essential to prioritize sleep and seek professional help if you are experiencing insomnia or other sleep disorders. Proper sleep hygiene, including regular exercise, a balanced diet, and limited screen time before bed, can help prevent and recover from sleep deprivation.

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