sleep deprivation.

[andizuki1982]

I have heard that if you go without sleep for 2 - 3 days you will start hallucinating. How easy would it be to stay awake that long and how dangerous would it be? Has anyone done it? Thanks in advance!

[andyjevs]

IIRC, sleep deprivation was a method of torturing ww2 pow's possibly by the japanese. I would think that it was fairly easy to stay awake for 2-3 days if you were determined to but it certainly wouldn't be recommended to try it very often.

[Hamish]

I saw once a program about this. There was a man who had a condition with ment that he couldnt sleap, even with sedatives. After 100 day he died.

[andy hughes]

It is a proven fact that the human body will die from lack of sleep considerably faster than from lack of food or water.

Deliberate sleep deprivation is dangerous, and the body makes it difficult for anyone to put themselves in this danger on purpose - so your system will simply shut down when the need for sleep becomes serious enough.

Although the notion of free hallucinations may appear attractive to some people, the underlying cause is distress and malfunctions within the mind, designed to assimilate and adjust to sensory input during 'down' periods of sleep. The short answer is, don't do it - the 'fun' aspects are seriously outweighed by the physical and mental distress and strain put on the body and mind, with potential long term adverse effects.

[vespaboy]

There was a programme 9on telly, I think it was called 'touch the van' or something similar. The contestants had to stay awake and keep a hand on the prize - a van/car whilst staying awake. You could actually see them losing it, and hallucinating.

Ihave done shift-work and tried to stay awake for the following day after nights, it is a horrible, horrible feeling and you cannot function properly so I wouldn't recommend it.

[CiderMonkey]

I've been awake for that long before. My vision did start to go a bit funny but it was mainly things going a bit fuzzy round the edges and it seemed like there was smokey stuff in the air. Probably not a good idea to do this too often!

[Ward-Minter]

Was awake for about 110 hours (4 and a half days) dug into a freezing cold trench up the side of a mountain. I had 4 Wagon Wheels and a hot tin (chicken stew I think)

Yes I did see "things" and the mind plays tricks. I had this image, and without being base, it was almost sexual about just snuggling up in a duvet with a big fluffy pillow.

Some years later when I left the army i took part in a marathon James Bond watching. There was about 45 hours of non-stop Bond movies. I think I fell asleep at about Moonraker with about 15 hours to go. Oh how Her Majesty's Forces train us well!!!!!!!!!1

[hodgey]

Yes I have. As a student (surprise!) I was told after 72 hours you have a "psychotic period" and stupidly decided to try this out. I didn't actually make it to 72 hours, only 65, but the experience was odd to say the least. We did kind of start hallucinating, but not in an Acid trip sense, more in a thinking things were happening that clearly weren't and seeing things out of the corner of your eye that disappear when you look at them properly. The odd thing about doing it with several other people is that you experience a kind of group paranoia, seeing the same imaginary things, and anything anyone suggests becomes very real, which can be quite terrifying. I'm told that provided you go back to a normal sleep pattern staright afterwards there are no long term ill-effects, but I would dispute this. I think it could be psychologically damaging to do it too often or for a long time. I can understand why they use sleep deprivation as a method of torture in some countries.

[Buenchico]

Everything that's been said here seems reasonable but it's important to remember that everyone's sleep requirements differ. 30 years ago (in my early 20's) I used to go to bed 0300-0700 Tuesday, 0300-0700 Thursday and 0100-0700 Monday - a total of 16 hours sleep a week. I did this for several years with no obvious ill effects. These days I wouldn't mind 16 hours each night - and this is despite the evidence of so-called-experts who say that you need less sleep as you get older!.

And have I ever suffered hallucinations through sleep deprivation? Yes, on several occasions, after nearly a week or so without sleep - but these are always auditory rather than visual. (No, I don't hear voices - It's always non-existent ringing telephones! Weird!!).

Chris

[Buenchico]

Hang on a minute! I can't add up! 4+4+6=14, not 16! Perhaps I'm suffering from sleep deprivation? LOL

Chris