I should establish a few things: I love sleeping, I take 45 minute to an hour and a half walks every day, I eat relatively healthily, I am only moderately stressed, I am not a control freak (read: do not have OCD), have an average attention span (read: do not have ADD or ADHD), and I have a medium work load at college keeping me busy.
But I've begun to not sleep. This has been occuring for about little over a month now. I stay awake for 48-60 hours. Then I fall asleep for 10-14. Then I do it again. It generally turns out as: Sleep for two days, rest for most of one, rinse, repeat.
I do not get tired. I've picked up on the walking to try and wear myself down, but it never works. Whenever I try to sleep, it's not that I don't want to. I love sleep. It's just that I have things I want to do beforehand. And when I try to sleep, I can't stop thinking about how I want to do that other thing. This "thing" can be anything from a research paper that's due to watering my plants, to doodling an idea stuck in my brain.
And then I get up, and I do it.
I know this is bad for me. Sleep is one of those things that all humans need. Heck! Sleep deprivation is a type of TORTURE.
But I never feel quite as giddy as when I see the sunrise after not having slept again.
The only actual problems I get are the bags under the eyes, aching neck, the inability to remember what day it is, and weird looks from the suitemates when they encounter me awake at 4AM every day. And when I push the limits to more than 60 hours because my schedule was awkward and I actually feel exhaustion, I sometimes get a few mild hallucinations, like seeing a flash of light in my peripheral vision that didn't actually happen. And eventually I get a bit delirious. But, like I said about the sunrise, I enjoy giddy confusion. It's nice to not be quite so conscious of everything all the time.
SO! My question is: Is there something wrong with me? Or is my body clock just 'special'? And most importantly:
If I continue will this have any long-term or permanent side-affects other than my being on my own schedule than society? I know that's what it seems like when I look at the situation objectively, but ultimately I don't see why it matters or why people keep telling me that I should really get some rest.
But I've begun to not sleep. This has been occuring for about little over a month now. I stay awake for 48-60 hours. Then I fall asleep for 10-14. Then I do it again. It generally turns out as: Sleep for two days, rest for most of one, rinse, repeat.
I do not get tired. I've picked up on the walking to try and wear myself down, but it never works. Whenever I try to sleep, it's not that I don't want to. I love sleep. It's just that I have things I want to do beforehand. And when I try to sleep, I can't stop thinking about how I want to do that other thing. This "thing" can be anything from a research paper that's due to watering my plants, to doodling an idea stuck in my brain.
And then I get up, and I do it.
I know this is bad for me. Sleep is one of those things that all humans need. Heck! Sleep deprivation is a type of TORTURE.
But I never feel quite as giddy as when I see the sunrise after not having slept again.
The only actual problems I get are the bags under the eyes, aching neck, the inability to remember what day it is, and weird looks from the suitemates when they encounter me awake at 4AM every day. And when I push the limits to more than 60 hours because my schedule was awkward and I actually feel exhaustion, I sometimes get a few mild hallucinations, like seeing a flash of light in my peripheral vision that didn't actually happen. And eventually I get a bit delirious. But, like I said about the sunrise, I enjoy giddy confusion. It's nice to not be quite so conscious of everything all the time.
SO! My question is: Is there something wrong with me? Or is my body clock just 'special'? And most importantly:
If I continue will this have any long-term or permanent side-affects other than my being on my own schedule than society? I know that's what it seems like when I look at the situation objectively, but ultimately I don't see why it matters or why people keep telling me that I should really get some rest.
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Answers
I don't know what to say except you might have ADD or ADHD. I know you said you didn't but one of my friends has ADD and when she doesn't take her pills she is up all night. Maybe you should see a doctor to confirm that you don't have these disorders, and if you already did, I'm sorry that I can't help.
Sup garkirin..
I agree w/ luvstruck.. Maybe it is ADD ect.. In all cases i say to to a doctor/psychiatrist for a look and see..
Me, again. I was thinking maybe you have OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder because these symptoms have been seen in this disorder before, here are some symptoms... write back and tell me if this affects you:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by either obsessions or compulsions:
Obsessions as defined by:
Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced, at some time during the disturbance, as intrusive and inappropriate and that cause marked anxiety or distress
The thoughts, impulses, or images are not simply excessive worries about real-life problems
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such thoughts, impulses, or images, or to neutralize them with some other thought or action
The person recognizes that the obsessional thoughts, impulses, or images are a product of his or her own mind (not imposed from without as in thought insertion)
Compulsions as defined by:
Repetitive behaviors (e.g., hand washing, ordering, checking) or mental acts (e.g., praying, counting, repeating words silently) that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly
The behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress or preventing some dreaded event or situation; however, these behaviors or mental acts either are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent or are clearly excessive
--- AND: ---
At some point during the course of the disorder, the adult has recognized that the obsessions or compulsions are excessive or unreasonable (not applicable to children).
The obsessions or compulsions cause marked distress, are time consuming (take more than 1 hour a day), or significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.
If another disorder is present, the content of the obsessions or compulsions is not restricted to it. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.
I would check with a doctor too. It would be different if you just did it occasionally just to "do your homework" or the like.
But for doodling, or for seeing the sunrise a lot?
Best,
Clyde