After 72 hours of no sleep, significant impairments occur in your emotional regulation, perception, and cognitive abilities. Your ability to function normally is severely compromised.
Effects of 72 Hours Without Sleep
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of what happens:
- Emotional Instability: You'll experience heightened irritability, anxiety, and feelings of depression.
- Perceptual Distortion: Your ability to accurately perceive the world around you is severely compromised. You may see things differently than they are, experience illusions, or even have hallucinations.
- Cognitive Decline: You will struggle with executive functioning and thinking. This includes difficulty with decision-making, problem-solving, and focusing on tasks.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Emotional Regulation | Difficulty controlling your emotions, leading to irritability, anxiety, and depression. |
| Perception | Distorted or inaccurate understanding of your surroundings, potentially including visual or auditory hallucinations. |
| Executive Functioning | Impaired ability to think clearly, solve problems, and make decisions. |
These effects, as explained by Dr. Drerup, make it clear that prolonged sleep deprivation has profound impacts on mental and emotional well-being. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize adequate sleep to maintain overall health.
