3 ms·

Not completely connected, but I'd be very interested to hear if anyone's experienced something similar. Or, even better, can point to some science that can expl

Not completely connected, but I'd be very interested to hear if anyone's experienced something similar. Or, even better, can point to some science that can explain my experience: I find my concentration improves tremendously after I've been awake for 20-24 hours, and I can continue being more productive than usual for up to about 40 hours, at which point the negative effects start to outweigh the positives. Anyone experienced anything similar? I should note that I've not done this repeatedly/for extended periods and I only allow myself to do it if I'm sufficiently well-rested. (Otherwise I just figure it really isn't going to be worth it and I'm better getting myself to bed and getting an early start.) I'm afraid I have no data to support my claims. In the absence of data I do have an anecdote though(!) - I remember when I was maybe 8-12 years old travelling long-haul and had been up for 45+ hours absolutely SMASHING a puzzle game (slide the blocks type thing) on my Gameboy - previously I'd struggled to get past the initial few levels. I'd not thought about it much until recently when I noticed this effect (end of Master's degree... you know the score).

bdclimber14 13y ago
I, too, experience this. I believe it is related to cortisol spikes similarly to the increased daytime cortisol levels seen with insomniacs.
hoers 13y ago
Sleep deprivation and short sleep cycles are a symptom for mania, and most people with bipolar disease experience this. But weirdly enough, it's not only a symptom, but also a trigger. Means you can simulate/induce mania by depriving yourself of sleep. I actually know a lot of People doing this on purpose. Although apart from being bad for your body in general, if you are in risk of developing bipolar, this might accelerate the process.
- alexhawdon 13y ago
  Interesting. This is nit-picking if I'm right but potentially enlightening if I'm wrong (so apologies if it's the former): wouldn't /insomnia/ be the symptom of mania, and sleep deprivation be the consequence? Also, I always thought of mania as being either very 'up' or very 'down' - is that my ignorance? I feel neither happy nor sad during these periods, just a lot more focussed.
  - hoers 13y ago
    First off: Mania only describes the up phase, bipolar is the term for describing both up and down (depression being the down phase). Insomnia is usually more a symptom of depression (as in not being able to fall asleep), manic people generally just tend to be overly energetic, needing very little sleep (like 2-4 hrs a day) for long periods of time. Trigger wise you can induce this energetic up feeling by depriving yourself of sleep (by which I don't mean insomnia, but actively keeping your sleep cycles short), but you will pay the price at some point.

bdclimber14 13y ago

I, too, experience this. I believe it is related to cortisol spikes similarly to the increased daytime cortisol levels seen with insomniacs.

hoers 13y ago

Sleep deprivation and short sleep cycles are a symptom for mania, and most people with bipolar disease experience this. But weirdly enough, it's not only a symptom, but also a trigger. Means you can simulate/induce mania by depriving yourself of sleep. I actually know a lot of People doing this on purpose. Although apart from being bad for your body in general, if you are in risk of developing bipolar, this might accelerate the process.

alexhawdon 13y ago
Interesting. This is nit-picking if I'm right but potentially enlightening if I'm wrong (so apologies if it's the former): wouldn't /insomnia/ be the symptom of mania, and sleep deprivation be the consequence? Also, I always thought of mania as being either very 'up' or very 'down' - is that my ignorance? I feel neither happy nor sad during these periods, just a lot more focussed.
- hoers 13y ago
  First off: Mania only describes the up phase, bipolar is the term for describing both up and down (depression being the down phase). Insomnia is usually more a symptom of depression (as in not being able to fall asleep), manic people generally just tend to be overly energetic, needing very little sleep (like 2-4 hrs a day) for long periods of time. Trigger wise you can induce this energetic up feeling by depriving yourself of sleep (by which I don't mean insomnia, but actively keeping your sleep cycles short), but you will pay the price at some point.