Sleep Deprivation Psychology

Running head: Sleep Deprivation, Disorders and Drugs

Sleep Deprivation, Disorders and Drugs
Axia College of University of Phoenix

There was a time when I was not getting sleep; it affected almost every aspect of my being and definitely my personality. Reading the text written by Pinel, I realize many of the descriptions of sleeplessness fit those very memorable, yet miserable days. My opinion on my reaction to sleeplessness concurred fairly well with the text, though I did not consider myself to have any sleep disorders, nor did I feel that I needed medication for it. Almost six years ago I gave birth to my daughter. Of course, what followed were endless sleep interruptions during the night. Eventually I started getting used to
My mood would be deemed as extremely bad and similar to a low for depressed individuals. My behavior was lethargic, not similar to the behavioral personality of whom I once was. My cognitive skills plummeted, especially in the memory, comprehension, and speech portions. My motor skills lacked the precision, swiftness, and attention they once provided. Oh, and the dog if you were wondering, drove me to absolute wits end. I, mentally crazed, drove over to neighbor’s house as if I were in a NASCAR race, and rang the doorbell repeatedly until the owner answered the door. I yelled as loud as I could, “Should I believe you can hear your doorbell but not your damn barking dog!” Ultimately, I was an unrecognizable person to everyone around me, including
I did; however, tend to fall asleep while it was dark outside. I did fall under the recuperation theory a little, I felt tired after an active wakefulness but it may have been a biological clock issue. I also would have slept for many hours having not been awakened. I do not agree with the sleep restriction theory, I love to sleep and have no problem doing so, taking away what I would see as precious sleeping time I would turn into the crazy individual I once was; lacking in any normal function, positive personality and behaviors. No chance would I be efficient with four to six hours of sleep, much less, one and one half. Polyphonic sleep cycle is when sleep is distributed throughout a 24 hour period with a minimum of two distributions, generally more. Each of these consists of short periods of sleep or naps, which are theorized to find sleep deprivation quite insignificant. One must stay on this schedule for a period of time to feel the effects and achieve the motivation: free time (Polyphasic Sleep, n.d.). Many effects of long-term sleep reduction are: individuals find they are better able to fall asleep, more efficient sleep bouts, often have few night time awakenings, and more stage four sleeping