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This Sleep Deprivation Scares Me...

I have always had struggles with insomnia. It first started in high school where I would go to bed after 3 and wake up at 6 and take a mid day nap and start the cycle all over again.


Once I got to college the problem escalated as I had to pull overnighters to get projects done, as a video student it happened frequently. After working at class all day and working all night on projects, I would have to function all day again in class and then go home and pass out.

I now work overnights at my job, I get home around 8 or 9 and I sleep until noon or one.. or at least I was.. Now I only sleep for an hour or two every single day with maybe one day where I sleep for about 5 or 6. This scares me because I'm scared that one day I'm just going to drop dead of sleep deprivation. It also scares me because the one or two hours I feel fine. I get a little jittery at night time at work.. but one more cup of caffeine and I'm fine.

I feel like this is ruining my life, I have developed a tad of depression and anxiety. I also feel like I constantly have a brick in the middle of my head.. and no matter how muchI try to get help.. They just offer me more melatonin and try to shrug it off. Dear goodness I know this isn't normal.

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About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?

A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:

Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.

If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.

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The Stanford Sleep Book

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Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for Sleep and Dreams since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.

In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.

Preface | Intro | Contents | Get A Copy

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Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

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