To not understand why a lack of sleep destroys me

[Gallivanterer]

Went to bed at midnight yesterday, woke up at 4, spent hours tossing and turning so got up.

Today I am absolutely destroyed, I feel really shaky and lightheaded, like I'm on drugs or have been hit by a bus or something. Kind of slurry, with sort of blurry vision. Have crawled through work in a daze. I dont understand how my eg my mum or DP can have a really shit sleep and be exhausted all day the next day but just feel.really tired and get over it, whereas I feel like I'm literally on another planet. Am I just a massive baby or do some people just do worse on bad sleep?
Christ knows how id manage if I had kids!

I'm terrible with not enough sleep too

I think it is just people are different. I can cope with a few days no sleep but my brother would be like you. Similarly I can go all day without eating but two of my friends would feel faint if they skip breakfast.

With kids you just get used to it. Mine woke hourly for 4 years. I work full time. I just got used to feeling constantly dead but managing just about ok. I suspect it's shaved a decade off my life but c'est la vie

When I don't get enough sleep (7.5 hours) or if it's disturbed, I become someone else.

I learnt this from an audiobook called, 'Stolen Focus: Why you can't pay attention' (which I highly recommend). I've forgotten the scientific terms (probably wasn't focusing) but your brain is washed through when you sleep deeply. If you don't get enough deep sleep, it doesn't have a proper rinsing and you have toxins left in there. That's why it feels a bit like you're hungover. Maybe some people need less brainwashing than others....
I'm the same, I can't cope without enough sleep at all, but my husband can go days on 4-5 hours sleep without feeling too bad.