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Original poster

Things you've noticed that are the result of sleep deprivation.

104 replies

weeblueberry · 30/11/2015 23:50

Suspect we've all got the 'cranky' and 'anxious' boxes ticked but is there anything odd that you've experienced through sleep deprivation?

My first slept well so I wasn't sure what to expect with proper lack of sleep but the most frustrating thing I've found is how often I get simple words mixed up. Even when it's not been a particularly bad night I often say the wrong word. Sometimes I don't even notice til someone brings it up...the worst is when I tell my toddler to do something and accidentally tell her the opposite (ie sit and get play doh rather than sit and get lunch). Poor wee mite is getting confused...

OP posts:
eurochick · 01/12/2015 00:09

My memory is shockingly bad.

Outmyself · 01/12/2015 00:17

Aches all over. Really painful to drag myself up to see to the baby, Hallucinating. Short of breath when doing general household tasks. Confusion. I have never experienced sleep depravation as bad as that and never wish to repeat it again.

VocationalGoat · 01/12/2015 00:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gaggiagirl · 01/12/2015 00:22

My skin looks terrible. My eyes are puffy. I cant concentrate. I forget what I was doing or saying. I see things that aren't there. I feel weepy. I resent my DH for sleeping. I lose patience with the older DC.

catsofa · 01/12/2015 00:37

The RAGE! Had to go to another room to scream several times on my worst night so far. Not usually that bad but I certainly get more angry, quicker and over smaller things.

CheesyWeez · 01/12/2015 00:40

A kind of fizzy feeling in my head, especially at the front of the brain. Seeing things moving or turning that aren't, such as doorknobs... misreading words on the page (which I NEVER did before). Inability to organize my thoughts or get the most important things done.

TesticleOfObjectivity · 01/12/2015 00:45

I've aged too. My skin looks dehydrated all the time despite me drinking tonnes of water and moisturising. I forget what I'm about to do just before doing it all the time. I forget what I was saying while I'm saying it.

ijustwannadance · 01/12/2015 00:47

All of the above. I barely know what day of the week it is anymore. Also put on weight due to eating more sugary crap to keep myself awake. Constantly feel run down. Immune system buggered and feel i've aged about 10 years in a short time. Sad

TesticleOfObjectivity · 01/12/2015 00:50

Yes I never used to eat sugary things before as I didn't have a sweet tooth. Nowadays I manage a packet of biscuits most days!

spillyobeans · 01/12/2015 00:54

All of the above! Slurring my words Confused

KanyesVest · 01/12/2015 01:10

Face ache and a sore throat are my first signs, but I've had many of the others mentioned above. In often transpose or insert words when reading, have a shocking memory (very embarrassingly in a meeting i had to actually admit that I had no idea how I planned to end the sentence I was in the middle of; my friends are used to me by now) and worst of all, find the more tired I am, the less likely I am to go to sleep, making everything a million times worse, just like right now.

My huge sympathies to all suffering too.

mawbroon · 01/12/2015 01:11

Psychosis Sad

Pobspits · 01/12/2015 01:21

Feeling sick

Hobbitfeet32 · 01/12/2015 01:25

All of the above. My job is suffering as my brain is in such a fog and I forget things. I can't concentrate on anything anymore on things like watching tv. I stare at the screen but dont really take anything in.

Purpleboa · 01/12/2015 01:40

I too have aged. Without makeup, I look dreadful. DH denies it, but he's just being nice. I look scrawny too - my mum always said you can tell a woman's age by her neck and I think my neck is starting to look old!

I also feel low level anxious constantly. And it goes without saying that I'm a horrible bitch to my nearest and dearest...

Rockinghorse123 · 01/12/2015 01:42

So many of the things pp have said ring true. I can't form sentences. I get things the wrong way round. I forget what I'm doing or saying half way through. I get irrationally annoyed, particularly at DH. Dizziness, headaches, nausea.

I didn't know tiredness until I had kids!

Original poster
weeblueberry · 01/12/2015 02:01

Completely agree with the aging thing too. I've said to my partner a couple of times that I've aged ten years in the 18 months (DD2 is 8mo). I look absolutely awful. Barely like me any more. I've got fat again because I don't care and can only assume my face shows the horrible thoughts I feel a lot of the time because I'm just so fucking tired.

I am probably feeling particularly sorry for myself though because after a weekend of me being sick (viral), toddler had it now baby has it. So I've been up since half four and she's showing no signs of sleep. None. Despite barely sleeping in the day. And now it's too icy to take her for a drive because if probably kill us both given how exhausted I am. Sad

OP posts:
manana21 · 01/12/2015 06:51

Constant frantic feelings even at calm times. Making many stupid mistakes at work and too tired to even feel properly ashamed - my judgment has really gone to pot.

Fleurchamp · 01/12/2015 08:04

Clumsiness - I am constantly dropping things, tripping over and walking into things. I am covered in bruises.

On bad days I cannot drive as I would be a danger to myself and other road users.

I have aged lots too. I have frown lines from what I presume is a perpetual scowl on my face.

I also eat rubbish all day Sad

Used2bthin · 01/12/2015 08:07

Hallucinations anyone? Hard to know if that's the correct term but I see things I expect so have tried to turn off the hob having "seen" a flame, only to find it isn't on at all. "Seeing" the cat next to me and gling to stroke it then realising it's not there.
I only get these when extremely sleep deprived so at least I hope that's why I get them !

Used2bthin · 01/12/2015 08:09

And yes to irritable and anxious

ijustwannadance · 01/12/2015 08:33

Also, I used to be able to organize 20+ members of staff. Now I can barely organize a 4 year old. I always thought It would get better when she started school but it's worse now as at least before she slept til half 8/9. Always planned more than one child. I doubt that now as I am terrified it will actually finish me off!

ToffeePenny · 01/12/2015 09:05

Yy to many of these plus I find my body now defaults to wanting to run off sugar. If I go on a high protein low carb diet I can eat relatively normally but the second I switch to a meal of normal food: shepherds pie, pasta, paella, Sunday lunch etc I wake up with the most god awful sugar cravings the next day and nothing (not even sugar cubes) will satisfy them.

FreeButtonBee · 01/12/2015 10:28

Forgetting words. Even basic ones. I get to the point in a sentence. And just blank.

Physical aches - my body was screaming with tiredness - it was horrendous.

I did get skinny but that was bfing twins - had I been ff j would have been enormous as I lived off sugar.

Ds2 is not great at sleeping but the experience is so much less bad than last time (DTs woke every hour, but not the same hour so j was getting snatched of 15 mins sleep all night. For months )

Rach000 · 01/12/2015 10:29

These are all so true. I am covered in bruises as well, my husband can't understand how I have so many all the time. I eat biscuits and chocolate every day now. Sometimes just can't think straight to plan what I need to do. I have also noticed I have dry skin in certain areas like around my eyes which makes me look worse and I am sure it's due to lack of sleep.