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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:
Used2bthin · 01/12/2015 22:43

Yes paranoia! Not sure where the sleep deprivation ends and depression /anxiety begins its sort of chicken and egg for me.
And eye twitches! Also relieved to see I am not the only one who hallucinates but also sorry others are as tired. I should be asleep now in preparation for the inevitable waking in two hours but I have had so much coffee today it's hard to relax!

lilacclery · 02/12/2015 02:41

Realising the following day when you look at your bank or a week later when item arrives in the post

manana21 · 02/12/2015 10:25

for those thinking about a return to work - honestly, it's mentally restful (and physically). Accept that you won't function at the same level as pre-DC (well at least that's me, I'm sure some people do and feel more motivated post-DC), don't beat yourself up and repeat 'my experience means that even though I'm not slaying dragons every day I'm still a worthwhile employee)...getting 2 ready isn't great but it's do-able. Go to bed early and give yourself plenty of time for kids faffing in the morning.

lljkk · 02/12/2015 10:58

I lost the ability to multi-task, but that might be a getting-older thing, anyway. I can't string sentences together if I'm under emotional pressure.

Original poster
weeblueberry · 02/12/2015 11:27

for those thinking about a return to work - honestly, it's mentally restful

Couldn't agree with this more. Just the silence I experience at work is blissful. And my clients don't pitch a very loud fit when I tell them we can't give them something mostly

OP posts:
TheEagle · 02/12/2015 13:56

I do look forward to the mental break from minding the 3 all the time but when do you do the cooking/cleaning/washing/shopping?

Plus I'm a teacher so not much time for peace and quiet in the workplace Grin

PicnicPie · 02/12/2015 15:59

Re return to work, it's good to hear that the break of being away from kids and in a working environment does provide some form of rest. That's what I'm hoping for!

Bugaboom · 02/12/2015 19:17

I've been dreading return to work and how I will cope. Good to hear it might be OK!

spillyobeans · 03/12/2015 10:05

Im dreading it too my job is quite stressful!

toffeeboffin · 03/12/2015 17:27

I find since having DS i just can't think straight. And its not really due to a lack of sleep, he sleep s pretty well, so I do too.

I sat an exam the other day, maths and statistics and I swear I felt so stupid, I just couldn't think - couldn't make that jump!

toffeeboffin · 03/12/2015 17:29

I feel as if I've lost my common sense - some of the fuck-ups I make at work are quite embarrassing.

They definitely think I'm not the sharpest tool in the box.

Original poster
weeblueberry · 03/12/2015 17:32

I find since having DS i just can't think straight. And its not really due to a lack of sleep, he sleep s pretty well, so I do too.

I think it's quality of sleep though. You think you're sleeping but probably not deeply enough to always be truly rested.

OP posts:
toffeeboffin · 03/12/2015 17:52

Case in point:

Just been serving myself lunch at work (conference center) and I managed to pick up a saucer and spoon soup onto it, rather than into a little bowl!

toffeeboffin · 03/12/2015 17:55

weeblueberry

I think you're right about that. I think as mothers we are always slightly 'on' no matter what we are doing, ready to spring into action!

(spring used in a metaphorical sense, obviously. More like crawls into action)

FFTransform · 03/12/2015 19:30

All of the above, donuts, grumpy, mixing words, aging - luckily I moved away from home just before we had kids and didn't build up much of a social life to miss as I can't face staying up later than 9

Stupidly I have now such bad patterns of sleep that even though dc goes back very quickly after waking up ( unlike the hellish 18-24mo staying awake for hours every night) I can't and if I wake up after 4 that's it Sad

There was something else I meant to say but I can't actually remember Hmm

Oh yes I know - the happiness when I meet another mother in the same situation that we can share and I don't feel like such an alien in a parallel universe - thanks everyone

wanderingwondering · 03/12/2015 19:35

I had auditory hallucinations. I remember listening to dh read Dd a book but my mind changed the words to horrible things-like stabbing and decapitating. Scary

TheEagle · 03/12/2015 19:35

One time DH noticed that I was sleeping with one leg out of bed, foot on the floor.

Always ready to spring into action!

wallywobbles · 03/12/2015 20:06

Chronically and repetitively clumsy. Not really safe to drive either. Feeling grubby all the time. Twitch in my eye.

Boredofthinkingofnewnames · 03/12/2015 20:08

I hallucinated when I was sleep deprived with new born twins. I used to see spiders and mice out of the corner of my eye, was awful. That was after a sustained period of about 3 hours sleep a night though.

General tiredness I just get clumsy and seriously forgetful. Keys in the fridge type thing.

TelephoneIgnoringMachine · 03/12/2015 20:15

Headaches, grumpy, weepy, forgetful, couldn't concentrate on anything, constantly hungry & consequent weight gain, hallucinations.

Lack of sleep definitely makes you hungry. Google sleep & ghrelin.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 03/12/2015 20:18

So many of the above ring true for me.

Also - mouth ulcers. I seem to lose the entire protective coating in my mouth and it just become one huge ulcer.

On the bright side my youngest is 2.5 now and I think things are starting to get better. We are not planning any more so although I will still be sleep deprived in the future I do have hope that it will never be as bad as it has been again.

trilbydoll · 03/12/2015 20:18

My brain feels like I'm wading through treacle, it's a slow thought process and I still struggle to find the right words.

I walked into Waitrose this morning for prunes and came out with fish cakes.

Angry a lot of the time. Angry with smug people with good sleepers, angry with DD for not sleeping and angry with myself for not soldiering on. Also sleep consultants, they make me angry too.

Eagle - I love the image of you constantly primed for action, that's hilarious!

shutupandshop · 03/12/2015 20:19

Ive been bloody hulicinating from tiredness. My skin looks crap.

Doje · 03/12/2015 20:37

I'm fine in the house, then when I go out to a play group I realise I can't string a sentence together, let alone hold a conversation. It feels like I'm drunk and everyone else in the room is sober.

And never being sure of yourself. We lost the garage key the other day. I was fairly certain it wasn't me and then my DH found DS's pyjamas in the bin. Instead of in the washing machine. I couldn't remember doing it and so started questioning myself.

The keys were found two days later in my coat pocket.

Doje · 03/12/2015 20:38

And the Tivo box is full of things I've watched the first ten minutes of, fallen asleep and woken up for the last five minutes.