[CopperStar]

A few times throughout my life I have heard or read from someone that they didn't sleep for like 10 days, in the context that they were totally fine, like it was an achievement. One time it was a guy who said he did it using energy drinks. Another time it was a guy explaining how much homework he had from college and that he hadn't even slept all week, while appearing completely fine and stable. All I could ever think was yeah that didn't happen. But I would never say so aloud. Would be pointless and awkward confrontation, plus then I'd have to explain how I know they're full of ****. I think the longest I've ever made it with no sleep whatsoever was a little over 72 hours, my whole body hurt so bad it was unbearable, and I became psychotic. But it seems like most neurotypicals don't realize that that is what actually happens to people who can't sleep, so some of them have no idea how ridiculous their claims sound.

[otroo]

I have easily gone over 5 days without sleep while manic. If I don't take my sleeping pills I will honestly be up 3 or 4 days not well functioning but I will be awake till I pass out from exaustion.

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[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by otroo

I have easily gone over 5 days without sleep while manic. If I don't take my sleeping pills I will honestly be up 3 or 4 days not well functioning but I will be awake till I pass out from exaustion.

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Right I understand that, not being able to sleep but not functioning very well.

This wasn't meant to be a serious or angry thread or anything, just memories that popped into my head randomly today. Of people claiming they hadn't slept in a week or more but being totally fine. It just always struck me as sort of awkward and funny, how I knew that they were probably full of it.

[wiretwister]

before three days my head would be hurting so bad .... lets just say I move heaven and earth to not let that happen ....

[otroo]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

Right I understand that, not being able to sleep but not functioning very well.

This wasn't meant to be a serious or angry thread or anything, just memories that popped into my head randomly today. Of people claiming they hadn't slept in a week or more but being totally fine. It just always struck me as sort of awkward and funny, how I knew that they were probably full of it.

Oh don't worry I did not take it in a bad way. I know what you mean though I have heard people make statements saying they have been up all week just to get an A in some class thing lol.

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[raspberrytorte]

I've never not slept at all for days. I would never be able to do that. Less than five hours a night and things start getting dicey. Lol. Last episode I was two to three hours a night. Always need a little sleepy time.

But yeah, when people say those things they're really exagerating.

[lautzee]

What got me was the flip side of this: a 23 year old complaining at 11pm that they'd been up 16 hours and how that was such a long time..

Hard to take that seriously when at 16 I'd been doing regular 36 hour days at college, due to bipolar and sleeping issues (delayed sleep phase)

[Treyfrancis21]

Luckily my hypo episodes allow for a few hours of sleep every night. I am familiar with going 3-5 days without sleep from my reckless youth spent doing way too much meth, and I agree that there is no way possible for people to go literally days without sleeping and not show severe signs of fatigue and exhaustion, and feeling like utter shite.

[Wanderlust90]

Yup I've spent 4 days awake with no sleep at all, not hypomanic but under the influence of pills & speed. I was hallucinating & getting paranoid & very very uncomfortable besides barely being able to hold a conversation. Maybe someone in full blown mania may be awake for days on end with no sleep but I still don't think they would be perfectly normal & functioning.

[RisuNeko]

In my first manic episode ever I was up for 6 or 7 days. It's hard to remember because I became psychotic and my memory got super sparse. I was not "fine" but I was up and at 'em. Physically I knew my body was exhausted, but my brain was like, go go go, let's think 10 things at once 24 hours a day and talk word salad constantly.

[cashart10]

I remember in the hospital, they were trying to determine if I was BP1 or BP2. I explained that my previous pdoc had diagnosed me with BP1 but I wasn't sure what my admitting pdoc said (learned later it was BP1, severe, w/psychotic features). Anyway, the only question he asked me was what was the longest I'd gone with no sleep. I answered 2 or 3 days (although I had gone months with just a couple hours of sleep per night). I thought the question was very odd.

I remember once, after not sleeping for 2 days, I drove straight through to Fl--12 hours (well to be fair my husband drove a very short while). I was completely out of my mind psychotic though. You wouldn't have known it as I was simply jumping around praying for everyone in sight and drinking as much water as is possible and blasting and singing praise and worship music like my life depended on it. Oh--and all the while commenting about how surreal the clouds were, the clouds were just so, so heavely (my husband was like "ENOUGH already" about the clouds, ha--all for very delusional reasons.

[Standup2me]

My record is 72 hours, and I felt like poop.
I was seeing things, hearing things, my heart was pounding and my legs too heavy to walk
I collapsed in a heap and slept almost 24 hours

[lunaticfringe]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

A few times throughout my life I have heard or read from someone that they didn't sleep for like 10 days, in the context that they were totally fine, like it was an achievement. One time it was a guy who said he did it using energy drinks. Another time it was a guy explaining how much homework he had from college and that he hadn't even slept all week, while appearing completely fine and stable. All I could ever think was yeah that didn't happen. But I would never say so aloud. Would be pointless and awkward confrontation, plus then I'd have to explain how I know they're full of ****. I think the longest I've ever made it with no sleep whatsoever was a little over 72 hours, my whole body hurt so bad it was unbearable, and I became psychotic. But it seems like most neurotypicals don't realize that that is what actually happens to people who can't sleep, so some of them have no idea how ridiculous their claims sound.

This kind of reminds me of how I've seen bipolar and other mental illnesses romanticized in a lot of popular culture stuff. No folks, it is not cool to be mentally ill and you can't be in our club anways. You can't sit with us.

[Trippin2.0]

I naturally need less sleep, I'm good to go on 4, but schedule 5 just for good measure, because work is stressful and the commute torturous. When I'm hypo I can do 0 hours for about 2 nights and be ok, but I start becoming irritable so try to schedule 2hrs just to be on the safe side.


Due to delayed sleep cycle, my family "forbidding" sleeping during daylight and my brain kicking into over drive, I once went 4 nights and 5 days with zero sleep, SANS hypomania!!!


It was TERRIBLE


I was irritable as all *****, I was exhausted but not sleepy, and my eyes felt like someone rubbed them with sandpaper.

My body hurt like hell too.


The 5th day while I was on the verge of bloodshed and trashing the entire house, my brother got some sleeping pills from my sister.


Had to take a double dosage and woke up 2 hours later fresh as a daisy and disappointed as a child who found out Santa was a lie.


Horrid experience, for all involved, my family no longer intervene with my sleeping patterns.


And yes, I just laugh at people saying shyt like they haven't slept and are fine.

[Unrigged64072835]

I've been manic once where I didn't get any sleep for 2 days. I was so anxious, though, that my brain kept going even though my body was tired. It was absolute hell. I don't see how one could function rationally without some sleep at least.

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by CopperStar

A few times throughout my life I have heard or read from someone that they didn't sleep for like 10 days, in the context that they were totally fine, like it was an achievement........ But it seems like most neurotypicals don't realize that that is what actually happens to people who can't sleep, so some of them have no idea how ridiculous their claims sound.

It's because they just don't know, and they are ignorant of the agony. Before I was diagnosed with Bipolar, and actually for some time after, I would use the high surges to work overtime (I was a high functioning bipolar for years).

I understand your frustration with this. I often envy my husband his ability to just lie down and sleep within minutes.... while I need medication!

[scatterbrained04]

The most I've ever gone with no sleep at all was 3 days. I definitely did not feel ok after 2 days. No way anyone could go a week or more and feel fine.

[kimber1234]

Originally Posted by lunaticfringe

This kind of reminds me of how I've seen bipolar and other mental illnesses romanticized in a lot of popular culture stuff. No folks, it is not cool to be mentally ill and you can't be in our club anways. You can't sit with us.

Couldn't have said it better myself!!

[Pikku Myy]

I believe i too have gone about three days wo any sleep. And yep, after day two not functioning well. The longest stretch during one of my episodes was over a month, where i only slept about two hours per night. Neesdless to say, at that point i could not tell what was real or not really important for me to have a routine.

[Cocosurviving]

After my onset just out the blue I had lots of energy and needed very very little sleep (not diagnosed). I could function on three or four a night sleep. No way would I do eight that would be missing out on things. I do believe the posters that say they stayed up for a day or three. I'm BP 1 and mania gets me so wired up I have to make myself go to sleep. I didn't sleep bc I got tired I did it out of habit.

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[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by Cocosurviving

After my onset just out the blue I had lots of energy and needed very very little sleep (not diagnosed). I could function on three or four a night sleep. No way would I do eight that would be missing out on things. I do believe the posters that say they stayed up for a day or three. I'm BP 1 and mania gets me so wired up I have to make myself go to sleep. I didn't sleep bc I got tired I did it out of habit.

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I can believe several days with only a few hours of sleep per night, as well as a few days with no sleep at all. But after having not slept at all for 3 days, and how utterly horrific it was, I will just never believe someone who claims that they haven't slept at all in like 8 days and are perfectly fine. There is just no way.

[Ripose]

The below is from Wikipedia.

Microsleeps occur when a person has a significant sleep deprivation. Microsleeps usually last for a few seconds and happen most frequently when a person is trying to stay awake when he or she is feeling sleepy.[48] The person falls asleep no matter what activity he or she is engaged in.[citation needed] Microsleeps are similar to blackouts and a person experiencing them is not consciously aware that they are occurring.