Sleep Deprivation Training
This seemed like the place to look for help.
I have severe sleeping disorders (yes, that is plural). I have conquered a great deal in my life in the context of mental health, but have hit a road block. I have had sleeping disorders since I was born, and they have gotten worse as I got older. It has finally gotten to the point where my sleep is random and uncontrollable. I can't work, I can't go to school and I'm living on disability assisstance. I'm 23 years old, used to be a weight lifter, am learning Krav Maga (the real one, not the watered down version), am getting back into shape, have plans to go to school, have an exceptionally high intelligence and inquisitive nature... And all this is currently for nothing because of my sleep.
The sleep specialists don't know what to do, the sleep study I went to didn't work because even though I had been awake for over 24 hours I couldn't sleep, the waiting line for my next sleep study here in Canada is another six months (with no gaurantee I'll sleep then, either), and the sleep psychologist that the specialist wants me to see has a massive waiting line a full year in length and there is no word yet on whether or not I'll be bumped farther ahead on that line.
I talked to the sleep specialist about sleep deprivation training. Not only does it exist, but it is possible and it works. The miltiary proves this all the time. Since it will likely be years before the problems with my sleep are figured out (and I'm not about to wait that long to start my life), I've decided I need sleep deprivation training so that I can function on less sleep. I used to do this when I was younger (the doctors estimate that when I was in elementary school I may have been getting as little as 2 hours of sleep per night), but I'm having a great deal of trouble coping with less sleep as an adult. I need a plan, but I know nothing about sleep deprivation training and I can't find a single resource anywhere to help me.
I'm not going to wait to see the sleep psychologist to start, not as long as I'm alive and kicking. Since I can't find any resources to help, I thought that posting here on NDCQ might turn up someone who may know something of sleep deprivation training. If not, I'm going to go ahead and create my own plan and implement it in conjunction with a workout routine and mental exercises. I'm going to give myself one more week before I actually start this plan while I try to find more information. This is due to the fact that doing this on my own is very dangerous and very risky to my health. As I see it, though, I currently have two choices; either I leave my life and future in the hands of others, or I take charge, take the risks, do it anyway. If I manage to hurt myself in the process, I'll still be farther along than having done nothing at all.
I won't quit until I'm dead.
I was not aware that there
I was not aware that there was such a thing as sleep deprivation training. This sounds nice because I go through the same thing with my sleeping disorder. I also went out and bought a new mattress from a mattress firm Phoenix that knew all about sleeping problems. They helped me find the perfect mattress and that helped me a lot. I still have sleeping problems, but that was the first step. Now I will look more into this trianing. Thank you
Not quite a failure.
Well, I got myself some rest and I'm feeling a lot better. I feel like I should have pushed through it and probably would have been fine, but it is too late for that now.
The bad news: I didn't complete the training and my have to do this again.
The good news: I went five nights and four days with only 4 hours of sleep each night, pretty much alone. Not only did I get up, but I would run or walk and stay awake.
I now know that if I push myself, I should be able to retain some sort of proper sleep schedule which will allow me to work. I'm going to take a few days to recover and then start a routine of waking up each day and going on a morning running, having a cup of coffee when needed. I'll get back into my home exercises and then see what happens. If I try hard enough, I may be able to keep a proper sleep schedule. It is just a matter of refusing to quit.
Justin
N D C Q Jusitn
I'm glad you are feeling better. The ill feeling you had seems it was your body's way of telling you that you needed to rest and although it wasn't the way the training should have gone, it seems you did the right thing. Although this disorder for so long has literally run Your life, it appears that You are starting to dictate to it what is going to happen and I commend you for that. Getting through this challenge will not be easy, but What worth fighting for is? This may be the toughest thing you have ever done in your life thus far - but when you hit your target think of what you then WILL be capable of! Keep pushing forward NDCQ! You're in my thoughts and prayers!
Mandy
Sleep is already getting better.
The training worked better than I thought it would. My sleep is already getting better and I need far less sleep every night. I'll likely need to do the training again, but for now, I've just made a major step forward in dealing with my sleep.
I'm also keeping up with my morning run, which helps me stay awake during the day. I'm getting back in shape and can already feel the extra energy.
The war is far from over, but I've finally won my first battle. This sleep deprivation training was my Operation Overlord.
NDCQ forever!
Justin
That's all folks.
I'm getting worse rapidly. My stomach is getting more and more upset and I feel like I may throw up if I don't get some more rest. I must have caught something while at Krav Maga last night. Five nights is no where near long enough, but I know that if I get sick, my body won't be able to fight it off whlie I'm sleep deprived. I'll have to try again later.
Now excuse me while I choose a few short expletives before going back to bed for a couple hours. I'll begin paying off my sleep debt tonight.
Justin
Day 5
Alright, running into the first potential problem. I feel a soar throat coming on. I'll rinse with salt water to see if that helps. Muscles are too tired for a run today, going to do a walk instead.
Justin
Getting sick?
I had to cut the walk short. It was too cold outside and I don't own a thermal. My throat and stomach don't feel good. Time for a medical opinion. I want to continue, but I know my immune system is compromised under these conditions. What should my limit be in this situation?
Edit: Tongue almost feels like it may be swelling a little bit. Salt water took care of sore throat.
Justin
Day 4
I'm awake, alive and kicking! The run sucked, though. I ran farther, approximately 1.45 klicks this time! But the City of Winnipeg got a flash of humidity and heat, something our weather can be infamous for. Even though it was 06:00, it felt only mildly better than a midday run, thus hampering my efferts. But, whenever I was slowing down, I would say out loud, "Not dead, can't quit," and I suddenly gained a burst of speed and energy. Those are powerful words when you understand and believe in them.
Justin
The Bus Sucks
I've managed to continue to go about day to day commitments that I've already had in place. The downside is that I must take the bus everywhere. The reason this is a downside is becuase while I'm sitting down and not doing anything, I begin to fall asleep. I'll just have to stand up while on the bus at all times.
A couple more hours and I leave for Krav Maga. Sleep deprived Krav Maga has been interesting to say the least, but I'm retaining the movements just as well, if not better.
Justin
Krav Maga is better when sleepy
Interestingly, Krav Maga is much better while sleep deprived. It has a lot of simple movements, so when you are sleep deprived, you do these naturally and visualize the movement rather than just thinking about the movement step by step. I'm retaining these simple movements, such as chokes and strikes, much better than normal. On the downside, I can't remember a damn thing if it has several steps in it. Due to this, during the remainder of the training, I'm sticking to the simple moves and pressure points. I've also gotten to the point where I'm starting to move around and figure out things on my own, applying training to different situations that we havne't already been trained it. My instructors are impressed and so am I, and the sleep deprivation is actually helping me along right now.
I look forward to Thursday.
There should be a Deadliest Warrior episode pitting my head instructor against Mack in a hand to hand battle! I've already been taught several different ways to break necks. Hope I never have to use them.
Justin
Day 3
Today is significantly more difficult than yesterday. I'm up, but the stress on my body and mind is significant. I was unable to do a morning run. However, rather than give up, I walked my route, approximately 2.05 klicks, and then proceeded to do some pushups upon arriving home. Mental impairement is much higher than yesterday. My body and mind are definitely not used to this level of stress. My typing speed has dropped from over 100 words per minute to, I'd guess, under 40 words per minute.
Fear is starting to set in. I'm afraid I won't make it to 1 week, let lone 2 weeks (the minimum goal). This fear of not making it is definitely stronger than my desire to complete the mission, and that is saying a great deal. I'm not sure how much more my body and mind can take alone.
Justin
Mornings are hardest.
Mornings are the hardest. If I can stay up for an hour, I can keep going through the rest of the day. My typing got back up to speed and my mind was able to speed up. I find doing the sudoku and brain puzzles helps. It makes me feel better for tomorrow. I'll get up and do my run now that I've given my muscles a rest, push myself a little farther than yesterday.
So far, this training is making it so that when I want to sleep, I can. Previously, I could end up being awake for 24 hours and only fall asleep for an hour, sometimes even less (26 minutes when it came to the sleep study). While it is too early to call for certain, I do feel as though my mind and body are getting the message, that when I want to sleep, I need to sleep, and when I want to be awake, I need to be awake. I need to make it to 14 days do make sure it sets in, then after a recovery period potentially decrease my sleep time down to two hours and do it all over again. I can do this. NDCQ!
Justin
Day 2
Day 2 is just as hard as I thought it would be.
But it is no harder than that. My run is complete, and I extended it. I ran approximately 1.25 klicks and walked approximately 800 metres. I got 4 hours of sleep last night, as per the plan. At this point, the sleep deprivation is doing its work. I fall asleep very fast, and I sleep deeply.
I'm also taking One A Day men's formula each day to help with the nutrient drain my body is going through. I can definitely feel some mental impairment, but it isn't anywhere near unbearable yet. This is what the sudoku puzzles and brain games are for.
Justin
Sleepiness
So I'm managing to stay awake, though I can tell my body and brain are demanding that I sleep. I accidentally dozed off for a few minutes. I find that exercising when I real feel tired helps, so I'll be sure to increase my time outside and doing other activities. Thinking of which, I did mean to do some shopping today, so I'm off to do that shortly.
Justin
Day End
Just about finished day 2. The biggest issue is dealing with boredom. I'm formulating new plans to deal with that, primarily the use of retro video games, so we'll see how that goes. Thankfully I had a friend to hang out with today that helped a great deal, though that won't be an option for the weekdays. I've made my couch off-limits for the rest of the training, as fall asleep sitting down is very easy. I sit on an exercise ball while at my computer.
The hardest point is definitely the night, from 20:00 to 02:00. That is when boredom sets in the most and sleep becomes the most enticing. It will get even harder each day, but the longer I can keep this up, the better my life will be afterwards.
Only 1 hour and 46 minutes to bed.
Justin
Day 1
So far, so good. I went to bed around 02:00 and fell asleep rather quickly. I woke up to my alarm at 06:00 and went on my morning run. I ran approximately 1 klick, and plan on extending that. Got home and did a sudoku puzzle, currently working on a crossword in a brain game puzzle book and ate a bowl of cerial for breakfast.
Justin
Test
Ignore this, it was just a test.
Justin
Hello my dear brother
I just finished reading your post for the second time. I am really sorry that, as young as you are, already experiencing such a hard and debilitating problem.
From what I read this is something that has been with you always, and of course from a medical stand point that makes it harder to crack. You are living in the 1st. World, where all the reasources are available.
I have read very little about "sleep deprivation training", and my point of view about it, is first and foremost, it is not your solution. As you well mentioned it, will be risky and puts your health in harms way.
Now in your story, you mentioned that you are or were a good weight lifter and also you are learning Krav maga (I do love the system), and I think those two things are great! Why? Because you are eventually egaging into physical activity.
My recomendation as a primary care doctor is, to try to avoid the sleep deprivation idea, and not get discourage about looking for ways to help your brain to get down and sleep.
One more thing. Have you tried engaging into hardcore training of any endurance activity or fitness system that will kick your butt so to speak so you will be absolutely tired and eventually fall asleep? Marathon training? Crossfit? Triathlon? stuff like that. Things or systems that will make you burn a shit load of calories and at the same time put your mind at ease? Sleep deprivation training will "train" your body and brain to try to function even without sleep....hardcore physical training will make you eventually so tired that you will fall asleep.
Let me know what do you think about this last idea.
Canadian medical is balls.
I like your ideas and have been getting more physically fit, but it hasn't been changing anything. My sleep continues to behave randomly, regardless of what I do. Even when I was a competitive weight lifter (won the high school competition in my province) I was having sever sleep problems and often couldn't fall asleep until well into the morning. I would wake up because my dad would yell at me to get me out of bed (which caused its own problems, thankfully now dealt with). Eventually I learned to wake up earlier than that and be gone from the house before my dad was even awake. I will be going through the sleep deprivation training, regardless of what anyone says. I already have someone to come check in on me every day, who will also be helping me with meals. I have a work-out regimen and mental exercises all ready to go. I can't maintain a job, so that isn't even an issue. The sleep deprivation training is going to happen.
I simply do not have a choice in this. Canada's health care system is crap (and don't let Obama tell you otherwise). Yes, we all get health care, but the wait times have been known to kill people. Someone in the city I live in died while in the hospital waiting room because he needed his catheter changed (infection), and no one dealt with him despite going to the triage desk on several occasions. In my case, the system isn't interested in helping someone like me. Canada's Medicare guidelines actually state that long-term health is not the job of Medicare. This means people like me, who actually need the help, don't get it. I have a six month wait just for another sleep study. It will take years before the doctors have this figured out. I already cancelled going to university this fall largely due to my sleeping disorders. I'm not cancelling fall of 2012, and the doctors won't have it figured out by then, not by a long shot.
I have gone through several options already. Better diet, various prescription and OTC drugs, different lighting, bright light therapy, exercise... I could go on and on. I have tried many options but found no solutions. This is why I didn't ask for more ideas. I've tried ALL of the mainstream ideas. It is time to do what I do best as an outdoorsman. Time to leave the beaten path and blaze a trail. I've moved on to unorthodox methods for dealing with this, because I'm not going to allow this to waste any more of my life.
Unorthodox ideas and information on sleep deprivation training are appreciated. However, anything that a doctor would normally suggest for this - drugs, exercise, diet, light, mental health - has been tried and does not work. This fall I will be heading out to visit family in the country where I will spend my time sleeping, living and working outdoors for several weeks. I am doing this to test a theory that as a person with severe ADHD, my sleeping disorders are related to the theory that ADHD is the genetic remnent of hunter-gatherer society, and so living in a city is what could be causing my sleeping disorders. Unorthodox ideas like that and the upcoming sleep deprivation training are far more promising than anything mainstream.
If I sound rude, Doc Rios, I don't mean to me. It is just that, unfortunately, what you have said has already been said and I have already tried on several occasions. To paraphrase Thomas Eddison, I haven't failed, but so far everything that has been suggested doesn't work.
Justin
No harm done brother
I can tell your frustration and if you want, some anger, and that is totally acceptable due the tremendous severity of your problem. For that I can only emphatize with you and also wish you the very best. I am sure this has been so debilitating and hard on you, as it is to go through the medical system like Canada or anyother country my man...believe me, unfortunatively, universal health care is not the solution.
Brother I wish I could give you something more, but I only have support for you and the best energy or vibe is you want to call it. I admire how valiant you are, and have already set a plan or a path to follow.
I´ll keep you in my prayers as a man of faith I am. Best of luck, and keep us all post here.NDCQ to you!
Your friend
Doc.
Prayer works.
Thank you for your prayers. I'll update this topic as I go through the sleep deprivation training.
Justin
Hang in there brother...
My prayers are with you Justin, I am a bit concerned about the stress your brain and rest of the body, in that order is going through. Please do keep us posted.
NDCQ for ever brother!
Your friend: Doc
Dear Justin
I absolutely cannot imagine what you must be going through and how hard it is for you but I admire your willingness to keep pushing to get through it no matter what. You seem very determined and clearly that is what is driving you to beat this disorder and I hope and pray all works out for you. Please do keep us posted on your progress and know that many hard chargers like yourself here at NDCQ are pulling for you! Not Dead Can't Quit...
Thank you both.
Thank you both Mandy and Doc. I'm hanging in there, it is the morning that is the toughest. I'm trying to post at least once each day above. I've got a family member helping make sure I have food (too dangerous to cook and I can't afford to buy ready-made foods) and my Krav Maga instructor is making sure I don't take it too far and get hurt (he served well over a decade in the military including French Foreign Legion, possibly two, knows extended sleep deprivation quite personally).
It must be said, I have to give a major thank you to Mack and wish I could thank him in person. If I hadn't read Unleash The Warrior Within, I wouldn't be doing this and I wouldn't even have been able to make it this far. Under my previous mindset, I would often wake up, turn off the alarm, and without thinking go back to bed and would be unable to get up, no matter what the reason. That book changed my life. I now wake up, even when highly sleep deprived, and force myself out of bed, saying and doing what I need to in order to get up and go, no matter how tired I am or how painful doing so is. NDCQ!
Justin