Sleep deprivation significantly influences how we react to different emotional stimuli, according to a thesis by a researcher from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. If you’ve ever felt irritable after a night of no sleep, you’ll relate to her findings that lack of sleep can seriously alter our reactions and perceptions, akin to the effects of inebriation. It’s also been found that those who experience poor sleep tend to avoid social interaction and are instinctively given space by others. Sandra Tamm’s research also discovered that sleep deprivation negatively affects our emotional perceptions, making us more prone to perceive things negatively.
Through her examination of data from 117 participants and using PET and MRI scans, Tamm found that sleep deprivation leads to what’s known as a “negativity bias”. Furthermore, it results in moodiness and difficulties in managing emotional responses. However, the ability to empathize with others’ pain wasn’t drastically affected by lack of sleep.
Regarding individuals with seasonal birch pollen allergies, they experienced compromised sleep quality during the pollen season but managed to have more deep sleep during this period. There were no clear mechanisms found showing how sleep deprivation leads to a negativity bias and changes emotional behavior.
Despite this, Tamm’s research offers significant insights into our comprehension of sleep deprivation as a significant risk factor for mental health issues. Tamm asserted that the results can deepen our understanding of how chronic sleep issues increase the risk of psychiatric conditions like depression.
Several historical treatments, such as passionflower, are known to help lessen anxiety and enhance sleep. It’s not defined how long humans can stay awake, but in a remarkable experiment from 1964, a person stayed awake for 264 hours. Additionally, some foods could aid sleep due to their content of serotonin, melatonin, and tryptophan. This article also addresses waking up tired often, which might point towards poor sleeping habits or an underlying health condition.