The Essentiality of Sleep Through the Recovery of Depression

When I think of how important sleep is, I am reminded that sleep deprivation is often used as a form of torture. In an article titled “Why Sleep Deprivation is Torture: Prolonged Sleep Deprivation is a Cruel and Useless Method of Interrogation”, Kelly Bulkeley, Ph.D, notes that, “The first signs of sleep deprivation are unpleasant feelings of fatigue, irritability, and difficulties concentrating. Then come problems with reading and speaking clearly, poor judgment, lower body temperature, and a considerable increase in appetite. If the deprivation continues, the worsening effects include disorientation, visual misperceptions, apathy, severe lethargy, and social withdrawal.” He goes on to say that, “One of the first symptoms of sleep deprivation in humans is a disordering of thought and bursts of irrationality. Beyond 24 hours of deprivation people suffer huge drops in cognitive functions like accurate memory, coherent speech, and social competence. Eventually the victims suffer hallucinations and a total break with reality.”2 It is clear from the depiction above, that decent sleep is an absolute necessity. Often times, when a new patient meets with a doctor regarding depression, sleep is the first issue they attempt to get under control. This is often done with the support of medication. Prescription sleep medication should only be taken upon consulting with your doctor, as it could interfere with other medication that one is taking and ma...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Benzodiazepines Depression Medications Psychology Self-Help Sleep Treatment Mood Disorder napping Relaxation restfulness routine Sleep Deprivation sleep environment sleep hygiene Sleep restriction Stimulus control therapy Source Type: news