Lack of Sleep

[MikeHunt79]

Out of interest, what's the longest you could do without sleep if you were forced to stay awake?

I remember hearing that you would die if you went for 2 weeks without sleep but I have a feeling that someone was having me on...

 

[Swi1ch]

Out of interest, what's the longest you could do without sleep if you were forced to stay awake?

I remember hearing that you would die if you went for 2 weeks without sleep but I have a feeling that someone was having me on...

Longest someone has ever gone without dying is eleven days http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Gardner_(record_holder)

Edit. I should probably read it myself, eighteen days apparently.

I guess the actual answer is, as with all medical stuff; "It depends".

 

[regulus]

About 2 days for me. Cannot go any longer

 

[anything I don't mind]

i did 5 days and 5 nights no sleep on drugs once. I like my sleep though and would never do that sort of thing again.

 

[TommyV]

40 hours. Was my first ever LAN (Iseries #21) a few years back.

Was only 16 though, was overly excited and didn't want to/couldn't sleep.

 

[Freefaller]

I go through the occaisional phase of insomnia for a few weeks if that counts. I don't tend to sleep much in general unfortunately as I used to love sleep - though I don't often feel "tired" I'm pretty much an exciteable puppy most of the time! LOL!

I've done over 48hrs before when sailing, and out on camping trips, and a survival weekend up in Sweden before.

 

[WantoN]

24 hours, and by that time I was seeing things when I closed my eyes. Im not good without a kip.

Ant :coolL

 

[Diesel]

About 50 hours when I flew to Vegas earlier this year. 6 hours sleep and I was fine the next day.

 

[linktoinsanity]

Not that long. About 24 hours or so. When I get particularly tired I start hallucinating.

 

[arc@css]

If you haven't already, go to bed. I'll do an internet yawn to help you on your way...

 

[Tummy]

Out of interest, what's the longest you could do without sleep if you were forced to stay awake?

I remember hearing that you would die if you went for 2 weeks without sleep but I have a feeling that someone was having me on...

I'd dread to think what would happen to you if you were forced to stay awake.

I did 84/86 hours give or take and it was soul destroying at times, t'was perfectly good fun for the first ~50 hours, because we were all really chatty and having a laugh, the happiness seemed to seep out slowly after that.

 

[marc2003]

about 48 and i was most definitely hallucinating by the end of it.

 

[Duff-Man]

How do you even manage to wake up after only a few hours sleep. I struggle to get up after 8!

Fear and willpower I had both of those in spades back then.

Honestly though, I physically couldn't do it these days (I'm 30 now). I was really fit back then, since I was rowing for the college, and I think that makes a difference. These days I just can't function if I go more than one night without a solid sleep.

 

[jbloggs]

>48 hours...a rather long filght to Australia with a number of stops and a plane change...I can't sleep on planes, so by the time I got to Australia I was completely shattered!

 

[SeraphX]

60 odd hours, the week final fantasy X was released, i was busy playing, Couldn't do it now if my life depended on it lol

 

[Mark A]

40 hours or so. Done it a few times now and its horrible.

I did it when I had a funeral to go to in Basingstoke and I couldn't get to sleep the night before. So stayed up all night playing Fallout 3 then had a 4 hour car journey, funeral then the drinks after. Coupled with the fact I hadn't eaten all day I was almost legless after 2 pints lol.

 

[Gangster]

48 hours before a flight to the U.S, was the quickest flight ever! lol slept from taxi to taxi (taxi from and to the airports that is)

 

[Nitefly]

I'd be interested to know how many of those that find themselves unable to sleep on weekday nights do regular exercise and hold a 9-5 job, as that tires out most people.