Mike Leahy and Peter Naish discuss why we need sleep and what happens if we are deprived, as part of the BBC/OU programme website for 'Lab Rats'
One of the more common problems I hear in the surgery is "I feel tired all the time". Often patients ask for a tonic to help to pick them up in the day, and sometimes something to help them sleep at night.
Sleep deprivation is a common problem and can be due to insomnia (difficulty getting off to sleep) which affects one in ten of us, or sleep fragmentation (a disturbed quality of sleep). Either way sleep deprivation can cause irritability, poor short-term memory, poor concentration, daytime sleepiness, and - in some cases - depression.
One of the more devastating effects of sleep deprivation is motorway accidents, where lack of sleep is often a factor. Driving when tired (usually at night) is an especially dangerous activity when looked at objectively: your sensory stimulation is very low (it's dark, there's little noise) and there is the 'hypnotic' effect of driving (especially on motorways) all combined with your body clock winding down. This combination of factors can be catastrophic. Try to avoid driving for long stretches at a time, avoid driving tired and take plenty of regular breaks. Caffeine (in coffee, tea and some soft drinks) can help for a short time, but don't count on it.
If you suffer with poor sleep, or wake up feeling tired, it is possible that your sleep quality may be affected. Patients sometimes ask for a drug to help them sleep. I personally prefer to try preventative strategies as they can be highly effective, and tackle the root of the problem. Occasionally you can be prescribed medication such as Benzodiazepine – which might be prescribed if you are in acute stress (for example, after a bereavement) - but ideally not for a long period, as it can be addictive.
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Content last updated: 25/08/2005
Dr. Pater Naish
Peter Naish is a lecturer in Cognitive Psychology at the Open University. He has a particular interest in the mechanisms and effects of hypnosis, including its ability to influence perceptions or memories.
He is a member of the Council of the British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis, and chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of the British False Memory Society.
