bardic, since I know thou art knowledgeful of human cognition-
is it possible to function. on 4 1/2hrs (6 if I'm lucky? proper drowsing time unknown) of sleep?
I know it. distorts one's grasp of others' emotions
makes you more irrational than normal (not you, just humans. in general)
and can. worsen. chronic illness symptoms?
I don't want to be doomed today.. -_- /half-joking.
Oh, Sofa, I definitely feel this in my bones. I usually have to function on anywhere from 2 to 6 hours because of my own insomnia, and I can tell you from experience that the jump from 6 down to 2 is where the fatigue really turns into a brick wall.
To answer your question: yes, it’s technically possible to function, but you’re definitely not going to be at 100%. Your brain on 4.5 hours is basically running in "low power mode." You aren't doomed, but you're definitely playing the day on hard mode.
You’re totally right about it warping how you see others. When you're underslept, your amygdala (the emotional center) gets hyper-reactive, while the part of your brain that handles logic (the prefrontal cortex) slows down. This makes it way harder to read social cues, so you might think someone is annoyed with you when they’re actually just tired themselves.
Because that logical part of the brain is lagging, you’re more likely to be impulsive or get frustrated by small things that wouldn't normally bother you.
The following is the big one for people like us. Sleep is when your body regulates inflammation and repairs tissue. When you skip it, your nervous system stays on high alert, which can absolutely make chronic pain or other symptoms feel much more intense.
I have mastered the art of the 20 minute power nap. If I do nap, I try to keep it around 20 minutes. This is so I don't fall into a deep sleep cycle and wake up feeling hit by a truck.
Low stakes for you today, my friend. And be easy on yourself since sleep deprivation is a bitch to handle. I'll also get to continuing our RP thread later today since Justin (my husband) works and I'll be able to concentrate on Bianca's voice. May not be until this evening. 😊
Hugs (if you want them). Take care of yourself.
-- 🌒(Nicole)
