Sleep deprivation merely put could be a condition where you do not receive enough sleep. Several of you’ll naturally believe you never get enough sleep, but sleep deprivation in the extreme can mean the difference between surviving and not in some situations. Poor sleeping habits aren’t an equivalent as being totally deprived of sleep however.
Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation
- Hallucinations,
- Confusion
- Loss of memory
- Hand tremors
- Headaches
- Increases in blood pressure
- Elevated stress hormone levels
- Extreme irritability
The complete absence of sleep over an extended period is not possible for humans. People can fall asleep while driving, working with dangerous machinery and at other times where attentiveness is paramount to your survival.
Your body can merely cause you to fall asleep unless there’s a medical condition that stops you from sleeping. You may basically “pass out” once you have been deprived of sleep for an extended period.
Lack of sleep can affect the brain and cognitive functions making it impossible to make rational choices if you’ll make any at all.
Depriving a person of sleep has been used as an interrogation method and is considered torture by many. Typically, a person is kept awake for days by enjoying loud music, with random and constant interruptions, harsh lighting and forcing a person to face, sit or kneel in positions not conducive to sleeping.
Sleep Deprivation while lost or stranded
The darkness is formed for sleeping and you as a person’s have an internal clock that tells you when it’s time to sleep based on the position of the sun. It doesn’t matter whether the sun is visible or not, you’ll be in a sealed room and your body still tracks the cycle.
Along with the darkness come dangers, colder temperatures and probably worst of all, worry of the unknown. This causes some not to be able to sleep, particularly if you find yourself lost or stranded in the wilderness. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors took to the trees and caves when it became dark as the way of protecting themselves from predators that call the night their own.
This is one-reason humans feel an overwhelming desire for shelter at night and even with shelter, several notice they can’t sleep because of real or perceived dangers. Our mind tells us danger lurks in the dark and even though well secure, the worry keeps people awake.
If you’re not sleeping at night in a survival scenario this suggests you’ll be sleeping during the day when you should be performing life sustaining tasks like hunting, shelter building or maintenance and collecting safe water, none of these tasks will be performed at night safely or effectively.
Some medical experts claim that a lack of sleep, between seventeen and twenty two hours, can have the same result on the body as having an alcohol level of .05 to .08 percent. This adds new meaning to the term “drunken stupor”.
Lack of sleep means you’ll be making dangerous choices that can have life altering consequences. You’ll develop hypothermia or become dehydrated and not keep in mind of it because of your lack of mental acuity. Not knowing something is wrong or dangerous suggests that you’re not taking actions to correct the case.
You are likely to become incapable of putting things into the correct perspective and you’ll lack the ability to take appropriate actions which will save your life.
Using an axe or knife or working around water or close to cliffs or drop offs can cause you serious harm if you’re fighting sleep.
Sleep Is a vital survival skill
If you can’t master sleep, you’ll not survive. The reasons why you can’t sleep are complex however as stated earlier it may have a lot of to do with worry of what’s there in the darkness, or simply very uncomfortable sleeping conditions. The explanations for lack of sleep when it’s dark out will be reduced if not eliminated with a bit common sense and a few good preparations before setting out on your outdoor adventure.
The need for shelter isn’t only instinctive it’s important, and thus the location is vital to assist reduce the worry of predators and those dangerous and not so dangerous creatures that crawl along the ground. Humans merely cannot rest peacefully when they imagine things may begin crawling all over them. Some things that crawl may be dangerous, so it is vital to address these issues before sleeping.
Elevated sleeping platforms will reduce the worry and the reality of crawling insects or reptiles invading your sleeping space. It’ll not eliminate them but knowing you’re somewhat protected has a good psychological impact. build your shelter predator proof by using stout saplings or thorn bushes or thistles.
Predators want the easy meals and humans haven’t been a simple or even a desirable meal for most predators. Many of us are killed by predators but rarely as a result of the animal wanted to dine. Mostly people are in the way of the predator, have invaded their hunting grounds or the animal fears a person may be a threat to their offspring. Make it difficult for the predators and they might alright look elsewhere.
Fire could be a savior not only for practical reasons but for psychological ones as well. Knowing fire can repel insects and predators alike will go along ways toward a better night’s sleep than you normally would expect.
Adequate shelter is why being prepared for any situation is vital. You must have good shelter material with you and also the tools to create one from materials in your surroundings.
Stay hydrated and nourished for a better night’s sleep as well. Food isn’t always available even if you think the woods is teeming with game, so it’s vital that your survival pack have at least a 72-hour supply. If you think you have three days worth, you can ration it to last up to six or seven days, never ration your water though.
Sleep deprivation may be fatal in a survival situation so it’s necessary you’re aware of the effects. You need to be ready by having the information and skill sets along with the provides and materials needed to ensure you can get a good night’s sleep in any environment.
As some of you may already understand in today’s world a good night sleep is anything but natural and you may actually have to work at it to achieve the much-needed sleep.
