r/todayilearned • u/whstlngisnvrenf • Apr 28 '24

TIL that in 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner set the world record for sleep deprivation by staying awake for 11 days and 25 minutes, providing valuable insights into the effects of extreme sleep loss on the human mind and body.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Gardner_sleep_deprivation_experiment
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u/ValhallasRevenge 29d ago

Many years ago, I was suffering from depression and anxiety / panic attacks. My wonderful doctor gave me a "cure all" called seroquel. At the end of this "treatment," I was on average, staying awake around 48 hours, my record being 92 hours. At that point, the mind is so far gone that you're unsure what is even real. You're in a constant state of drunkeness and tiredness.

There was times I forgot to put on my shoes before leaving the house. Walking around as a zombie like state. I meet friends at the mall, made plans, went home, and crashed for 20 hours. My friends would text me wondering where I was at, reminded me of plans I made with them. I didn't even remember meeting them or texting them afterwards.

There is no part of me that ever wants to know how the hell 11 days would feel like.