Psychosis induced by sleep deprivation

[Mintberrycrunch]

I know that being sleep deprived can produce psychotic and schizophrenic symptoms, but I was wondering about the specific and typical experiences that come with sleep-deprived psychotic episodes. Today I experienced something which I would categorize as a psychotic episode as a result of sleep deprivation. I hadn't slept in at least 48 hours and as I was talking to a friend, for a split second, it felt like I stopped existing. It's hard to explain, but it was like I was falling out of existence and reality was sort of not happening. It felt similar to the sensation of ego loss that you can experience in meditation. 

I hope someone can help me understand what is happening in a psychological, chemical and physical sense. Also, I hope to hear about similar experiences.

[Nervtine]

 Sounds a bit like disassociation to me- as someone with regular episodes, I know all about feeling like you are a part of reality one minute, then feeling gone the next. It flares up specifically when I haven't had sleep. Maybe you can relate to some of these feelings? When it happens for the first time, it does feel like a psychotic break. 

Have you also been stressed in general? Stress can do this in a way. 

Here is a good video on it and another thing it could be: 

 

[Javfly33]

Of course, but I would be more concerned about why are you not sleeping in 48 hours. If you keep extending the time, shadow people will come to visit to you...

[flowboy]

5 hours ago, Javfly33 said:

If you keep extending the time, shadow people will come to visit to you...

LOL Hilarious but accurate, yes. Well put.

[Nervtine]

@Javfly33 

9 hours ago, Javfly33 said:

Of course, but I would be more concerned about why are you not sleeping in 48 hours. If you keep extending the time, shadow people will come to visit to you...

Well put, and a legendary quote. 

@Mintberrycrunch Fixing the sleep problem is the healthiest first step. I don't know how I overlooked that. 

[Mintberrycrunch]

@Nervtine Thank you for the reply. This was exactly what I was looking for. As you mention, I was, in fact, very stressed at the time.

[Meetjoeblack]

JRE1109 podcast with dr Mathew Walker sleep specialist is a incredible watch. Its life changing. The metric by which you measure sleep and the analytics are telling. The best remedy to change your life is sleep. Its free. Lock in that time.