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: 

 

[Michael569]

10 hours ago, Mintberrycrunch said:

I hadn't slept in at least 48 hours

why? 

[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]

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