Some symptoms of LOSS (Lack of Sleep Syndrome)

(as experienced by me)

• Irritability. Of course this one should be obvious, as in the "grumpy" person first thing in the morning. I posit that it's not just "grumpiness" as that implies it is not to be taken very seriously. I think the LOSS impairs my ability to get perspective and look at the bright side of things.
  
• Related to above, there is oversensitivity. I describe it as having little or no "filter" on me. I can't filter things out or prioritize their emotional effect. Everything is equally devastating, be it not getting what I want for lunch or hearing bad news about a friend. And if I get upset, I can't stifle it.
  
• Light sensitivity. OMG, turn down that bright light, pleeeeease! What do you mean, it's coming from the sky?? Who asked my permission to make it a sunny day??
• Loss of appetite: This one really sucks, because obviously having more food in me would give me more energy, and make me feel a little more grounded, less floaty.
• which brings me to: The floaty feeling! "Floaty" is actually not a good word. That makes it sound too pleasant. I do not enjoy it at all. It is mentally floaty but also physical, like I am sapped of all energy and strength.
• Also related to this: a strange ache in the muscles; not exactly the same as the achiness you get with a flu or sprain, but almost a sense of depletion as if the muscles aren't getting enough energy to function properly. Any demand put on them feels like 1000 times more effort than it really is. (Unfortunately, I've had a lot of time to explore this sensation and put it into words.)
• Impaired coordination. I am clumsy. I shouldn't try to do any intricate work or work that requires strict attention to detail or drive a car. Which is very dangerous. I will be devoting a whole post to the driving issue.
• Slow thinking: as if my response time has slowed way down. As my mom would say, "The synapses aren't firing quickly enough." I put this one here because it is linked to the above symptom. Putting these two together, it makes things very difficult if any of the following are planned for the day:
  
  • Job, job interview, major networking event, major social event, tests, finals, papers due, anything requiring major decisions, giving a speech, performance.
  Fun fact! I myself have at some point participated in all of the above while suffering from LOSS, (except for giving a speech.)

After compiling most of this list one groggy morning, here is what I added: "If everyone suffered from this the way I do, they would be much more sympathetic and considerate because they would also want to get sleep."
All together now: Awwwwwww! Isn't it easy to dismiss that person as feeling way too sorry for themselves? That's kind of my reaction right now, except that I know that I wrote this. And that all the above symptoms are real.

"Late night, huh?" (wink wink)

I think one common misconception of lack of sleep is that it is due to a wild night out or something else that is within the person's control. It is slightly annoying to constantly hear "late night, huh?" with the implied suggestion that I spent my night doing something fun, or crazy, and ultimately I had a good time anyway so I shouldn't really feel that sorry for myself. When in fact it is almost always a night when I tried my best to get a good night's sleep-because that is almost every night. I cherish my sleep and go to great lengths to try to make sure I get it. If I know I am going to have a "late night" doing something fun, I make sure I will be able to sleep later in the morning.
More later. I just wanted to address this while it was still on my mind.