Can sleep deprivation cure depression?

Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by sandworm101 on Saturday March 11, 2017 @12:22PM (#13846194)

Mood yes. Ask the kids who rave all night. But cognition? Im not convinced. I find my memory and problem solving abilities really drop after 30+ hours without sleep. Maybe it is a good tool for the depressed, but i would not suggest it to those looking to boost otherwise healthy/normal minds.

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by laumars on Saturday March 11, 2017 @12:39PM (#13846268)

> Mood yes. Ask the kids who rave all night.

I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but I think it's pretty safe to say there are bigger things contributing to "ravers" euphoria than sleep deprivation. Like the music, alcohol. Or in many popular European clubs, the recreational drugs.

That's not to say I'm suggesting people need to on something to be having a good time, but your "raver" example is a pretty poor one if it's not meant as a joke.

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by sandworm101 on Saturday March 11, 2017 @03:26PM (#13847058)

Many ravers dont drink or use drugs. They are high on the energy associated with staying ot dancibg all night, exactly like the all-night bike rides in the OP.

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by laumars on Saturday March 11, 2017 @03:34PM (#13847100)

Well as I said in my disclaimer, that would be the case for some. But I promise you it was only a minority of those who attended the club's I used to DJ at for the 10 years I was actively involved in the clubbing scene in the UK and mainland Europe.

Most people there weren't sober. But who cares what adults get up to as long as they respect one another. :)

You also cannot understate just how significant the effect music has on one's mood. I'd wager that alone would have a more significant affect than sleep deprivation alone. Plus exercise releases endorphins too

So I really don't think raving is a good example here since there's a multitude of other significant and well studied effects also at play.

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by Ambroos on Saturday March 11, 2017 @12:27PM (#13846219)

I sometimes go a whole night without sleep when I'm nervous about something important. I function much better on no sleep than on less than 5 hours of sleep (for one night only that is).

What I've noticed is that without sleep, some of my abilities are stronger, but everything memory-related is much weaker. I notice everything extremely fast, think quickly and react much faster than normally. My focus is pretty crazy. But, I can't remember some things I know, and detailed memories of that day after a sleepless night are usually gone by the next day. I think it might be some sort of survival mode.

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by sandworm101 on Saturday March 11, 2017 @12:39PM (#13846264)

Sounds like a stressed prey animal dropping higher brain functions (memory, long-term planning) in favor of the more reactive minute-to-minute instincts needed to avoid being spotted and eaten by lions.

I mean lions literally because four-legged things with the big teeth were a driving force of our evolution for millions of years. Those instincts/traits are very much with us today.

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by posterboy on Saturday March 11, 2017 @02:36PM (#13846786)

Literally? Where do you live that lions would be a problem?! I'm joking, and sure there might be a trade off between higher and more basic brain functions, but I suppose those only really work for a short while, after which either will be impeded by exhaustion.

Edit: what's the word for that state of mind, maybe frenzy?

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by sandworm101 on Saturday March 11, 2017 @03:22PM (#13847044)

Yes. Cougars (mountain lions) are a thing where i live. Also bear, black and brown. It is an extreemly rare event for anyone to be harmed, but i do run into bear regularly in the summer.

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by posterboy on Saturday March 11, 2017 @04:25PM (#13847351)

why wouldn't you build a fortification like a house to keep the beasts at bay?

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by sandworm101 on Saturday March 11, 2017 @05:41PM (#13847654)

On garbage days you are much more likely to confront a bear around, even inside, your house than by randomly coming across one in the woods. I'm thinking about this because last week was "bear awareness day" in my area. Posters are up to remind people that they are coming out of hibernation.

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Re:Can sleep deprivation cure depression? by posterboy on Saturday March 11, 2017 @02:29PM (#13846757)

Maybe after too little sleep at least you notice you feel bad, whereas without any sleep you don't even notice anymore. If your memory doesn't function right it's no surprise that your temporal perception inherently relying on memory would be impeded. Since the hormonal system is rather complex, enthusiasm can be a byproduct of trying to stay awake. Likewise, the sport mentioned in the OP is at least as likely to cause happiness, not to say that I doubt the headline altogether.

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