Post 52: Inspiration, thy name is Sleep.

I know that all-nighters are not something uncommonly associated with University students. But, they are not as common as people think. Why? They are unpleasant! Not in the moment, usually. It usually doesn't hit you until the next day. The last all-nighter I pulled was to re-do and finish some assignments for class.

Of course, it is not unheard for people to stay without an academic reason. A few years ago I not only pulled an all-night, but a 74-hour stint without sleep. Of course, it ended in laughter. By that I mean, a long bout of hysteria leading to hyperventilation and ending with falling asleep on the floor under a conference table. It actually wasn't unpleasant at all then. I had enough caffeine and sugar to feel totally normal, or at least the facsimile of normal. However, when I woke about two hours later, without the caffeine, sugar, or adrenaline coursing through my veins and the sourness resulting from my sleeping location, I felt like death-warmed over, then dragged behind a car and flung onto my doorstep. It was bad.

Anyway, my more recent one nighter did not go on as long. It only went on for about 40 hours, and then I began to experience auditory hallucinations and decided that meant bedtime. It wasn't like I started to hear voices. I just heard a beeping, a very distinct beeping every few minutes. It started shortly before I got home, continued as I ate dinner, and then followed me as I went down to my room. It sounded like the beep of our dryer. Except, when I first heard it I was outside and the last few times I heard it before going to bed I was in my room and I can't hear the dryer from there.

It was a little unnerving. At first, I thought it might be my phone, but it wasn't.

So, this post is a warning to people that no sleep is no good. I can understand why on occasion it might be considered neccesary. However, it is not something that should be done without a good reason, and sleep should be sought ASAP.

On a side note, I felt so much better the next day, like 200% better. It was probably the deepest sleep I have experienced in a long time. (I actually fell asleep on my iPad and used it like a pillow.)

This sleep after such exhaustion, led me to come up with several potential story ideas. No, I will not share them all. But I will share one.

Someone who loses the ability to sleep and doesn't seem to need it is taken by a government medical group to discover why this person hoping that it can be used to create soldiers that don't need sleep, as well as thinking of potential commercial possibilities. Members of the group start to lose the ability to sleep as well after having contact with the person. It is deemed a disease/illness and the facility is shut down for quartine as they try and figure out the possible side-effects.

I won't say what the side-effects are, but they are not pleasant. It will be interesting to see where this could go further, as well.

Have you ever pulled an all-nighter?

How long have you gone without sleep?