this is your brain without sleep

[chekingurl76]

I'm sleep deprived right now. Nothing like I haven't slept for a week but I average 3-6 hrs a day...

It's funny because am I the only one that when sleep deprived feels paranoid about peoples motives, etc.

???

[Megan288]

is that what makes me paranoid about peoples motives? I am this way badly when I haven't had sleep and have taken adderall. I even suspect my own dad, and sometimes my mother... it makes me sad. I don't know because the paranoia seems real, so I have to try really hard to convince myself that "you never thought this way about people until you started taking meds" but, then I wonder if my personality change might be causing people to react angrily to me and treat me differently. I also wonder if I am just noticing things i didn't notice before. I think a side effect is "unusually suspicious" of people. I brought it up to my dr. and he was a deer in headlights.. crickets... but, I think I know what you are talking about.

[Fuzzy12]

I think, sleep deprivation can mess with your brain in all kinds of nasty ways. A lack of sleep can lower your immunity but I guess it can lower all your body's defenses. Our neurons need sleep to regenerate and function properly.

I can imagine that when you are sleep deprived you struggle more fighting off negative or irrational thoughts. For example, when you get a paranoid thought about someone's motives in your mind, you might just be too tired and lack the energy to rationally counter that thought and dismiss it.

[chekingurl76]

Originally Posted by Megan288

is that what makes me paranoid about peoples motives? I am this way badly when I haven't had sleep and have taken adderall. I even suspect my own dad, and sometimes my mother... it makes me sad. I don't know because the paranoia seems real, so I have to try really hard to convince myself that "you never thought this way about people until you started taking meds" but, then I wonder if my personality change might be causing people to react angrily to me and treat me differently. I also wonder if I am just noticing things i didn't notice before. I think a side effect is "unusually suspicious" of people. I brought it up to my dr. and he was a deer in headlights.. crickets... but, I think I know what you are talking about.

It is very odd. I always take a week off of Adderall, every month. And during that week, at work I am definitely not as thorough, which shows big time, yet my co-workers seem to be more happy with that, even though my ADHD symptoms return with a vengeance. But then, I think, is it really they are treating me differently, or is it I am perceiving our conversations, etc. differently?

[chekingurl76]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy12

I think, sleep deprivation can mess with your brain in all kinds of nasty ways. A lack of sleep can lower your immunity but I guess it can lower all your body's defenses. Our neurons need sleep to regenerate and function properly.

I can imagine that when you are sleep deprived you struggle more fighting off negative or irrational thoughts. For example, when you get a paranoid thought about someone's motives in your mind, you might just be too tired and lack the energy to rationally counter that thought and dismiss it.

Agreed. My brain doesn't function properly after 20 hours no sleep. Wires in there get crossed and it takes me longer to do my work than usual. Maybe it's the sleep deprivation and NOT the Adderall that makes me paranoid. B/c as long as I get enough sleep, I just feel normal when taking Adderall.

[gracious_mama]

Yes you really need your sleep. Ever heard of the crazy meth addicts who have a psychotic break and get really paranoid? It isn't due to the drug itself it is due to the ability to stay up for days or weeks on end that makes your brain function improperly causing paranoia and eventually psychosis. Same thing can happen on ADHD meds if become chronically sleep deprived. I would strongly encourage you to simply take a sleeping aid or adjust your dosage bc this is a sign that something is way off.

[haftobeperfect]

I'm much less sensitive to criticism or slights (real or perceived) from others when I'm on Adderall. I'm fairly certain I've had dysthymia most of my life and one of the symptoms is sensitivity to rejection.

As far as sleep is concerned, I worked out at the gym yesterday for the first time in months/years and last night had the best sleep I've had since I started Adderall about 2 months ago.

[Guiltripped]

I sympathize with you all here in this thread. I have all of your symptoms plus discovering OCD due to feelings of rejection and a sleep overhaul