Nine signs of sleep deprivation - Do you get enough sleep?

(NaturalNews) No one can squeeze more hours into a day, but we certainty try. Unfortunately, too many of us extend the hours of our day by cutting back on sleep. Here are the warning signs that you are overdoing it and probably have been for some time.

You Need an Alarm Clock to Wake Up

If you can't wake up on time without electronic help, this is a sign that you're sleep deprived. If you're jolted out of a deep sleep every workday or feel the need to repeatedly hit the snooze button, you're not getting enough sleep. Do you sleep late on weekends when you went to bed at your usual time? Make-up sleep is a sure sign of sleep deprivation.

Impaired Decision Making

Chronic sleep deprivation impairs our ability to make minor decisions. The decisions could be as inconsequential as where to sit in a movie theater, what movie to see, or whether to take a window or an aisle seat on a flight.

An inability to make major decisions is just as common for sleep deprived individuals. This can manifest as a propensity to freeze or panic when faced with highly stressful situations.

Impulsivity

There is another form of impairment besides an inability to make decisions. Some aren't paralyzed. Instead, they rush into making major decisions on impulse, without thinking through the consequences.

In addition to decision making, they will react impulsively to aggravating stimuli, sudden desires, or other emotions.

Irritability

If you're not sure whether or not you are irritable, ask your spouse or partner. He or she will know if you're irritable.

Your Pillow Looks More Attractive Than Your Partner

Lack of sleep can lower sex hormones and increase stress hormones, which of course further lowers the sex drive.

You Get Sick All of the Time

How many times have you been sick in the past year? If you can't remember, but you know it was a lot, you probably have an impaired immune system. The immune system needs adequate rest to function at optimal levels.

You Honestly Can't Recall

If you don't know what happened to your memory these days, lack of sleep may be the culprit. All of the mnemonic tricks in the world pale in comparison to adequate rest.

Inability to Concentrate

Our ability to concentrate is dependent on adequate sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to lower test scores, reduced productivity at work, and increased distractibility. This also includes lackadaisical staring off into space that sleepy people tend to do.

Clumsy

If you don't know what happened to your sense of coordination, lack of sleep is quite possibly the problem. Sleep deprived individuals are more clumsy than those who are legally drunk. Video gamers take note: pulling all-nighters makes you less coordinated.

Nodding Off or Micro Sleeps

When we don't give our bodies needed rest, our bodies will steal it from us. At inopportune times, we fade out, and we don't necessarily even know that it happened to us. Over half of American drivers have admitted to nodding off at the wheel, and most of them simply keep driving. If you're fading out during the day, your body is trying to tell you something.

Conclusion

Our bodies tell us when we have been pushing ourselves too hard in a multitude of ways. Take heed and listen to the warning signs. If you suffer from insomnia or a lack of quality sleep, check out the first few sources below along with Natural Remedies-for-Insomnia and How Insomnia-Leads to a Filthy Mind.

Sources:

http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com

http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com

The Seven Pillars of Health, by Don Colbert M.D.

http://www.prevention.com

www.radcliffe.harvard.edu

About the author:
Joel learned long ago that pharmaceuticals were not the answer to health and vitality. He gave up on pharmaceuticals many years ago, and he also gave up wheat and refined sugars. His hobbies include gluten free baking, gardening, and fitness. Joel is passionate about agriculture and environmental issues. Joel believes that progressive, cutting-edge, organic agriculture can feed the world.