Sleep Deprivation Induced Euphoria (SDIE) – What is it and what do I need to know?

Not remotely as much fun as it sounds, sleep deprivation-induced euphoria (SDIE) is a concern for many sleepers struggling to get a good night’s rest. Easy to miss but instantly recognizable, failing to fight SDIE can have a detrimental effect on our daily lives and invite issues that could easily be avoided.

So, what exactly is SDIE and how can you combat it today?

What is SDIE?

A side effect of missing sleep, SDIE affects your mood in the short term and knocks your sleeping schedule out of whack as you struggle to find a balance. It is characterized as a giddy rush as the normal ‘reset’ that your brain chemistry enjoys every night is missed. This can result in a flood of endorphins that make you feel elated…but more prone to mistakes, impulsivity, and is short-lived.

One of the most common examples is seen after completing an essay for university at the last minute after pulling an all-nighter. All too often, you get a boost of energy at the last minute in the hours before your deadline. You make edits, cite sources, and write up all your data. But when you get your paperback, it’s riddled with errors and mistakes that you just didn’t see before!

Why is it so dangerous?

While we all get a bad night’s sleep once or twice a week, chronic sleep loss carries a number of risks. Sleep deprivation induced euphoria can run the risk of embedding erratic behavior as your body adapts to a new sleep schedule. While university students may lament the odd typo or twelve, professionals in high-stakes jobs such as finance, medicine, or public-facing roles can find themselves indulging in risk-taking behavior or impaired judgment.

If the process continues, this can run the risk of having a negative effect on your brain chemistry. Coming with a dopamine ‘hit’, before lone SDIE can become part of your routine. This can psychologically embed the pattern into your daily schedule and lead individuals to make flawed decisions at moments of importance.

Add the risk of affecting other individual’s lives as well as affecting your brain chemistry and the price is high indeed.

How do you combat it?

If you are suffering from genuine, long-term sleep disruption, it is vital that you seek professional help as quickly as possible. A medical practitioner will be able to potentially diagnose your condition, eliminate variables that may be affecting you, or help provide a course of treatment that can improve your duration or sleep quality.

In addition to this, changing your sleeping habits can make a massive difference. This can involve varying your routine and improving your sleep hygiene, changing your bed and sheets, or taking the time to practice mindfulness and creating a ‘phone-free’ zone when it comes to hitting the hay.

No matter your choice, taking careful, responsible action can help avoid issues around SDIE and start bringing benefits today.