Sleep while camping
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi everyone!
As the title suggest, I should go camping next month. It would be something like 9-10 days. Now, the thing that troubles me the most is that I have never done that and I usually cannot sleep when packed with other people, and I tend not to sleep when there are parties and people just grab a blanket and sleep on the floor. Moreover, a while ago it happened that while on a 5 day trip, I could not sleep AT ALL.
It never happened before, nor after, but at the time I was thinking I was seriously in danger, that staying awake that much could result in some bad permanent brain damage for instance. After that I have asked here and I have been reassured (I hope it was true), but this time it would be a longer period in a probably way less comfortable environment, so I am kinda worried. Do you have any suggestion? I would like to go, but I also would like not to ruin the trip while being dog tired, or even fall sick
0 likes, 11 replies
aaron11751 tcq
Posted
So, camping is the only time you find it impossible or hard to sleep? The fear of being seriously in danger is because you're not sleeping, and not just fear of being in danger keeping you from sleeping? I'm trying to get to why you may not be sleeping, as there's many different things. I spend a lot of time in the woods, because I have far less anxiety and health issues there, so I've experienced various reasons to be sleepless there. Just trying to see if any of it can apply to you. Any idea what is keeping your from sleep itself?
tcq aaron11751
Posted
I don't know, I think that there are different things. The two that come up to my mind right now would be about a not comfortable "bed", that I am not used to, and the fact that when I have to sleep away from home I am always kinda cautios. It is a sort of background thought that just makes me stay more on alert, and more if there is people with me. I usually sleep normally, but sometimes on trips I cannot sleep well I had an episode some time ago (like 4 days without closing an eye), but others where I was more or less right. The biggest fear I have is indeed not to be able to sleep and fall ill. I have been said that not sleeping (even for a lot) is usually not dangerous if it happens once in a while, and before you get hurt, your body falls asleep no matter what, but I don't know if it is true.
aaron11751 tcq
Posted
This may help. The fact that a kid stayed up for 11 days without problems just for a science fair, sort of makes your worries a bit unfounded.
"Under experimental conditions, it has been discovered that humans can safely stay awake for at least 264 consecutive hours, or the equivalent of 11 days. A 17-year-old high school student named Randy Gardner set this record for a science fair.
During research studies, people have remained awake for 8-10 days on a regular basis while being carefully monitored.
In every circumstance, there were no psychological, neurological, or medical problems that developed because of the prolonged time of being awake. Each could recover over the course of 1-3 regular sleep cycles."
aaron11751
Posted
Also in finding that, I've found extreme examples from WWI and II of soldiers not only staying awake, but engaging in constant fighting for weeks at a time. I think you'll be okay camping, and if you're otherwise healthy, your body will tend to sleep on its own. For me, I usually get microsleep when I'm camping, until my body just starts dozing, then finally sleeping at around a week or so.
paola34375 tcq
Posted
I have the same problem that you have since I was 15 y/o, now I am 33 y/o. What I do is that I avoid those activities all toguether. There are things that you never going to be able to do and that is also OK. Why we don't rush a paralitic to walk?
tcq paola34375
Posted
I know but I know if it wasn't for this damn disturb I would enjoy the experience. I would like to find a way to overcome this
paola34375 tcq
Posted
apu91247 tcq
Posted
Sleepysarah tcq
Posted
Maybe take a sleep aid? Benadryl is actually fantastic for sleep disorders, one or two of those and you're unconsious for like 10 hours
tcq
Posted
Thanks to you all. I was wondering if anyone could tell me about health risks of not sleeping, and maybe some medical references (not that I don't trust you
). I have heard a lot of different opinions, don't know who to trust
christofffff tcq
Posted
If you don't feel comfortable enough to go, then don't go. In the meantime, try setting up a tent and sleeping bag at home in your backyard and see how you sleep by yourself there. Then at least you will know whether it is an issue with the sleeping bag or with "sleeping with others".
Similarly, try staying at a group hotel in share accomodaiton and see how you go.
Once you can narrow down the issue, you can work on it.
Good luck