RT

The Psychology of Sleep

Jul 30, 2014

RM
Stage· 320 messages
Jul 30, 2014

What happens when we sleep? No, like, really? Why do we need it and why does it actually make us happier and healthier? Rachel McDonnell joins us tonight to talk about the psychology of sleep.

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:30 AM

Good evening, one and all!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:30 AM

How are we tonight, ladies and gentlemen?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:31 AM

Hello Rebecca! Hello everyone! :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:31 AM

Hey, Rachel!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:31 AM

How's it going?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:31 AM

I am doing well thanks! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:31 AM

How about you?
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:31 AM

Good news.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:32 AM

I'm great. I may be a little underslept and I may have had a few too many celebratory beers for this, but we'll proceed, anyway!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:32 AM

haha! well good thing we will talk about sleep deprivation, I am also a little tired tonight... ya know just for the tawk ;)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:32 AM

we can demonstrate sleep deprivation lol
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:32 AM

LOL
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:33 AM

I think I have that one down - I have a toddler...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:33 AM

for sure! I don't know how parents to do, kudos to you! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:33 AM

I feel like I will be walking into a lot of walls if I ever decide to have a baby, I NEED my sleep lol
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:34 AM

I think for moms, you undergo hormone changes and sleep more lightly, to begin with.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:34 AM

I think I went like 18 months in only REM sleep...
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:34 AM

:P
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:35 AM

oh my goodness! that's when you know you are sleep deprived you hit REM the minute your head hits the pillow
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:35 AM

sleep is such an important part of our lives that we don't pay enough attention too
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:35 AM

Yeah. Seth says I twitch and mutter for about 20 minutes before I settle down. ROFL.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:36 AM

lol!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:36 AM

I have been to the point where I go into REM and you can feel you are paralyzed, because you are paralyzed for the most part in REM, it was a creepy feeling
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:37 AM

Whoa!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:37 AM

yeah it was weird I was REALLY sleep deprived though
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:37 AM

That's like conscious dreaming or something.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:37 AM

Hectic!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:37 AM

yeah lucid dreaming, I have never really experienced that
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:38 AM

my dreams are usually very vivid and visual with complex plots
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:38 AM

I always wanted a way to record my dreams
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:38 AM

That's it...lucid dreaming.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:38 AM

yeah they say you cam train yourself to do lucid dreaming and control your actions in dreams, I more like to enjoy the ride haha
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:39 AM

I usually don't have nightmares, so I never really had a good reason to try lucid dreaming.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:39 AM

WHich sounds lazy. Haha.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:39 AM

yeah exactly lol! me too, i enjoy my dreams, so why control it?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:40 AM

so while we are the topic of dreams do you want to hear a few of the theories as to why we dream?
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:40 AM

Sure! Yes, please!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:40 AM

so there are a few I remember from my sleep psych class.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:40 AM

I have come to think that dreams are just us sorting things out.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:41 AM

Fears. Hopes and dreams. Uncertainties.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:41 AM

one theory postulates that we dream because it helps us encode experiences from our waking life into memories and emotions within our brains
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:41 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“Hello, everyone!”

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Rachel McDonnell · 12:41 AM

they liken it to a rat running a maze
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Rachel McDonnell · 12:41 AM

hi mike! :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:41 AM

Hey, Mike! Welcome!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:42 AM

Well, that makes sense...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:42 AM

our brains create neural pathways for different experiences, emotions everything, but this theory believes dreaming plays a key role in encoding experiences into our long term memory
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:42 AM

Because you can "learn" by thinking through a physical process just as by running through it.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:43 AM

another theory postulates that dreams are random visual representations of the chemical processes occurring in our brains during sleep
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Rachel McDonnell · 12:43 AM

as many know they brain is more active at night and without our waking mind to "control" our brain so to speak it can visually color outside the box
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:43 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“I have not worked in over a year and a half and I still have dreams about work.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:43 AM

yeah exactly!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:43 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“Hi Everyone.”

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Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:44 AM

Hey, Seth!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:44 AM

Hi Seth! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:44 AM

Mike some would say you continue to dream of work because you have done that experience over and over so much it sticks in your mind
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:44 AM

Some would say it represents something yearned-for...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:45 AM

lastly you have the Freud version or the psychotherapy version of sleep psychology which believes that dreams are meant as an expression of some deeper meaning or conflict
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:45 AM

yeah the psychotherapy approach is quite interesting when talking about dreaming
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:45 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“True, but I was much better at my job than in my dreams.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:46 AM

LOL
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:46 AM

really no one can say for sure yet WHY we dream, but as with science it usually is a product of a few different factors, so all of these theories could be partially correct
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:46 AM

haha
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:46 AM

I think the brain amuses itself, or we engage creatively with our life experiences, in dreams.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:46 AM

Yeah, I think it's a lot of things.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:46 AM

Dreaming is complex.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:47 AM

I mean, when I have nighmares, they are effing awful.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:47 AM

oh! that's another theory, biological psychology would say that dreaming could help us play out dangerous situations and complex problems during our sleep, so "aha!" moment when you awaken
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:47 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“have you seen the active MRI scans that are producing images of rats dreams?”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:47 AM

Yeah! My nightmares reoccur until I figure out the solution...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:47 AM

I have not yet Seth, sounds interesting though! the emotion centers of the brain are really fired up during sleep right?
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Rachel McDonnell · 12:48 AM

yeah, so it is a safe space for us to work through issues
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:48 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“In my dreams nothing goes right... much like trying to run with your feet weighed down. lol”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:48 AM

but we still know like 2% of what is actually happening in that elusive brain
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:48 AM

Ugh. Sounds awful! Lik those dreams where the blankets are too heavy and you can't get out of bed...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:48 AM

Mike I always dream I am being chased and I have to figure a way out of the situations that are always different ...problem solving :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:49 AM

How does that make you feel Mike?... ;)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:49 AM

Hahaha! Such a psychologist's response, Rach!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:50 AM

some people claim NOT to dream either, I don't know aside from an injury to the brain I don't know if it is possible NOT to dream or if some people just don't remember
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:50 AM

haha :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:50 AM

I have gone long stretched without remembering dreams. But those periods have been very stressful.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:50 AM

also, science tid bit if you didn't know - you only dream in REM sleep but there are 4 other stages of Non-Rem sleep that are just as important especially the deep sleep stages
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:51 AM

And I have known people who smoked a lot of pot and could not remember their dreams until after they stopped. who
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:51 AM

Cool! I only know 2 stages...
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:51 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“Here is a good one: I had bad arthritis in my knees for years until I had replacements. I have recurring dreams where I can float a few inches above the ground and cruise all over the place.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:51 AM

hm. I think everyone's capacity is different some people are really good at repression I have always had long vivid dreams
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:52 AM

I'm talking about daily smokers...like, the self-medicating kind of use.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:52 AM

I am not a psychoanalyst mike but off the top of my head maybe you are trying to over come the "replacements" sounds like you felt strong and confident even with the replacements? and way to deal with your emotions on getting them?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:52 AM

yeah I got ya
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:52 AM

yeah if you are just straight blazing up for 15 hours straight might just hit the deep sleep stage and stay there all night lol
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:53 AM

But it also might have been depression...
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:53 AM

That's a reason not to record dreams.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:53 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“Actually, the replacements are awesome!”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:53 AM

RIght on, Mike!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:53 AM

yeah it is interesting because dreaming is reflected so highly in the emotion areas of the brain there are so many connections and relationships that would be individual to that person
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:54 AM

so maybe you just felt so much better and happier about the replacements! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:54 AM

I once had a dream I flew over the grand canyon with baggies for wings hahaha!!!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:54 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“How about sleep deprivation?”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:55 AM

Ug! No dreams there, Mike, just waking dreams - hallucinations!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:55 AM

good question Mike! so we have talked about what happens when you get proper rest - deep sleep and dreaming and now we can talk about what happens when we DON'T get our rest
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:55 AM

LOL
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:55 AM

audio and visual hallucinations are common and one of the first signs
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:55 AM

dizziness, foggy head
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:55 AM

Ringing in the ears...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:55 AM

(my sis still makes fun of me for that dream lol)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:55 AM

accidents!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:56 AM

Poor choices.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:56 AM

omg accidents alone! there are SO many due to sleep deprivation on and off the jobn
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:56 AM

*job
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:56 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“We used to change shifts every week.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:56 AM

Shift work is...inhuman.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:56 AM

nausea.. I get that way when I am sleep deprived sometimes
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:57 AM

shift work is really bad for us! and it really doesn't save enough money to justify it
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:57 AM

Yeah, I have gut unhappiness when I am overtired. Blegh.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:57 AM

a society dependent on caffeine
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:57 AM

And sugar.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:57 AM

yeah me too, just the sense you are NOT at optimal levels
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:58 AM

yep and when I am tired I feel like I eat more, I think that is because you need more energy to stay awake than usual
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:58 AM

I have a definite sense of unreality when I'm really tired.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:58 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“When you went to work, you never knew if you were going to be forced over to cover a "call-off"”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:58 AM

That's true. Obesity and sleep deprivation are linked.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:58 AM

Conclusively.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:58 AM

and alot of people are sleep deprived because of sleep apnea and many don't even know it!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:58 AM

yes they are and it makes sense your system isn't running at full strength
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:59 AM

Many more are sleep-deprived because of our scheduling and don't think there's any alternative!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:59 AM

so sleeping biologically is VERY important to you body functions, it keeps it efficient and effective
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:59 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“Oh yes, is very difficult to eat right in that situation.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:59 AM

lower immune systems have also been linked to sleep deprivation
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 12:59 AM

Indeed!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 12:59 AM

yes exactly Rebecca!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:00 AM

adults should be getting 7-9 hours but the average is more around 5-6 hours for adults and kids should be getting 9-12 hours! when does that happen?
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:00 AM

Everyone and everything needs BALANCE...and I feel like Americans chrinically push everything to the very limit.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:00 AM

Including ourselves.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:01 AM

people are over worked and under rested in this country, look at countries in Europe it is a different story: lower health care bills from being sick, higher productivity, and happier employees
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:01 AM

Ans especially forcing kids to conform to the adult workday schedule.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:01 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Sorry for the late arrival, just got back from class. Hey hey!”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:01 AM

yes we do , especially with the way our economy has been, people literally can't afford to be well rested and healthy :/
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:01 AM

Hey, Jordan!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:01 AM

We've missed you!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:01 AM

Hey Jordan! Thanks for coming! :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:01 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“Sounds like socialism. lol”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:02 AM

What sounds like Socialism, Mike, Europe or us?
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:02 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“At least I didn't fall asleep and miss the Tawk...”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:02 AM

LOL
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:02 AM

I feel so bad for kids today, they are just expected to be ok with doing a tough 12 hour day most adults would bitch about
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:02 AM

Well, we don't consider that kids DO 12-hour days.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:02 AM

yes cause our extreme nature always immediately labels something good for the people socialism Mike ;)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:03 AM

They do Rebecca and we wonder why they are crabby and angry all the time, have behavior issues
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:03 AM

Up at 6 for school, on the bus, do school, then after-school programming, then get picked up by mom and dad - they're out of the house for like 12 hours.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:03 AM

not to mention I feel like most kids and people are so dehydrated, drink water people! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:03 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“rachel, we are preparing them for the future of long shift hours that will be taken over by machines in 10 years. duh.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:03 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“there is nowhere to PEE!”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:04 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“we dont want to fight for a pissing spot!”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:04 AM

ugh what a bleak image Seth.. :p my nephew and I are planning on building an underground science lab! lol! we need to keep our kids creative!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:04 AM

lol!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:04 AM

Hahaha, Rachel!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:04 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“What's more damaging? The stuff they teach to kids, or the stuff they don't teach to kids?”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:04 AM

I'll just build an underground greenhouse.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:04 AM

lying is always the worse choice I think
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:04 AM

sounds great! Rebecca! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:05 AM

tawkers community! ;)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:05 AM

All of it, Jordan. It's viscious!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:05 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“but back to sleep. how much does a teenager need? and an adult?”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:05 AM

it is crazy our obsession with keeping people alert so long as they can work for you
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:05 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“I can remember buying Monster by the case at Costco... not to mention the prescription diet pills in the 70's and early 80's.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:06 AM

I mean we created meth to keep the soldiers awake during the wars
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:06 AM

teenager needs about 9-10 hours I believe
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:06 AM

Yuck-o! But people can't work for you WELL and EFFICIENTLY if they're bottomed-out...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:06 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Mike I used to do Mountain Dew and No Dose pills”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:06 AM

living on the edge Jordan! lol! No Dos haha wow back in the day those were big
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:06 AM

I gave up all caffeine in high school - until college.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:07 AM

has everyone here heard about the russian sleep experiment?
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:07 AM

Mountain Dew is, like, toxic waste. i mean, I think that's like the 3rd ingredient...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:07 AM

yuck I never liked the Dew
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:07 AM

No, I know nothing about the Russians.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:07 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“No but I heard about the Russian space sex geckos!”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:08 AM

what??
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:08 AM

lol
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:08 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“I gave up all caffeine...after 11pm”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:08 AM

good job Jordan, progress
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:08 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Go get those geckos! (John Oliver)”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:09 AM

well it was an experiment the russian military or army did during the first world war I think, but they locked these political prisoners in this air tight room where they pumped this gas into the room for a full day
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:09 AM

and recorded what happened and they kept pushing the experiment further and further (longer amounts of time with the gas present)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:09 AM

they were given no food or water
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:09 AM

What gas did they pump in?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:10 AM

Nikolayev gas
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:10 AM

?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:10 AM

http://www.russiansleepexperiment.com/
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:10 AM

yeah so they were pushing this gas at them at to their surprised the people stopped eating, stopped sleeping and just began to to weird things
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:11 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“sounds like my kind of party....”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:11 AM

it is pretty gruesome what these people began to do, but at the end after a few weeks they were still awake and they had been driven mad
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:11 AM

they were scratching at the walls, fingernails falling off, scratching through their skin - almost anything to keep them AWAKE
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:12 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Did they ever regain sanity?”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:12 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“Wow! The things we do in the name of progress and productivity.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:12 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“No sleep for weeks?”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:12 AM

one of the soldier said they had to operate on one who was tearing at their insides the guy stayed awake and was laughing as the surgeon cut into him
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:12 AM

Gack!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:12 AM

so creepy ok I'm done
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:12 AM

but holy shit sleep it so important!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:12 AM

What did this prove?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:13 AM

they were basically just testing on these prisoners of war
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:13 AM

from my understanding
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:13 AM

this was before we had ethical and moral standards against testing on humans, or before they did
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:13 AM

just to see what happens of course Rebecca... :p
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:13 AM

it's people like that who give science a bad name
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:13 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Nightmare on Elm Street”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:13 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“All we have is CNN.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:14 AM

Criminey!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:14 AM

yeah so anyway, it reminded me sort of what happens to people on drugs like meth or things like that that cause MAJOR sleep deprivation
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:14 AM

pretty scary
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:14 AM

Yeah, I can see the parallels.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:15 AM

alright what else do we want to talk about?
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:15 AM

Hahaha!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:15 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Doesn't anyone ever feel badly while torturing?”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:16 AM

I wish more people did Jordan :/ people desensitize it and make it about us vs them, it ain't right :/
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:16 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“The torturee.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:16 AM

I'm doing a So Psy course right now, JB, and I think that everybody wants to know the answer to that question...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:16 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Good point”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:16 AM

"The experiment MUSt continue..."
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:16 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“They have to dehumanize the victim.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:17 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Milgram experiment. Gives me chills.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:17 AM

Right?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:17 AM

ugh we need more ethical standards in place so that people can't get away with things like this! even now these things happen, but because it is "classified" it is ok? um, no.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:18 AM

it really is crazy how much science has really only be "improved" for the sake of the government and military alot of psych fields go their start for their purposes
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:18 AM

At least the field has higher standards now, even if the government doesn't...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:18 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Deindividuation? Is that the term?”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:18 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“If no one knows, it didn't happen.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:18 AM

yeah at least we don't have to follow in their footsteps, we can progress these fields and science in a way that is best for people and humanity
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:19 AM

We haven't talked about the ways that sleep is directly linked to health, though. Physical well-being.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:19 AM

I have to believe the people that do that stuff have recurring nightmares or that voice in their head all day every day...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:19 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“I wonder if sleep affects compassion”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:19 AM

I mean, we mentioned the obesity link,
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:19 AM

well you are more cranky with less sleep Jordan, would make sense! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:20 AM

the immune system functions better with proper amount of sleep, the memory functions better
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:20 AM

but other research is coming out that shows that specific genes associated with regeneration, healing, and "anti-aging" are activated only through healthy sleep cycles.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:20 AM

I think sleep does affect compassion.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:20 AM

I am so ill-tempered with my kid when I am awake for 2 hours during the night...
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:21 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“I'm going to bed early tonight! lol”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:21 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“I'm sleeping late tomorrow!”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:21 AM

oh yeah the brain is regenerating important cells, neurons, pathways etc while we sleep
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:22 AM

wohoo yes everyone get their rest! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:22 AM

that is the take away from this tawk, do yourself a favor and sleep well :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:22 AM

I theorize that stress affects our ability to drop into natural sleep patterns.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:23 AM

definitely stress, depression, getting yourself off track with your sleep patterns can all make it horrific to try and fall asleep
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:23 AM

Oh! And, I learned this week that sleep disruption is indicated very strongly in mental illness!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:23 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Stress. The ultimate fucker-upper.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:23 AM

hm! and to imagine that most mentally ill people might just be chronically sleep deprived
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:24 AM

Well, they haven't decided whether it's symptomatic or causal.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:24 AM

I learned about sleep debt also and how you have to sleep like twice as long the next night if you lose a bunch of sleep the night before. missing sleep is hard to catch up on. they suggest a schedule you stick with
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:24 AM

oh yeah could be either or both
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:24 AM

But, at any rate, there's strong evidence that treating the early signs of sleep disruption can help ward off full-scale mental illness!
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:24 AM

That's exciting!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:24 AM

I would imagine it would make them easier to talk to and calm down
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:24 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“I know a retiree and his wife who take a nap between noon and 2:30 pm. They say it's like having two days in one.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:24 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Mike, sounds like Spain. Siesta, baby!”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:25 AM

naps are very good for you especially if you have a schedule were you have to be up super early
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:25 AM

Our culture does not respect napping.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:25 AM

Or even getting enough sleep.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:26 AM

I had a field day talking to my dad after taking this sleep class, I was like look at this dad it says here I SHOULD have been sleeping that long! lol
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:26 AM

Not to the point where we actually prioritize and facilitate it.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:26 AM

hahah.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:26 AM

think of even teens you are called lazy, but they need more sleep than they get
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:26 AM

The myth that teenagers are lazy still pisses me off!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:26 AM

me too!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:26 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“Don't forget those with sleep apnea.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:26 AM

Their brains are, like, pupating!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:26 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“I'm sorry what was that? I dozed off.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:26 AM

yeah teenagers are still growing in plenty of vital ways
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:27 AM

Mike - yes sleep apnea is hugely common nowadays, especially with the rise of obesity
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:27 AM

Yeah, sleep apnea. That's kind of terrifying...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:27 AM

but if you or someone you know if having trouble staying asleep or is chronically sleep deprived even though they get a full night's sleep have them get checked for apnea
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:27 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“I got a mouth guard to help me stop snoring. Changed my life for the better.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:28 AM

what? haha
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:28 AM

oh the teens lol
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:28 AM

Also, like, the lack of paternity leave. So, you want someone back at work who is only sleeping four hours a night? Or someone who has to go to a different room and let his wife deal with the baby through the night because he needs at least
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:28 AM

6 hours of sleep to function?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:29 AM

yeah it usually is as simple as a mouth guard, sometimes you need one of those machines it is a bit scary for the spouses they usually wake up to the person not breathing or gasping for air but the sleeper has little idea that it is happening
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:29 AM

ugh exactly! maybe if we had paternity leave the parents would be able to handle the massive responsibility that is getting up with a child at night
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:29 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“My dad was not obese, but he had it bad. There were no cpap machines yet. He had to sleep in a chair. He ended up having a couple of strokes.”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:30 AM

My Papaw had, like a polyp colony growing in his nose for 30 years. And when they got all that out of there, he stopped snoring/apnea-ing.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:30 AM

scary mike yeah some people get it because of size but some it is just something they have they stop breathing for a bit until the brain sounds the alarm there is no oxygen getting through and the person is thrown into a snoring fit
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:31 AM

oh that's great! yeah abnormalities in the throat and breathing area could be the cause too
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:31 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Fine line between snoring and apnea”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:31 AM

apparently you are supposed to listen for like garggling/gasping sounds
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:31 AM

@Jordan: Sexy. Mouth guards are sexy.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:31 AM

haha they are...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:32 AM

any other questions or comments?
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:32 AM

hope we have left you with some good take aways
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:32 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Yeah if you punch me in the mouth I probably won't even care”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:32 AM

haha
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:32 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Sorry I missed the first half”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:32 AM

Hey, we're glad you dropped by!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:32 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“I asked if i lost weight, would it help. They said not in my case. Surgery is not always the answer either.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:32 AM

yeah thanks for coming you guys! :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:33 AM

That's true, Mike. Sometimes it's brian wiring.
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:33 AM

yeah and sometimes something as simply as changing how you sleep or your mattress could be to blame
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:33 AM

*brain.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:33 AM

Otherwise we'd fire that brian guy...
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:33 AM

point is we need to realize how important good sleep is for us and strive to get it, for the sake of our well being both physically and mentally :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:34 AM

Um, yes. And to make it more pleasant to share the planet with one another.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:34 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mike Dwornik

“Thanks to you, friends!”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:34 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Thanks all!”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:34 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Good hang”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:34 AM

"Sleep plays a major role in preparing the body and brain for an alert, productive, psychologically and physiologically healthy tomorrow."
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:34 AM

Thanks for coming, guys!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:35 AM

yes if you don't do it for your sake, do it for everyone else's haha :D
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:35 AM

And thanks to you, Rachel!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:35 AM

thanks for tawking with me Rebecca! :)
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:35 AM

what area of psych should we do next week? :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:35 AM

Now - Go get some (good) sleep!
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Jordan Birnbaum

“Sleep plays a major role in drool on my pillow.”

RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:35 AM

We will talk
RM

Rachel McDonnell · 1:35 AM

Night everyone :)
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:36 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“Wait!!!!!!!1”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:36 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“why do babies hate sleep??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????”

RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:36 AM

Read: Why will they not GO THE FUCK TO SLEEP???
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:37 AM

It's because, I am convinced, they do not sleep the same way that adults do.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:37 AM

And we just don't understand enough about that.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:37 AM

So we're all frustrated and bleary-eyed.
RT

Rebecca Westbrook Toker · 1:38 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Westbrook Toker

“rest well, all you single or college aged kid parents!”