The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.

43 And Feeling It!!!

by Leslie
(Philadelphia)

I am a 43 year old female who just had a baby three years ago. Sleep as I knew it is a thing of the past. I have a very difficult time desiring to go to sleep at night. I am a stay-at-home mom, so I'm exhausted by the evening after chasing around my toddler amongst my other wifely duties. You'd think I'd crawl in the bed as soon as she's down but I just seem to stay up til midnight.


My husband fusses because I'm visibly tired but just can't seem to turn it off. What I have come to realize is that my body's way of warning me that I have not received enough sleep over time is the deterioration of my fingernails. It's the weirdest thing, but my nails begin to get frail and thin and form these white blotches. My hair even begins to shed and become limp and lifeless. It really just amazes me how differently the lack of sleep can affect one's body.

So off to sleep I go!

Comments for 43 And Feeling It!!!

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 26, 2014
Symptoms of Thyroid Problem NEW
by: Anonymous

You may want to be checked for antibodies against your thyroid- Hashimotos Disease. I know that brittle nails and hair falling out are signs of a thyroid problem, and Pregnancy is something that can set off Hashimotos.. However, being on thyroid drugs is not always suggested, BUT you can cure an auto Immune disease naturally. Hashimotos is also associated with deppression/low motivation(thats part of deppresion) and exhaustion, and I believe insomnia. It is VERY important you get your thyroid checked out, it regulates all the hormones in your body.. The book I fell upon that I felt inspired to check out at the library was this: The Paleo Approach:Reverse Autoimmune Disease and Heal Your Body, by Sarah Ballantyne, PhD. You will notice that Doctors don't seem to know a whole lot about the affects of food on the body and its systems.. I was told I would have Hashimotos until I have to have my thyroid removed.. But I've heard testimonies on Youtube of people curing their thyroid and I found this book.. Good Luck :) if that is your situation I mean.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to The Effects of Sleep Deprivation.




Enjoy this page? Please help us pay it forward to others who would find it valuable by Liking, Sharing, Tweeting, Stumbling, and/or Voting below.

About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?


A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:

Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.

If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.

More Questions:

Ask | Answer

The Stanford Sleep Book

Stanford Sleep Book Picture

Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for Sleep and Dreams since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.

In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.

Preface | Intro | Contents | Get A Copy

More Sleep Resources

The Zeo

A revolution in personal sleep tracking, the Zeo is a wireless headband that transmits your brainwaves in realtime to a dock (pictured here) or your smartphone. The result? You can wake up and see exactly what stages of sleep you were in during the night! Unprecedented personalized sleep knowledge.

Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

Sleep Paralysis Treatment Book

Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note:

The information found on this page and throughout this site is intended for general information purposes only. While it may prove useful and empowering, it is NOT intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgments of healthcare practitioners.

For more info, see our
Terms of Use.