Can you live without sleep?:A 75-year-old man hasn’t slept for 50 years; mental health experts reveal psychological reasons behind

Can you imagine surviving without sleep? The answer would be impossible. Right? As our conventional wisdom says, sleep is vital for our well-being. And after a long, tiring day, who does not want a restful and comfortable sleep?
But it’s not the case with everyone; some of the rarest of the rare people deal with insomnia for life. In Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district, a 75-year-old man has not slept for 50 years. Without sleep, he’s still healthy. How is this possible? A unique case that has baffled doctors. Retired Joint Collector Mohan Lal Dwivedi claims his last restful sleep was during the Emergency period. Since then, sleep has eluded him. Though he tries to sleep, closing his eyes, he cannot sleep. No deep sleep, no half sleep, not even a nap, for half a century, the word sleep seems to have vanished from his life. Though the surprising fact is that Mohan Lal remains in good health, having no weakness, muscle pain, or fatigue. He claims to sit in the same posture for hours and work continuously for extended periods. What are the psychological factors behind this? Dr. Satyakant Trivedi, Senior Psychiatrist in Bhopal, offers insights into the potential reasons for Mohan Lal Dwivedi’s sleeplessness and his ability to function without apparent ill effects, exploring the complex interplay between the mind and body.
Mohanlal’s claim of “not having slept for 50 years” is not a physical reality, but rather a mental experience. The first and most crucial step in treatment is to help the patient understand that their body is sleeping, but their mind is not recognising that sleep. Only when this misconception gradually fades can treatment progress in the right direction. Dr. Satyakant Trivedi says that scientific studies have clearly shown that a person can only stay awake continuously for a few days. After that, the person experiences confusion, hallucinations, impaired cognitive function, and severe mental health issues. But, in such rare cases where people cannot sleep for years, the reason is not the absence of sleep but rather a lack of perceived sleep. What is perceived sleep? Dr. Satyakant Trivedi explains, “Perceived sleep does not usually mean that a person has never slept; it’s more than they don’t feel like they’re sleeping. They might sleep lightly, wake up a lot, and not get deep sleep. Because of this, they think they aren’t sleeping at all. From a medical perspective, in such cases, a patient’s claims should neither be dismissed outright nor accepted as completely true without investigation. The correct approach is to know about their sleep patterns, monitor their sleep for a period of time, and analyse their mental state.” According to a study published in the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), an adult needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep everyday for better functioning. While as per age- What is the state of hyperarousal?
Psychological causes for individuals who have not slept for years can also be linked to a state of hyperarousal. In this situation, the brain remains in a constant “fight-or-flight” mode. It juggles a lot with the ongoing thoughts and internal fight of thoughts within. It is a main symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It occurs when a person’s body suddenly kicks into high alert as a result of thinking about their trauma. What can be the other main causes of such a situation? This problem is often associated with conditions like- In some cases, this belief becomes so entrenched that the person remains unwilling to accept that they sleep, even after examination and explanation. Let’s understand the primary psychological causes for severe, long-term sleep loss in detail- How does lack of sleep impact body? When you can’t get adequate sleep, you may have to bear several negative impacts affecting your body. According to the health experts, poor sleep affects- Metabolism and blood sugar regulation: if you sleep less than 5 hours, you may have a metabolic disorder. Compromised sleep produces a stress hormone called ‘Cortisol.’ Sleeping helps in better insulin sensitivity, which decreases if sleep is not appropriate. Drinking tea or coffee before sleep can block adenosine, a chemical that promotes sleep. How can this be prevented?