It may be hard to believe, but there can actually be benefits to having insomnia. From our insomnia help forums:
LindsayK - I get a lot of work done.
IvanAleisterMesniaa - Insomnia gives me inspiration to write and it helps me think more rationally.
yourfavoritecyn - I have more time to spend with my friends, more time to work on music, and more time to think.
cherrychapstik - It helps me really appreciate sleep.
pete - Insomnia lets me act on impulses that perhaps would never be experienced if sleeping. Riding a bicycle in the rain late at night can often give me a smile.
MarinaFournier - Being part of the group at Insomnia Land.
Here's a new potential benefit; a study has found that insomnia can lead to optimism. A US study looked at the impact of sleep deprivation on 29 adults who were gambling in order to win cash prizes. They found that those who were sleep deprived were more likely to gamble in order to pursue gain rather than avoid loss.
Brain scans found increased activity in the part of the brain associated with positive outcomes in those who were sleep deprived, along with reduced activity in the part that handles negative outcomes.
I doubt Las Vegas is the best destination for the sleep deprived - gambling and insomnia probably aren't the best combination. That being said, perhaps you should consider launching that new business you've always wanted, instead.
Source: Adelaide Now
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Last updated: May 27, 2014
You’re certainly not alone, Jay. Many members of Insomnia Land tell me they can’t think of a single positive aspect of having insomnia – but since this post was about positivity, I didn’t mention that!
Speaking only for myself, I find constant sleep deprivation enervating and depressing. Or, maybe I’m depressed and that is causing my sleep deprivation. I never thought that was the case when I had periodic bouts of fatigue but now that it’s going on longer I’m not so sure….
I’m not a gambler. The one time I visited LVNV, besides the smoke clouds, I felt like uncomfortable, like an atheist at the Vatican (not looking at the art, that one, either), because I don’t grok gambling–I apparently don’t have the part of the brain that deals with it–never have. Anytime my organization decided to have a Casino Night, I was absent, as it would have been deadly dull for me.