On a major board for film editors, I have posted the following:
Hey Gang,
Have you ever heard, "Sleep is for SISSIES"? This usually comes from a producer riding your bee-hind on a 70 hour straight session. Sure, we've all been there. Sleep deprivation is cast off as "part of the territory" in the film business. We readily accept not getting enough sleep. Hey, we're "tough guys" and "heck yeah we can work all night" if it means 75 bones an hour.
We all laugh at the guy who passes out in the bay during break and begins snoring. We brush off the fact that the same guy seems to be nodding off in between cuts as the day goes on. The producer becomes impatient because the editor seems lost, disorganized and lacks direction. "Hmmm? What's up with that guy?" The producer wonders.
It's not so funny if the same guy begins snoring at a meeting in front of an important client, or this nightmare–passing out behind the wheel on the 405 on the way home from work killing or greatly injuring themself or worse, other people.
"Who Needs Sleep?" is a doc by legendary cinematographer Haskell Wexler that you should really see.
http://www.whoneedssleep.netIn 1997, after a 19-hour day on the set, assistant cameraman Brent Hershman fell asleep behind the wheel, crashed his car, and died. Deeply disturbed by Hershman's preventable death, filmmaker and multiple-Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler shows how sleep deprivation and long work hours are a lethal combination. WHO NEEDS SLEEP? is a commentary on our quality of life.
See the movie and let me know what you think!
I would wager that many of us operate in a permanent state of sleep deprivation, due to forced working conditions, chronic insomnia (due to worry, or things like smoking tobacco or drinking near bedtime), sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or overall poor sleep hygene. Add to this a bed partner that may be exhibiting any of the above that affects your sleep and you've got one unhappy camper.
Sleep Deprivation and sleep disorders rob us of good health and our livlihood. Not getting "enough of", or getting "the wrong kind" (No REM or Delta Stages) of sleep is rampant in American society. It is said that over 60% of all Americans have some regular disorder keeping them from ever getting good rest.
Herein lies the rub:
Even if you put in 8 hours, things like sleep apnea or insomnia will not conciously wake you, but you will NEVER get to REM or Delta–the restorative stages of sleep, because your disorders will not allow it. So just because you are unconcious, you may NOT really be "sleeping". Your batteries never get recharged.
Even worse, you could die in your sleep from heart attack or stroke caused by something like sleep apnea. I've already lost one colleague that died from a heart attack in their sleep (who prob'ly had apnea but did not do anything about it), and I'd hate to lose another. Things like sleep apnea can KILL you in your sleep. That is the bottom line and why this is serious stuff and why 1 night taking a sleep test can save your life.
Add this to the fact that each of us are very poor judges of our OWN fatigue, and that "sleeping is for sissies", then you can see why we as humans have such a bad problem with sleep disorders. If I were president, I'd make a sleep test a requirement prior to giving them a driver's license. I do believe it's that serious. Recent studies indicate that more people die in auto accidents from falling asleep at the wheel than from drunk drivers. How crazy is that?
My Story
For the past 20 years or so, I myself have been operating in a state of constant sleep deprivation due to my bad case of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). I have known for years that I have had it to some extent, as family and friends complained about my horrendous snoring. But since I am a single dude and live alone, I didn't bother anyone. So I put it off. I didn't think it affected me too badly. Boy, was I wrong! You can never have an objective perspective until you have a Sleep Test, called a "Polysomnogram", done by a Sleep Tech and get treatment (usually a mask and CPAP machine).
I am disappointed in myself for not getting it taken care of sooner, but I'm now glad I did finally go through the process of getting a sleep test (the test was done in my apartment, no hassle) and getting treatment over the holidays.
I myself fell into the lie that "sleep is for sissies". However, now I have found a way to treat my disorder (I wear a nasal mask and use a CPAP machine). I feel fantastic! Reborn with incredible O2 fueled energy, especially in the morning. The mask and machine kinda suck, but I am getting used to it. Once I'm asleep, who cares? I am sleeping for 8 hours straight for the first time in years.
This newfound energy gives me the motivation to exercise and so that is benefitting me in another way. I feel more organized and thoughtful. My memory is coming back and I feel less confused. I have a noticeable boost to my creativity and options for cuts come to me with little effort. All kinds of benefits and no more nightmare stories of nearly falling asleep at the wheel on the way home from work.
My point for making this post is to ask you to look at you and your immediate family and ask yourself honestly, "Am I getting good sleep?" "Do I have good sleep hygene?" "Does my wife?" "My Kids?". I have done this and found out my dad has restless legs and my nephew's overgrown tonsils are causing sleep apnea. Survey your own family and bring up the subject to friends. It's that important.
Good Sleep Hygene is the cornerstone of good health and happiness.
For all my friends and colleagues I am going to make a challenge: and that's to join the "Great American Sleep Challenge". This gives you an opportunity to find out more about good tips for getting restful and healthy sleep, and to screen you and your family for potential problems with your sleep hygene.
Sign up here:
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/challenge
Thanks for listening.
