Effects of Sleep Deprivation among Adolescents

Sleep Deprivation is a condition of having an inadequate amount of sleep. It can be either

acute or chronic. Acute sleep deprivation refers to no sleep or a reduction in the usual
total sleep time, usually lasting one or two days. In contrast, chronic sleep deprivation (also
called sleep restriction) exists when the individual routinely sleeps less than required for optimal
functioning. What are the consequences of having insufficient amount of sleep? Is there
something we can do about it?
According to Stanford University, adolescents need nine hours and fifteen minutes of
sleep. Lack of sleep contributes to a slow down in mental and physical performance, and it also
has physiological effects. When we are sleep deprived, our focus, our attention, and vigilance
drift, making it more difficult to receive information. Sleep deprivation negatively impacts our
mood, our ability to focus, and our ability to access higher-level cognitive functions such as
concentration, working memory, mathematical reasoning and logical reasoning. It makes you
feel fatigue. It also promotes obesity, a risk factor to diabetes, a mood disorder that makes us to
be irritable and may lead to long term mood disorder such as depression and mental distress. It
also makes our immune system weak and may increase mortality risk.
As a student, Im also experiencing to be sleep deprived and getting less than six hours of
sleep, except for weekends. We rarely get that much due to inability to fall asleep until late at
night, work, social life and homework. Whenever I have only inadequate amount of sleep, I get
hyper active and eventually, it changes my mood and Ill be silent. I feel sleepy during lectures
and I need alarm clock to wake me up. I can feel that my body clock is disrupted. Its hard to

concentrate when you feel sleepy and tired. So, I plan and exercise conscious control over the
amount of time spent on specific activities, and I make sure that I finish it.
It is necessary for us to have a rest and relaxation period to revitalize ourselves. A person
who has insufficient amount of sleep is exposed to many harmful consequences, especially
adolescents because we are prone to it. In order for us to deal with these, we should have time
management, and try not to procrastinate.