MovieChat Forums > Cashback (2006) Discussion > 'I didn't sleep for over 2 weeks'

'I didn't sleep for over 2 weeks'

posted 10 years ago by astralxromance
3 replies | jump to latest

Why couldn't they have made it believable? Everyone knows the average person can't go more than 3 days without passing out unintentionally after such horrible deprivation. And that the world record holder went 11 days.

I went 5 days once and it was the worst experience of my life. On the 3rd day, I couldn't move. I actually felt dead and started hallucinating nonstop and my entire body was so weak, I was dizzy and fell over and couldn't move much at all.

As a chronic insomnia sufferer, I found this rather annoying because I am constantly running on a broken up 2-4 hours max and I can't function or have conversations at all. I do work with it but I can't stand for more than a few minutes without sitting down.

This is so unbelievable to me that it's unnerving.

[–] AureliusBady 10 years ago

Well it's a gimmick/symbolic thing. It wouldn't have been the same if the movie truthfully showed him taking a short nap from time to time.
When I was a young man I was habitually able to endure 2-3 days without any sleep, but nothing more than that.

After a initial few hours of tiredness past the normal sleeping pattern's time it used to go away, and the subsequent 12-24 went on like a breeze.
The most sensible change I experienced is the perception of time, much accelerated after 24-36 hours without any sleep.

But yes I agree, after 3 days you sort of break down and become increasingly weak and unable to function normally, both mentally and phisically.

[–] kut_u_up-1 10 years ago

You absolutely CAN go two weeks without sleep, people suffering from Major Depressive Disorder, as Ben appears to be, can do it reasonably frequently. I myself have gone without sleep for close to 10 days before during a depressive episode. You can only go a few days without sleep if you are living normally, but when you are severely depressed, your whole body slows to a crawl, including your brain. You use FAR less energy, and are often so slow and immobile that you gain sufficient rest to stay conscious just by lying down, you don't need to sleep. Take a look at a person going through a depressive episode. You'll see they have big bags under their eyes and move very slowly, it's because they probably haven't slept for many days.

[–] tecnogaming 10 years ago

Yes, I understand but then again you dind't go to a mall to get a job and got hired, WITHOUT SLEEPING and then do the work all nights, like the guy in this movie, cleaning up the floors without collapsing..

It was dumb, anyone who spent at least 3 days without sleep knows it is absolutely imposible to do even menial works like cleaning up a floor, let alone work a whole week, it was stupid.

Alex Vojacek