Sleep Deprivation Is Torture -- Part Two

The following is taken from a December 15, 2014 article in "Psychology Today" written by Kelly Bulkeley Ph.D

WHY SLEEP DEPRIVATION IS TORTURE



A 2014 report released by the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence focused on the CIA's detention and interrogation program following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
According to the report, among the "enhanced interrogation techniques" used in this program was sleep deprivation.

"Sleep deprivation kept detainees awake for up to 180 hours, usually standing or in stress positions, at times  with their hands shackled above their heads.
At least five detainees experienced disturbing hallucinations during prolonged sleep deprivation and, in at least two of those cases, the CIA nonetheless continued the sleep deprivation."

Since the release of the report, Americans have debated whether or not the methods used by the CIA can properly be called "torture."
I don't know about the other methods, but I do know that the methods of sleep deprivation reportedly used are clearly acts of torture.
In fact, prolonged sleep deprivation is an especially insidious form of torture because it attacks the deep biological functions at the core of a person's mental and physical health.
It is less overtly violent than cutting off someone's finger, but it can be far more damaging and painful if pushed to extremes.

Why is this?
Start with the fact that sleep is a basic biological necessity for all humans, indeed for all creatures on the planet.
There is some natural variability and flexibility in the sleep cycle, hence people can go 24 hours without sleep in the right circumstances, without any lasting harm other than additional "rebound" sleep the next time they are allowed to sleep normally.
However, if a person is deprived of sleep for longer than that, severe mental and physical problems begin to develop.

The first signs of sleep deprivation are unpleasant feelings of fatigue, irritability, and difficulties concentrating.
Then come problems with reading and speaking clearly, poor judgement, lower body temperature, and a considerable increase in appetite.
If the deprivation continues, the worsening effects include disorientation, visual misperceptions, apathy, severe lethargy, and social withdrawal.

Forcibly depriving a person of sleep is a profound assault on the entire biological system at the foundation of that person's mind and body.


Read entire article:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dreaming-in-the-digital-age/201412/why-sleep-depriva

Or Google:
"Why Sleep Deprivation Is Torture" (Psychology Today)