I am moving home today and it is too late for proactive harm reduction like “get plenty of sleep in the days before the all nighter”. I tried to look for advice online, but just found loads of articles telling me how harmful and unproductive it is to go without sleep. I get it, I’m fucked. I’m not in this situation by choice though, so now I just want to get through the day as well as I can. I have plenty of help, so I don’t need to do much physical exertion, but I will need to direct people and organise the last packing stages. Fortunately I don’t need to drive anywhere, but I do somehow need to survive this. By the end, I’ll have been up for around 48 straight hours, and I was pretty tired even before then (so tired that my R regular ADHD meds barely woke me up)

So I was wondering if anyone had tips that helps them when they’re exhausted beyond belief but still need to function. When you’re in a situation where you know it’s unhealthy to push through, but it’s too late to change that, is there anything that you find lessens the blow of the combo exhaustion at the end of it all? Staying hydrated is already on my list, as is getting some rest if you can (because even if you don’t sleep, some shut eye rest can be good); I’m getting an hourish rest after posting this question. I’m typically not someone who naps, because I wake up even groggier afterwards. I know I’m foolish for hoping for some neat trick or tip to make today magically tolerable, but I figured it was worth asking.

  • nebulaone@lemmy.world
    0·
    2 days ago

    I was going to say that unfortunately strong (often illegal or prescription only) stimulants are the only real answer to this, but as you mentioned, you’ve already tried your ADHD meds, which are either amphetamine or methylphenidate.

    So there are only obvious things left, like cold showers and caffeine (400mg max/day), which can also be dangerous, because your heart is already stressed. I think naps (up to 3 hours) will only make things worse, because you are unlikely to be in REM and deep sleep for a significant time.

    Be careful and check your pulse and blood pressure, if you can.

    Edit: Forgot the most important thing to mention: As soon as you get dizzy, have chest pain, or in the worst case, feel tingling or numbness in your left arm and/or neck, you MUST stop, lay down in the recovery position and have someone check up on you or call an ambulance, as these symptoms can be early signs of a heart attack.