When does it end? Sleep Deprivation....

As expected, the neighbors with the asses are appealing the decision of the zoning commissioner handed down on 14 May 2013.  The appeal, which is to be heard in front of the County Commissioners, is set for 7 August 2013.  Another 2 months of our neighbors breaking existing laws and continuing to get away with it.

Right now, it's 6:55 a.m. as I type this, the asses are braying.  In fact, they've been braying off & on (mostly on) since around 5:00 a.m.  The other night, in order to get some much needed sleep, I took a Tramadol (pain killer) and drank a glass of wine so it would knock me out.  That is beyond sad...  It can be dangerous to my health but I desperately needed some uninterrupted sleep.  How did I know it was time for desperate measures with regard to my sleep?  The other day, I found myself on the phone with my friend, Laurel, alternating between episodes of uncontrolled giggling and then uncontrolled sobbing.  Not good and I'm mentally sound.  She recommended I take a nap.  I tried, only to have that nap destroyed by donkeys braying 50' from my bedroom window.

It's now 7:05 a.m. and they haven't shut up for the past 10 minutes.

There are numerous studies out there showing strong links between sleep deprivation and mental health issues.  Having worked in the health industry, I've seen what happens when people don't get enough sleep.  Sometimes, those suffering from a severe lack of sleep have to be incarcerated in mental health facilities for their own safety and for the safety of others.  That is a sad but true fact.

Some of the consequences of sleep deprivation include, but are not limited to:

2 of 5 donkeys 50' from bedroom window

Increased risk of stroke - A study of 5,666 people, presented at the SLEEP 2012 conference, shows that middle- to older-aged people who regularly get fewer than six hours of sleep a night have an increased stroke risk, even without a history of stroke, obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea.  "These people sleeping less than six hours had a four times increased risk of experiencing these stroke symptoms..." according to study researcher Megan Ruiter. 

Can lead to obesity - Too little sleep can influence less-than-ideal food choices, including larger portions and cravings for junk food, thanks to hormonal changes that occur when you don't get enough sleep. Six (6) hours of sleep or less increases production of the hunger hormone ghrelin, which decreases insulin sensitivity (a risk factor for diabetes) and it spurs decreases in the hormone leptin (which is key for energy balance and food intake). Leptin helps balance your food intake, according to a 2012 review of 18 studies of sleep and appetite.

Increase the risk of Diabetes - A pair of small studies from 2012 examined the link between poor sleep and insulin resistance, a telltale risk factor for diabetes. One found that among healthy teenagers, the shortest sleepers had the highest insulin resistance, meaning the body is not using insulin effectively, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The second study examined fat cells, in particular, and found that cutting back on sleep increased insulin resistance in these cells, even when diet and calorie intake were restricted, Health.com reported.

Brain degereration and memory loss -  According to a new study by the University of California, Berkely, a connection between poor sleep and memory storage has been found. Sleep deprivation is connected with brain degeneration and memory loss in older adults according to UC Berkeley sleep researcher Matthew Walker. 

Contributes to Osteoporosis 

The time is 7:17 a.m. and they are still braying.

Increase the Risk of Cancer - Research suggests that short and poor sleep can up risk for certain types of cancer. A 2010 study found that among 1,240 people screened for colorectal cancer, the 338 who were diagnosed were more likely to average fewer than six hours of sleep a night. Polyps were more common in people who slept less.

Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease & Death

Increased Mental Health Issues & Death -  Among young people who already suffered from anxiety; in this group, lack of sleep triggered more serious mental health problems like full-blown depression and even bipolar disorder, according to the study’s lead author, Professor Nick Glozier. But even among those who began the study in good health, less than five hours of sleep meant tripling their odds of psychological distress. Then, there is the increased risk of death.

"....the days got worse & worse, now you see I've gone completely out of my mind. They're coming to take me away ha haaa...  they're coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha hah to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time..."  And where there are no donkeys braying.

Pancho (above video) is what we hear and we hear that noise at all hours of the day & night...  At midnight (12:00 a.m.), 1:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., etc.

At the tone, the time is 8:01 a.m. and they are still braying. When does this end?