Most folks are familiar with the idea of
Jet Lag due to traveling across time zones and the consequent interference with
sleep patterns. After traveling across five time zones from the Midwest to Hawaii,
I felt the full force of Polynesian Paralysis, a generally groggy, lackadaisical
feeling, enhanced in my case by a stronger version of the weed I was smoking in
those days.
Especially in the spring, the fact that the
time zone moves away from us by one hour and costs us an hour of sleep has a
variety of ill effects
on us due to our reduced alertness. Among the effects are car accidents, workplace
injuries, more heart attacks, wasting time at work and even an increase in
cluster headaches.
The recovering person is also more
vulnerable to other triggers as the tired brain is at a higher risk for “weird
thinking.” Breakfasts are skipped, angry words instead of goodbye kisses
exchanged, kids dawdling more than usual, other drivers in the same mode,
leading to thoughts like, “This Bud’s (or buds) for You” by the end of the day.
More in another post on the famous Hungry,
Angry, Lonely, Tired (HALT) syndrome and the need to “halt,” and do something about
those triggers. After one client’s dramatic experience, I added “Sick” to that
list. Anything that throws the brain out of sync, good or bad, can lead to
thinking that is out of sync.
So, be careful. It is an hour early in the
jungle on Monday morning and Slick senses an opportunity to feed.
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