Chances are, you probably still believe at least one of these 7 crazy sleep myths–because I did up until last year! I have no recollection of anyone telling me about these “facts” (aka myths), but I must’ve picked them up somewhere along the way. Last year, I finally started questioning the weirdest facts about sleep, and with a light amount of research it turns out that, of course, they are just crazy sleep myths!
Are you also a victim of this strange information about sleep?
Let’s put these crazy sleep myths to bed!
Here are the top craziest sleep myths that you can finally stop believing:
Myth #1: Spiders crawl into your mouth while you sleep and you’re probably eating at least one spider in your sleep per year.
Spiders have no desire to crawl into a human’s warm and wet, very alive, breathing mouth. In fact, spiders are typically scared of humans and steer clear of them in general. There’s no solid evidence of this myth actually happening. Technically, could a spider crawl into a sleeping human’s open mouth: yes, BUT it would be extremely unlikely and a rare event at that.
So rest easy knowing that you won’t be eating any spiders in your sleep! You’ll have to find your protein elsewhere…
Debunked by Scientific American
Myth #2: A nightcap will help you sleep like a baby.
This is only true if by “sleep like a baby” you mean an unhappy baby with colic that isn’t sleeping well.
A nightcap, referring to a small alcoholic drink before bedtime, is often enjoyed as a way to promote a good night’s sleep.
While a nightcap may help you fall asleep faster, it can actually disrupt the quality of your sleep. Alcohol can interfere with your body’s natural sleep cycle, causing you to feel groggy in the morning.
Although a nightcap may seem like a good idea for helping you relax before bed, it’s not likely to result in a restful night’s sleep.
Debunked by SleepFoundation.org
Myth #3: Earwigs eat your brain while you sleep.
An earwig eating your brain while you sleep is scarier than a visit from the boogeyman, but thankfully, your brain is safe! Or perhaps you’ve heard the version where they lay eggs in your ears? You can cross this fear off of your list!
You are safe, mostly…
In all transparency, this is where this myth is a little tricky:
Ok so, technically, an earwig can crawl into your ear, BUT this is highly unlikely, and a very rare event.
While this is a very rare event indeed, there have been reports of it happening, like this 24-year-old in South Korea or this 8-year-old in Arizona. However, earwigs have not shown a great interest in burrowing in ears and that’s why it is considered very uncommon!
Again, VERY RARE! You can rest your head safely.
Debunked in Cureus
Also, if you’re still feeling uneasy, maybe learning these 10 facts about Earwigs will help!
Myth #4: Weed is the perfect all-natural sleep aid.
YES and NO: we’re still building the scientific research needed to truly understand the effects of cannabis.
As a short-term sleep aid, cannabis may help assist you to fall asleep faster. However, long-term use and heavy use of cannabis may have consequences on the quality of sleep.
The CBD found in the cannabis plant is starting to become more widely recognized as a natural sleep aid among other natural sleep aids such as Melatonin and Valerian. However, taking a CBD extract is not guaranteed to result in the same effects as all cannabis. Taking into consideration the wide variety of cannabis along with the many forms of inhaling and ingesting it, it is difficult to establish a universal baseline and approach when dubbing weed as a sleep aid.
As with any sleep aid, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and the best practice is to discuss it with a doctor.
Debunked by SleepFoundation.org
Myth #5: Older people require less sleep.
It’s a common misconception that older people require less sleep as they age. However, this simply isn’t true – in fact, older adults need just as much quality sleep as their younger counterparts to stay healthy and alert during the day.
This myth has likely been perpetuated by a misunderstanding of the sleep issues that frequently affect older people. As people age, they often experience physical and mental health issues that can make it harder for them to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night as well as medications that may affect their quality of sleep. Additionally, their internal clock can often adjust, causing them to wake up earlier in the morning, but this doesn’t mean they need less sleep.
When it comes to sleep needs, age doesn’t matter – everyone needs between seven and nine hours of quality sleep per night.
Debunked by WebMD
Myth #6: You can ‘catch up’ on missed sleep during the weekends or on vacation.
Though the phrase “catching up on sleep” is often used to describe sleeping in on the weekends or taking a nap during a vacation, it’s actually a myth. This misconception likely originates from the idea that our bodies can “store” sleep. In reality, this isn’t how sleep works – the amount of sleep you get in one night does not make up for the amount you missed earlier in the week.
There is one possible way to help recover from missed sleep – a brief nap (10 to 20 minutes), which can help you feel more refreshed during the day.
The most effective approach for missed sleep is consistency. Instead of sleeping late on the weekends (or when you’re on vacation), try to keep your bedtime and wake-up time consistent. This will ensure your body gets used to a regular sleep routine so that you can get the quality restful sleep you need during the workweek, the weekend, and on vacation!
Debunked by TIME
Myth #7: Being an adult means being tired all the time and that’s ok.
It’s a common misconception that being an adult means always feeling tired. After all, it seems like there’s so much to do and never enough time to get it done! But the truth is, being tired all the time isn’t normal or healthy — and it doesn’t have to be something you just accept as part of adulthood.
It’s important to recognize that consistent fatigue can be a sign of an underlying medical problem or lifestyle issue and should not be ignored. Chronic fatigue can hurt your physical and mental health, as well as your overall quality of life.
It’s not ok to feel tired all the time, and you can get help towards addressing your chronic tiredness by talking to your doctor about possible causes whether you have underlying conditions affecting your sleep or need to make some lifestyle changes.
Debunked by the author, who finally gets enough quality sleep on a regular basis and now notices a huge difference in quality of life!
It’s clear that there are many myths about sleep, from the importance of sleep to how to get a good night’s rest. It’s time to put these myths to bed and start resting peacefully!