Sleep deprivation will kill you? No. Unequivocally false. Only lab animals have “died from sleep deprivation,” but it is likely their internal organs failed due to other complications. The shallow phrase “You’ll die from sleep deprivation” is merely provocative and without merit.

Complications arising from sleep deprivation will kill you — such as massive overpowering hallucinations. Like a bad shroom trip, you may be convinced that ants are crawling all over your body and must be burned off by jumping into a bonfire. Another complication are so-called microsleeps — you may unknowingly black out for 10 seconds while driving on a highway, smash into a barrier and crush your sternum on the steering wheel.