Why Bad Sleep Makes Your Body Feel Broken

Why does a bad night's sleep leave you feeling clammy, off, and vaguely hungover in your body, not just your head? This episode unpacks the fascinating physiology behind sleep deprivation's physical toll. From your autonomic nervous system idling in low-grade fight-or-flight mode to inflammatory cytokines creating sickness behavior, we trace the mechanisms that make poor sleep feel like a full-body event. We explore the locus coeruleus, the tiny brainstem cluster that never gets its reset, the dual wiring of your sweat glands, and why fragmented REM sleep scrambles your stress calibration for the entire next day. If you've ever felt "not yourself" after a rough night, this episode explains why — and what you can actually do about it.