Insomnia Can Be A Serious Problem

Sleep is defined as a state of body and mind, defined by decreased consciousness, reduced sensory activity, decreased muscle activity and reduced interaction with the surrounding environment during rapid eye movement sleep. Sleep is the time where a person’s body and mind go back to the stages just before waking up. The period just before sleep can be called non-sleep, since it lacks any physical stimuli. Non-sleep is frequently followed by sleep, when the body and mind again go back to the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep. A good night’s sleep is crucial for a healthy life. Sleep helps you live a normal life by allowing the body to adjust and become accustomed to its daily routine and avoid sleep disturbances.

Sleep and wake up is a simple cycle – each begins with a light, rhythmic pulse that signals the brain to awaken and then leaves the body through the chattering of the nerves. Wake up from sleep and the cycle stops. During rapid eye movement sleep (RIS), the body is in the most relaxed and receptive state, the brain is not active and the eyes are closed. This is also the most refreshing period of sleep and is a good time to recall what happened the previous day.

After sleep, you will not have a good night’s sleep but you might feel refreshed for the day ahead. We typically remember things that happened the previous day when we are awake. Memories that happen during our sleep are often forgotten the next day. Therefore, you might feel refreshed if you remember the good parts of your sleep.

The first three to five minutes of sleep are the critical periods when we decide to remain awake or fall asleep. This is also the time when most dreams occur and are stored in long term memory (LD). The average sleep onset is between three to five minutes. Once the sleep onset is over, most people can move freely. However, the first five to ten minutes of waking remain elusive. During this time, many dreams are recalled and are usually not clear.

Although we spend about ninety-five percent of our life sleeping, only seven to nine hours is spent in REM sleep. REM sleep is vital to our health as it is the stage where we repair and rejuvenate ourselves. However, the average person sleeps only six to nine hours in REM sleep. Since REM sleep depresses our immune system and we need to be more relaxed and rested, we need to find ways to induce REM sleep that will give us more rest.

Many people will experience different sleep cycles according to their genetics and their bodies. There is no one way to induce a normal sleep cycle. You should try to find out the different sleep cycles your body is accustomed to. When you try to sleep better, it will be easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. However, if it is difficult for you to get to sleep, you may need to change your lifestyle and try to live healthier to achieve a better nights sleep.