Dream Health: The Importance of Sleep and the Hazards of Dream Deprivation: Part 1
Insomnia is our Nation's silent health crisis. One-half of Americans report having difficulty sleeping. The following is a three-part blog containing information that explains the basic fundamentals of sleep and the importance of dreaming.
Sleep Basics 101
In simple terms, there are 4 stages of sleep but we will focus mainly on sleep stages number 3 and 4.
NREM Stage 1: Transition between wakefulness and sleep – lasts about 5-10 minutes.
NREM Stage 2: Brain begins to produce sleep spindles – lasts about 20 minutes.
NREM Stage 3: Deepest sleep occurs or the “true sleep”.
REM Rapid Eye Movement: Dreams occur, eyes move rapidly,
One of the best ways to think about Stage 3 sleep and REM is to think of these stages of sleep as forms of nourishment. Stage 3 Deep sleep and REM Dream Sleep are like water and food for the psyche, the soul, and the mind. For optimal health, we need both types of sleep nightly to feel balanced and refreshed.
Good Sleep at a Glance
To determine whether you are getting enough sleep, there is a need to assess the quality of your waking day. If your energy is steady and rhythmic throughout the day, you are probably getting good- quantity and good quality sleep.
Sleep problems don’t typically occur because of sleepiness: they occur as a result of excessive wakefulness. In short, we are too hyped up to stay asleep or fall asleep: too frenetic. Managing the insomnia issue can come down to making a decision as to which has greater value: productivity or rest. It requires a changing up in the way we prioritize our sleep habits. Deciding if having “good sleep” is an essential requirement for our optimal well-being. Creating boundaries in our lifestyle that support the changes needed to rest.
The ideal sleep varies from person to person, and even season to season. Health conditions, pregnancy, and other factors can also influence the need for more sleep. Eight or more hours is the recommended amount of time for adults to sleep
Data suggests that the average American sleeps less than 7 hours per night, many sleeping 6 hours or less, which is not enough for most adults to feel restored. Sleep deprivation accumulates from previous sleepless nights. For example, let’s say a person loses an hour of sleep every night, and they are sleeping an average of 7 hours a night. At the end of seven days and nights, they will have lost the equivalent of a full night’s sleep.
Reasons Why We Can’t Sleep
Below is a list of some of the issues that can affect restorative sleep
Unmanaged Stress and Anxiety
Overeating before bed and indigestion
Stimulants before bed
Aging
Too much Sugar
Alcohol consumption
Lack of exercise
Vitamin Deficiencies
Asthma
Sleep Apnea
Hormonal Changes
Restless Leg Syndrome
Pain
Not going to bed early enough
Interested in improving your sleep or want to learn more? Consider scheduling a dream and sleep health coaching package!
Sweet Dreams,
Jenny