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The Sleep Cycle
Dreaming and Sleep Quality
- Their Relationship
Understanding Dreams
and Anxiety
Teens and Sleep
Theories of Dream Interpretation
Freud and Dream Interpretation
Jung and Dream Interpretation
Modern Dream Interpretation
Online Dream Dictionaries
Dream Interpretation Books
Dream Journals
Pop Psychology Dream books
Dream Interpretation Dictionaries
About Sleeping and Dreaming
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Sleep, is utmost important for all of us to live a healthy life. When we sleep, we typically follow a sleep cycle which is generally divided into different stages. Each stage in the sleep cycle offers benefits to the sleeper in a different way. However, in the sleep cycle, deep sleep is the most crucial stage, as it is the first stage that the brain makes efforts to recover when we are sleep deprived. Deep sleep allows the brain to have the necessary rest needed to restore the energy we expend during our waking hours. Blood flow decreases to the brain in this stage, and redirects itself towards the muscles, restoring physical energy. Research also shows that immune functions increase during deep sleep. Lets take a look at the sleep cycle:
The Sleep Cycle
Drowsiness: is the first stage ion the sleep cycle when you first fall asleep. This stage lasts for five to ten minutes. During this time the muscle activity slows down and eyes move slowly under the eyelids. You can be easily wake up during the first stage of sleep.
Light Sleep: is the second stage in the sleep cycle in which eye movements stop, heart rate slows, and body temperature starts coming down.
Deep Sleep: is part of the third and fourth stage in the sleep cycle. It is difficult for us to wake up during this stage of sleep. If awakened we may not get adjusted immediately and often feel unsteady and disoriented for several minutes.
Dream Sleep: is another stage in the sleep cycle. During this stage, about 70 to 90 minutes into your sleep cycle, you enter REM sleep. During this stage your eyes twitch rapidly in various directions under your eyelids, thus the name Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep.
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