Understanding our sleep cycle gives us insight into how our sleep patterns work? And can help us identify reasons why our sleep may be disturbed?
We have two main types of sleep: NREM and REM sleep.
NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep
It is characterized by three stages of sleep that progressively deepen from light sleep to restful sleep to deep sleep.
REM (or a rapid eye movement) sleep
It is characterized by dreaming and is the state in which restoration of our brain and body functions occurs; Including energy conservation and memory consolidation.
Sleep cycle
We cycle through stages one, Two, three and REM throughout the night. Each cycle takes approximately 90 minutes, and repeats throughout the night. Also as the night progresses we increasingly spend a longer period of time in REM, which leads to sleeping becoming more restorative or more restful the longer we sleep.
Let’s talk about each stage individually:
Stage one
We are in transition between being awake and asleep. This is a state of very light sleep. And when we are awakened in stage one, we may claim or feel we weren’t sleeping.
Stage two
It is a light stage of sleep, and is characterized by the slowing down of brainwaves.
Stage three
It’s a stage of deep sleep. When we arewoken from the stage we are oftenconfused and disoriented. This is thestage during which bedwettingsleepwalking or night terrors areexperience.
Stage four or REM stage
It’s the last stage in the cycle during. This stage the eyes usually move fast in different directions, and breathing patterns become irregular. Our limbs may also become paralyzed though the feeling is temporary. People, who are awoken from this stage, may have bizarre tales or wild dreams. Once believed REM sleep we start the cycle all over again.
There is an application called Sleep Cycle that works to determine sleep stages, and works to wake you up in the light sleep stage.
Our sleep patterns are impacted by a range of factors, including: our stress levels, low mood and depression, worrier anxiety, physical health conditions, medications and worry about sleep.
Many prescription drugs can help facilitate stage 1 & 2 of sleep. But often have detrimental impacts on our more restorative stage 3 & REM sleep.
