Most of us have been there. Closing your eyes ready to sleep. Waiting for sleep. Stressing that you won’t get to sleep. Panicking about how close the morning is getting. Worrying that your brain is now too alert for you to sleep. Worried that the next day will now be spoilt by feeling tired. Wondering if tomorrow night will be any different.
Or maybe, you get to sleep without an issue, but your sleep is then disrupted several times during the night.
The time spent sleeping is important, but equally important is smoothly progressing through the four stages of the sleep cycle. Each of the four stages plays a part in allowing the body and mind to wake up refreshed.
The four stages of the sleep cycle are as follows:
· NREM (N1) – Falling into a light sleep, usually lasting under 10 minutes.
· NREM (N2) – Light sleep. Body and mind start to relax. Usually lasting 30 minutes or so.
· NREM (N3) – Deepest sleep state. The stage where the body and mind can repair and recuperate. Lasting between 20-40 minutes, or so.
· REM (REM sleep) – Most of our dreams happen at this stage. The brain temporarily paralyses the muscles, so we don’t act out whilst dreaming. This stage can last between a few minutes to an hour or so.
We then usually go through these four stages 4-6 times per night. The REM (rapid eye movement) stage will start to last longer during each cycle, whilst the NREM (non-rapid eye movement) stages will start to decrease in duration.
As with most issues, sleeping problems can range in complexity, ranging from stress levels, habits from previous sleeping patterns, age, alcohol consumption, weight and activity levels, to sleeping disorders such as Sleep Apnea (breathing stopping and starting), Insomnia (hard to fall and/or stay asleep), Parasomnias (disruptive sleep-related disorders). Obviously, there are many other things that can affect our sleep, such as discomfort and pain or a snoring partner.
Hypnotherapy can help with many sleep issues. A person who is hypnotised will enter a state of heightened attention and suggestibility, leaving them open to suggested changes in behaviour and thinking. Hypnotherapy can also help with the relaxation process before sleep allowing the client to ‘switch off’ more easily. Once achieved, getting back into a pattern of good quality sleep soon becomes the norm leading to a better quality of life.
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