We all dream, but, did you know that you need to be in a deep, REM sleep in order to actually dream? And that this is the kind of sleep that allows us to process the day we’ve just had, allowing our brain to rest and recover?
Often we don’t remember our dreams, but when we do it can be interesting to try to figure out what they mean. There are many different sleep experts who can help you analyse your dreams to understand their significance, and there are also some very common dreams that almost everyone has had (such as teeth falling out, running from something, falling from a height) which can give you a good insight into what’s going on in your life, and how to deal with it.
The various stages of sleep
There are a few different stages of sleep, and in order to get a good night’s sleep, you need to pass through all of them. Stage one is when you’re basically daydreaming. It’s easy to wake up from this stage if you hear a noise, or feel at all uncomfortable.
Stage two is when your body temperature begin to drop, your heart rate becomes slow and steady, and you begin to produce rapid brain wave activity.
Stage three is when your brain produces delta waves, which are deep and slow brain waves that help you switch into a deep sleep.
Stage four is a very deep sleep, right before REM sleep.
Stage five is REM sleep, and it is during this sleep that dreams occur due to increased brain activity.
The last stage is the most important. We enter it approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep. The more sleep cycles (and the more REM sleep) we get, the more rested we feel.
Creating the best environment for sleep
According to the sleep experts at Adjustamatic, you can get a good night’s sleep in many different places; but an adjustable bed or even riser recliner chair is ideal for maximum support and comfort.
The most important thing is that wherever you’re sleeping, it must be comfortable. Minimal noise and an ideal temperature help too. If you’re constantly being woken because of discomfort (like if something is digging into your back or your neck feels stiff) you’re only likely to get those first few stages of sleep.
Lack of REM sleep means you could still feel exhausted in the morning, and, you might miss out on some valuable dreaming time.
The sleep experts at Adjustamatic have teamed up with leading psychologist and oneiric, Ian Wallace to shed some light on the wonderful world of children’s dreams in their #DreamsExplained YouTube series. Check it out here:
Sophia
