How critical is sleep to our well being?

In evaluating new kids, and interviewing parents I am amazed how a common denominator for many is that their child does not sleep through the night, or they struggle staying in their own bed half way through the night. I also am told that their child has had so many different therapies and they still have not really progressed much.

In diving into the subject of sleep in more detail I have been exploring webinars to have a greater understanding of the impact that sleep plays in development, emotional regulation and ability to learn.

If you can take a few minutes to read this it may help explain some of the challenges and struggles that your child may be experiencing.

So what is the purpose of sleep?

As soon as you fall asleep, your brain actually starts to work. It is processing all the information that it has received during the day and sorts it out. It runs checks on your immune system, hormones, enzymes, and balance. It is stated to be cleaning up the brain, and clearing things that are no longer needed. Think of a dishwasher—and the dishes are the different areas of your brain. There are spaces in between these areas where there is fluid that runs through—this time allows that fluid to move through with greater ease removing buildup that may be interfering with that flow—similar to the water moving through the different dishes in a clean cycle.  This process occurs during waking hours but not at the intensity as when you are sleeping.

Different stages of sleep.

There are different stages of sleep which account for different purposes. Upon just falling asleep we are still fairly alert and awake. As the brain starts to relax and slow down, one may have feelings of vivid sensations—like a feeling that you are falling, or hearing someone calling your name. During this phase there may be muscle twitching or jerking.  Non-REM sleep occurs during the first few hours after we fall asleep. Studies indicate that 75-80% of adult sleep is Non-REM.

• Stage 1 is the light sleep cycle. It may last 5-10 minutes, and if awaken you may feel like you have not slept. It is when your body starts to slow down, including breathing and heart rate.
• Stage 2 of Non-REM sleep continues to slow your body down, and you may notice muscle contraction or twitching occurring.
• Stage 3 of Non-REM is when your body goes into it’s deepest sleep. Your body becomes still without movement. It is during this critical phase that your short term memory transforms into your long term memory. It is also during this phase of deep sleep that growth hormone is released in your body. This helps to support your memory as well as ability to learn.

REM( Rapid Eye Movement) sleep occurs after Non-REM sleep cycles.   Your eyes are closed but noted to have rapid movement. You are easily awaken, and typically do not feel disoriented. This phase can last from 5-90 minutes. During this phase dreams tend to be more vivid and emotional. Babies can spend up to 50% in REM sleep compared to 20% for adults.

There is continuous rotation through these sleep cycles during a good nights sleep.

So what happens if we don’t get enough sleep? Stay tuned for the next blog for answers!!

-Judi