Can someone please explain the whole sleep cycle thing. I heard about it but was wondering about the details and stuff. And if you wake up after one do you really feel more awake. And do you remember dreams better?
Thanks

Here's my shot at it:

Everyone has a "biological clock" triggered by the sun and the approximately 24-hour cycle. When the sun rises, the light enters our retinas and provokes wakefulness. When the sun goes down, and the lights are out, people start to chill and relax and get ready to go to sleep. Additionally, throughout the day we have periods of "clock-dependent alerting," meaning that we get a "shot" of alertness at around 2pm depending on the person, and in the evening if we stay up too late.

If we don't get enough sleep -- and this is a contentious point -- we may accumulate a backlog of lost sleep and feel drowsy for some time. Not all research suggests this is true, however.

Some people like naps and some people don't. A short nap in the afternoon (or a siesta) can either refresh you or prevent sleeping at night, depending on the circumstances.

While asleep, we need to dream to rest our brains. There are four stages of sleep, getting deeper, and REM, the time you dream most, is the second stage. First stage is when you're just dozing off, third is deep sleep, and fourth is REALLY deep sleep.

REM stands for "rapid eye movement," because your eyes are darting around like crazy. If you wake DURING a REM period, you are more likely to remember your dream than if you wake at a different time. It is thought that if you disrupt REM sleep, you are more likely to have a bad day the next one.

Some of us even have lucid dreams. A lucid dream involves being aware that you are dreaming, or even being able to control your dreams. They can range from frightening to hilarious. Research shows that people can actually be TAUGHT to have lucid dreams, and there are some commercially-available eye-pieces that are supposed to alert you of when you are (by sensing your rapid eye movements).
Finally, depression can lead either to broken sleep, little sleep, or excessive but not wholesome sleep. Mania involves very little sleep.

How long does it to return to a normal sleep cycle after disrupting ones crycadian rhythm?

Ive worked day/night rotating shifts for 9 years and have returned to a 7am to 4 pm work schedule. Am wondering how soon i can enjoy the benefit of a normal nights sleep.

It usually takes 14 days to completely rejuvenate a sleep cycle.

What do you think about switching your sleep cycle during pregnancy?

What do you think of going from sleeping during the night (like a normal person) to switching to sleeping during the day and being up at night during pregnancy? I've been told that it should be fine but I'm worried.
What do you think of going from sleeping during the night (like a normal person) to switching to sleeping during the day and being up at night during pregnancy? I've been told that it should be fine but I'm worried. I'd be switching for a job I could apply at. I'm just so worried it'll hurt the baby and I more than help us.

I was working with my last pregnancy and had a very messed up schedule. Sometimes I worked days and sometimes I worked nights. It was difficult to switch schedules and most of the time I felt like garbage and was very tired all the time. However, the baby was born a healthy little guy despite my messed up sleeping ventures. Something to consider though is after the baby is born. The baby will naturally tend to want to sleep at night, but can adjust to your schedule. However, if you should go back to sleeping nights, it will be more difficult for the baby. If you are changing for work reasons, then the person watching the baby will most likely want it to sleep nights, but you will want it to sleep days so you can get some rest. If it helps, you can somewhat predict a child's natural sleep patern before it is born by feeling for times of movement and lengthy times of rest. Babies start to set their sleep cycle in utero. Anyway, changing should have no ill effects on the child, but you may want to consider yourself here. Good luck.

I always wake up after four hours of sleep, no matter what time I go to bed. If I sleep at 1am, I'll wake up at 5am, and then it takes me almost an hour to get back to sleep.

I believe this was caused by my former roommate's schedule. He got up for work at 5am, and I couldn't get back to sleep until after he left the apartment.

Now my brain seems to be wired that way. It probably thinks that I have to wake up after four hours because it got used to this routine.

I've tried valerian root, melatonin, Nyquil. Nothing has helped.

Does anyone else have this problem? How do I get back to a normal sleeping routine? Please help!

Maybe you should try something that's meant for long-term sleep like Ambien CR. It's a time release medication, so it helps you sleep all night long.

You need a perscription for it though...so I would reccomend paying a visit to your MD.

I've been staying up until 5 or 6 in the morning for about a month now and sleeping in until 3pm. I can't seem to get back into my normal sleeping habits. I've tried going the whole day without sleeping so that i would sleep at night and i end up going to bed late anyways. I've tried sleeping pills but they only work short term and i don't want to be dependent on them. My sleep schedule is interfering school and work, i feel tired all the time. Any one have any suggestions?

Are you getting exercise during the day? If youre like a lot of us and sit at a desk all day at work, you arent really using any of your bodys natural energy that is produced throughout the day. Therefore, you will have an abundance of energy when youre trying to fall asleep. You need to somewhat deplete your energy levels; a simple daily walk/run after dinner can do wonders. It will also have noticeable benefits on your physical and mental health.

this guide helped me alot:
http://www.getbettersleeptonight.com


And tay away from the sleeping pills - the last thing you need on top of your sleep problem is any sort of addiction!

My adorable son sleeps solidly from 11pm after his only expressed breastmilk bottle until 7.30am. However he does not sleep from 8pm and is very hard to settle.

After his 7.30am feed he sleeps another full 3 hours. He Breastfeeds exclusively.

How do I get him to sleep properly at around 8pm? We have lights off, and minimal noise etc but still no proper sleep.

I am scared this late night sleeping will stick!

Don't worry! you're not the only one who's in the same position. Baby's sleeping mood change until such time that he knows that night time is for sleeping. Just keep on doing the minimal light on and low noise on his sleeping area so that time will come and he will know that, that scene is for sleeping time. My son changed his sleeping time on the 3rd month. Just wait and 100%, he will change. though sad to say, every baby is different. mommy, PATIENCE is the key word, ok!