10 surprising facts about sleep

One thing we all have in common is our need for sleep. However, our relationship with sleep varies. Some of us have no problem curling up in bed and getting in those much needed “Z’s”. For others, sleep is a battleground as we struggle to be able to turn off our brains and rest. As everyone has such a different relationship with sleep, we thought we ought to provide some interesting facts about it to spark the conversation! As always, Dialogue is only one click away should you ever feel you need to contact one of our specialists to discuss your sleeping habits.

When we dream, our bodies become paralyzed which prevents us from moving during our dreams.

Your body has two biological sleep mechanisms that work together to regulate your sleep.

Circadian Rhythm controls many functions, such as your level of wakefulness throughout the day, body temperature, metabolism and releasing hormones. This is what controls your body's sleep schedule, causing you to be sleepy at night and wake in the morning without an alarm. 

Sleep-wake homeostasis is what tells your body it needs to sleep. This mechanism becomes stronger throughout the time you are awake. The longer you are awake, the more intense it becomes.

During REM sleep, our eyes move rapidly from side to side. Researchers associate these movements with the perception of new images in a dream; brain activity similar to that during wakefulness.

Humans spend about a third of their life asleep.

Preliminary studies on CBD effects showed positive effects on different sleep disorders such as anxiety, insomnia, REM sleep behavior disorder and excessive daytime sleepiness disorder.

Mindful meditation is a valuable tool for sleep disorders. It can help with sleep quality and sleep consistency.

Our brain activity while we sleep is similar to the one during the awakening period.

Blue screens of smart devices stimulate the receptors of the retina and send a ‘’day’’ message to our brain. This biological phenomenon leads to a suppression of melatonin, which causes a delay in sleep induction.

Not wanting to get out of the bed in the morning is so common that it is now a condition called Dysania! However, true Dysania is often a sign of other underlying conditions such as anxiety or depression. Not wanting to get out of bed in the morning can simply be due to you not getting a good night's sleep or just feeling really cozy.

Morning anxiety can be a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder. High levels of cortisol (stress hormone) have been found within the first hour of waking for people who have high levels of stress. 

How can this be treated? Psychotherapy can be a great start in learning how to manage your stress levels. Some lifestyle changes to consider include getting more sleep, limiting triggering foods such as alcohol and caffeine, reducing stress and eating balanced meals with minimal processed food and sugar is a great start. 

Here at Dialogue we have many trained specialists who are happy to chat with you about your sleeping habits and help you find solutions to improve your daily lives! Just go on your Dialogue app and book your next appointment!