Sleeplessness can be a chronic, biological condition. The process of falling asleep involves a gradual drawing-down of metabolic action. • Our muscles relax. • We consume less oxygen. • Our body temperature drops. • Brain activity changes as alpha and beta waves, the brainwaves associated with conscious thought, transition into the delta waves indicative of deep sleep. But if we’re stressed out, the release of cortisol blocks these changes, putting us in a state of arousal. This is why it is so difficult to fall asleep if you’re worried about money or angry with your boss. The real trouble begins when years of unrelenting stress stimulate chronically-elevated cortisol levels, leaving us hyper-aroused. When that happens, sleep suffers—and even when we do sleep, it’s shallow and non-restful.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 03:21:43 +0000
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