Sleep

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

WatNext I'm assuming that you are avoiding caffeine. Caffeine is a nasty,

addictive drug (ok, ingredient) that people don't realize the full impact it has

on their body. Caffeine's effect is very similiar to cocaine - it is a serious

stimulant to the human nervous system. Caffeine's lingering effect is on the

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) cycle sleep patterns. REM sleep is when we get our

restful sleep. It is when our body rejuvenates itself. Caffeine interrupts this

cycle and basically shorts it out. This effect can be measured after 1 cup of

coffee up to 15 hours prior to sleep. Some people seem to be immune to caffeine

(build resistance? truly immune?) but some people seem to be hypersensitive and

any amount of caffeine will affect their sleep pattern. And some people are in

between.

Some people do just fine with caffeine in their lives until another factor is

introduced - such as depression, medications, stress, anxiety, etc. Then they

will begin to have trouble sleeping - either getting to sleep or staying asleep.

For women, menopause is a time when staying asleep is a major problem. That

middle of the night hormone drop causes us to wake up. And, we may stay awake if

the conditions are not just right to get back to sleep. Men also have a hormonal

dip in middle age that may have an affect on their sleep patterns but I'm not as

informed about that since I'm not a man. And, lord knows we WLS people are

having hormone fluctuations!

Any kind of sleep aid will have an effect on your sleep cycles and should be

used sparingly. (You are asleep but it is not restful sleep with normal sleep

cycles.)

The best thing is to build sleep habits. Go to bed at the same time. Have the

same habits prior to bedtime. I found that turning all the lights off and using

candle light for 1/2 to one hour prior to bedtime seems to help. I've also

trained myself to fall asleep on boring TV programs. When I wake in the middle

of the night I put on CSPAN (Ack! Sleeping on CSPAN - and I call myself SOCIAL

STUDIES TEACHER!) and the monotonous talking of the guests puts me right back to

sleep. The conversation seems to help keep me out of my own head and thoughts.

(If those get going I'll never get back to sleep!) Regular talk programs don't

work as they are too " animated " and will keep me awake.

So, build sleep habits and watch what you are putting in your body. I hope this

helps!

Bonnie

RNY 287 now 215

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