Awakening during Sleep

 

Interrupted sleep is not unusual for most of us.  An incoming text message or a phone screen lighting up to alert us of a new email can result in staring at the ceiling and replaying the day in your head.  Many of us are prompted to get out of bed at this point and “re-engage with the world.”  Unfortunately, this can lead to sleep deprivation.  REM (Rapid eye movement) sleep typically occupies 20-25% of total sleep in adult humans which equates to about 90-120 minutes of a night’s sleep.  REM deprivation is generally annoying to most people and may cause irritability, hallucinations, appetite increase and difficulty concentrating.

 

You can learn relaxation and strategies for when you cannot sleep, like getting up and doing something in a different room.  Making a few changes to your sleep routine can improve minor sleep problems.  Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, limiting bright lights, and establishing a calm pre-sleep ritual all help.