Teenagers Need Sleep!!!
Promoting healthy sleep patterns and habits.
Sleep Cycle
The sleep cycle consists of five stages, first four are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and the fifth stage is when rapid eye movement (REM) occurs. Stage one is when eye and muscle activity, along with brain activity, all decrease. It is considered the lightest sleep. Stage two is when eye movement and muscle activity stop while brain waves slow down. Stage three is when the brain produces very slow delta waves, and deep sleep begins. Stage four is when the brain only produces delta waves and the person sleeping may be disoriented is wakened. Stage five (REM) is when heart, breathing rates, and blood pressure rise, while muscles of the chin, limbs, and neck and torso are paralyzed. Eye movement is now quick and irregular, and the person asleep begins to dream.
Circadian Rhythm
A biological clock which has the function for the body that occurs on a 24 hour cycle.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
The fifth stage of the sleep cycle which contains rapid eye movement. This is the stage in the sleep cycle where dreams occur.
Sleep
Sleep is an altered state of consciousness because you are no longer aware of what is going on around you.
Consciousness
Consciousness is an individual's awareness of themselves and their environment. You are aware of your thoughts, memories, feelings, sensations and environment. There are three levels of consciousness. The first is the Pre-conscious level where ideas or concepts are stored in your awareness but not active. The second stage is the unconscious level where ideas or concepts are inactive. The third stage is the non-conscious level where basic biological functions.
Selective Attention
Selective attention involves filtering out irrelevant information around us and focusing on the things that demand our attention. You are purposely focusing your conscious awareness onto a specific stimulus. An example is when you are in a noisy crowded place with lots of people such as a party and you specifically pay attention to the person you are speaking with so that means you are engaging in selective attention.
Pre-conscious
The pre-conscious mind is a part of the mind that corresponds to ordinary memory. The memories are not part of your immediate awareness, however they can be quickly brought into awareness through conscious effort. An example is if you were asked what TV show you watched last night you would be pulling that information out of your pre-conscious.
Unconscious
A level of consciousness where ideas or concepts are inactive. The unconscious mind is a place where feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories are outside the reach of our conscious awareness. It contains feelings that are unpleasant, such as feelings of pain, anxiety, or conflict. Our unconscious continues to influence our behavior and experience even when though we are not aware of it.
Altered States
Altered States is when one has an altered sense of oneself or their surroundings. Altered states of consciousness can be created intentionally by using drugs, or they can happen by accident or due to illness such as a fever.
Consequences from Lack of Sleep
Lack of sleep can limit your ability to learn, listen, and solve problems. You can forget information such as names, numbers, or even your homework. Not getting enough sleep can also make you more prone to pimples, acne, or other skin problems. It can also lead to aggressive behavior such as getting mad at friends or impatient with your family.
Solutions to Getting a Good Sleep
First solution is to make sleep your first priority in life. Change your life around so that you can get all the sleep you need to stay happy and healthy. Second solution is to take naps but just make sure they aren't close to your bedtime and aren't too long. The third solution is to avoid caffeine, pills, and vitamins so that you can get to sleep at night. The fourth solution is don't eat, drink, or exercise a couple of hours before bedtime. Stick to calm activities such as reading a book or talking with family. The fifth and final solution is to establish a wake up and bed time so that the constant schedule can allow your body to get in sync with its natural patterns. This type of solution will help you see that the constant routine will make it easier to go to sleep.
Hours of Sleep
Teens you need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night to function best. However, most teens do not get enough sleep as some get less than 8 hours of sleep each night.
Stress
Sleep is vital to your well-being as it can help you eat better and manage the stress of being a teen. When you are well rested you can handle the stress of whatever comes your way as you can think clearly.
Sleep Disorders
Teens suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. Teens suffer from irregular sleep patterns so that means you stay up ate and sleep in late on weekends. That can affect your biological clocks and mess up the quality of your sleep.