Sleep involves distinct stages, including REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, where most dreaming occurs. REM sleep is characterized by rapid eye movements and high brain activity, similar to when we are awake. Dreams can happen during other sleep stages as well, but REM sleep is the most intense and emotional, leading to better recall of dreams.
Sleep Stages: We cycle through four sleep stages multiple times each night: light sleep (NREM 1 and 2), deep sleep (NREM 3), and REM sleep.
REM Sleep and Dreaming: REM sleep is the stage where most dreaming happens, and the dreams are often vivid and emotionally charged.
Brain Activity: During REM sleep, brain activity is high, similar to when we are awake, and the eyes move rapidly behind the eyelids.
Why We Dream: While the exact reasons for dreaming are not fully understood, theories suggest that dreams may help us process memories, emotions, and experiences.
Lucid Dreaming: Some individuals can learn to control their dreams through a technique called lucid dreaming.
Dreams and Sleep Quality: There is some evidence suggesting that both healthy sleep and dreaming are interconnected, and that poor sleep may lead to more intense negative emotions in dreams.
Sleep is a basic bodily function and an essential pillar of wellness but getting a proper night's rest isn't always an easy task. This could be due to battling anxious thoughts, physical illness, a sleep disorder, or maybe you simply drank too much caffeine too late in the day.
Whatever the reason, poor sleep quality can seriously detract from our overall quality of life.
Then when we finally do get a good night's sleep we often wake up with all kinds of curious dreams to unpack—and that's the fun part!
Learn more about what your dreams might be telling you, how to develop better sleep habits, and how your mind uses the downtime to work through unconscious and unresolved feelings or experiences.
