I'm just curious about sleeping and how your mind dulls the senses for hours on end?
205670
Non-REM sleep (NREM), accounts for 75-80% of total sleep time: \nStage 1-  The stage is sometimes referred to as somnolence, or "drowsy sleep". It appears at sleep onset (as it is mostly a transition state into Stage 2. In this period, the subject loses some muscle tone, and conscious awareness of the external environment: Stage 1 can be thought of as a gateway state between wake and sleep. \nStage 2, The EMG lowers, and conscious awareness of the external environment disappears. This occupies 45-55% of total sleep. \nStage 3, functions primarily as a transition into stage four. Overall it occupies 3-8% of total sleep time. \nStage 4 is true delta sleep. It predominates the first third of the night and accounts for 10-15% of total sleep time. This is often described as the deepest stage of sleep; it is exceedingly difficult to wake a subject in this state. \nStage 5, or Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, associated with dreaming.REM sleep is predominant in the final third of a sleep period, its timing linked to circadian rhythm and body temperature. Sleep proceeds in cycles of NREM and REM phases. In humans, the cycle of REM and NREM is approximately 90 minutes. Each stage may have a distinct physiological function. Each sleep stage is not necessarily uniform. Within a given stage, a cyclical alternating pattern may be observed.
55223
I have had major sleep problems and here are some things that have helped me.  Mind racing at night is a sign of serotonin deficiency.  Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that makes us feel good and relaxed.  \n\nSerotonin is made from tryptophan, an amino acid component of protein.  There's a lot of tryptophan in turkey, which is why we do get sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner.  There's some in milk.  The trick is that tryptophan has to compete with other amino acids to cross what's called the "blood-brain barrier."  Other amino acids make other brain chemicals that make us feel alert and on edge (like epinephrine - similar to adrenalin).  \n\nSo, bottom line is, try eating more turkey.  Or have some milk with high carbs that increase your insulin and let tryptophan win the race to the blood-brain barrier and make serotonin.  Carbs can be things like a piece of fruit, or some bread.  My favorite is a "milk shake" with fruit.\n\nOther hints - keep the room dark.  Try to establish a routine for going to bed, to train your mind that it's getting time to get ready for sleep (like training Pavlov's dog).  A simple routine like - brush your teeth, get dressed for bed, write a few minutes in a journal, just long enough so your brain has time to adjust to the sleep that's coming.\n\nGood luck to you.
411999
I took Lunesta and found that it didn't work at all for me.  I had a metal taste in my mouth and it simply didn't allow me to sleep.  Ambien is addicitve and causes amnesia.  There is a new drug out called Rozerem.  It is non-addictive and it works to increase your bodies own melatonin in your brain.  You can stop it at any time.  I find it helpful in getting back to sleep once I have woken up.  Also, if you can get some soft meditation or ocean sounds on an ipod or any other headphone system that may remove "mind chatter" if the casue of your sleelessness if anxiety.  good luck.  I have had sleep problems for over a decade.  Get a handle on it quickly or it will get away from you and make you sick in other ways from pure exhaustion.\nBest wishes.
355406
This sounds like a phenomenon called sleep paralysis.  When you are in deep sleep, especially REM sleep when you are dreaming, your body goes into a partial paralytic state.  Most of your voluntary motions are paralyzed to keep you from acting out your dreams.  Occasionally, some people wake up mentally before their body gets the signal to wake up.  You become mentally aware and awake again, but your body is lagging behind in that partial paralysis.  It typically lasts for only a few minutes at most.  Most people report that it is a terrifying experience; they have no idea what is going on and can't move.  This can result in tremendous anxiety about trying to fall asleep, and often creates panic attacks.\n\nApparently, this condition is not harmful to you in anyway, except for the emotional trauma.  The next time it happens, stay calm.  Think to yourself that you are just in a different physiological state, one that few people ever encounter.  It will pass after a few minutes, and you should feel normal again.  Try to relax and let it run its course.  By understanding what is happening, you can be assure that you have no reason to panic.  Its just one of those little things you'll learn to cope with.\n\nYou can talk to a doctor if you want, but they probably won't do much if anything about it.  They will probably just give you a prescription for anxiety.  I encourage you to do some more research and look at online communities of other people with sleeping disorders for people who share your problem.  They will help you find ways to minimize the impact.\n\nAs for the connection of this with your uncle's death, I'm at a loss.  There may be some spiritual explanation for that as well.
419105
over does of sleeping pills, u will just drift off to sleep..arghh i dont have d courasge to do it though..........
509653
Well to be honest, I don't quite get it...then again it's only 7am so my brain isn't quite functioning properly yet. Sorry.
189902
yes, because i am falling into a deep state of unconsiousness, known as sleep. i think of important things, which i nearly instantly forget. but i remember they are important. falling asleep is nothing like the way it is presented on television or on the media. the natural way is simply shutting down all organs in your system for utter tranquility and comfort. when i am tired, i tend to do strange things. yesterday, i was exhausted after my 2nd class at school, so i left home without even considering the circumstances. being tiresome completely changes my personality. i wouldnt be the least bit surprised if the same occured to everyone else. i hope i answered your question correctly =).
496883
You'll be conscious but still groggy
157851
the answer is that as you are tired and start to relax your breathing starts to get shallower.  the effect of this is that you are not getting enough oxygen into your bloodstream and so start to become unconscious.  from this point on, your awareness disappears as your breathing gets shallower still as you pass down through the four sleep levels.
115200
It could be anything from stress to lack of sleep to depression to ADHA to bipolar disorder. It could even be because you're bored. The point is--if you're worried enough about it to ask it aloud, go ahead and talk to your doctor. Like one answerer said, you may be able to fix your problem with some meditation. OR, you could need medication. It's something you should seek professional help about though, because it's obviously bothering you! Good luck!
429855
I've had some limited out of body experiences. (Well, they certainly felt like it.)\n\nThey happened periodically when I was in college, and took night classes. I'd be up very late into the night studying, and I'd sleep in the morning. Something about the time between 6:00 am and 11:00 am lends itself to this phenomena. (It helps if you leave the blinds open, particularly if you sleep in a room with a window on the east side of the house, so the sunlight can enter.)\n\nI also found that they periodically happened when I would fall asleep with a radio or something on the other end of the room. Talk radio works very well. I would be drawn to the voices from my sleep, and that prompted a few out of body experiences.\n\nA third trick that sometimes works - sleep throughout the night, and then in the very early morning [4:30-5:00], get up for about a half-hour or so. You want to be active at this time, but not too active. Then, go back to bed. This seems to trigger the phenomena, for some reason.
499252
Welcome to being human.  You really can't control what you do in your sleep.
672852
i've been an insomniac ever since i changed schools at age 12 (i'm in my mid fifties now).\n\nwhen things get really bad i can usually break out of the pattern by taking a long walk (at least one hour) late in the evening and then making sure i do only calm things (sloppy movies or smooch music) between getting home and going to bed.\n\ntaking a long slow walk also tends to get you out of your own head (private worries are a major contributor to insomnia) since you see so many other weird things to distract you.\n\nor perhaps that happens only if you live in cardiff.\n\ndid you know that the word 'insomnia' was invented by the latin poet vergil?\n\nreading the aeneid is an excellent cure for sleeplessness.
616223
This is a very interesting topic. It's like how you can hear yourself say something in your mind, but you don't actually hear sound. Or how you see a certain image when your eyes are open (hence, daydream). It's difficult to observe thoughts as they are happening, since the only way to actually formulate an opinion about what we are thinking is to analyze what we remember thinking. It's pretty amazing how our minds work, and what they control. We can't (more accurately, MOST of us can't) voluntarily control the rate of our heart beat, but we can voluntarily control our breathing. Yet, when we are asleep or not paying attention, our brain's nervous system takes over. It's so amazing...\n\nI can go on about this forever! : ) I actually have never heard of the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle but I'll look into it. (After a pause...) My thoughts are telling me to finish typing. ^_^
480187
Most people with sleep apnea do not realize they have it!  If they do awaken it is with a gasping!  You are just probably feeling the effects of yourself falling into stages of sleep.  There are actually six levels of sleep one thru five where your body is getting sleep but only on the sixth level called REM for rapid eye movement does your brain get to sleep!  Things like sleep apnea and leg twitching bother the brain and cause it to drop out of this level this is why some people can sleep a whole night but not feel rested!  Because their brain had to stay awake ! \n\nIf someone says that you make funny noises while you are asleep or you stop breathing every now and then That is when I recommend that you should go to a sleep lab for an overnight study!  But until then sounds like you are OK!\n\nBut if you are always tired that would be a symptom of sleep apnea!\n\nSee Ya Later\n\nAPS
271919
I also have insomnia. I average about 3-4 hours a night. And not all at one time. I was given sleeping pills which help a little. I was told to shut everything off(t.v., computer, all lights) when I went to bed. Then to close my eyes and think of clouds(why clouds I have no clue) The quiet thoughts seem to help me go to sleep some nights. Some night nothing works. The key seems to be shutting off your mind. Which is hard for me cuz I run a mile a minute, always worrying about bills or laundry or if the kids are ok. If clouds dont work for you...then you can think of anything that relaxes you. Hope this helps
358483
I don't like to be the serious kind of bloke here, but anyway:\n\nBasicly we need to sleep to recover from our daily life. Simple isn't it? But it gets a little more complicated than that.\nSleeping also makes you remember things: try the following. Learn something by heart and get as little sleep as possible. You won't remember it ( or not competely ) Now do the same thing but have a good sleep. You should have remembered it this time.\n\nWhile you're asleep, you' re growing. Measure yourself in the evening and in the morning. There should be a difference.\n\nWhile you're asleep, you loose muscle, wich you rebuild during the day. \n\nSleep is often accompanied by dreaming. If we would never dream, we'd all die of a mental breakdown ( basicly commit suicide ) within 5 years. Dreaming helps us to deal with the psychological aspects of life. \n\nIf you're interested in more of this kind of "serious explaining" let me know, and I'll answer some more.\n\nP.