If you are having problems sleeping recognizing how you sleep or recognizing the mechanics behind what makes a healthy night’s rest could be helpful in understanding why you have a slumber condition. Rest is not as cut and dry as you believe due to the various degrees of slumber. There are many slumber processes that take place immediately you start to drift off to rest that determines how relaxing that slumber is to you. The main ingredient of over-the-counter sleeping pills is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are generally taken for allergies.

The first stage of sleep is called stage one which is characterized by drowsiness as your feel yourself let go, your muscles fall into a limp state, and your eyes will drift closed on their own. This is the fastest developing phase, usually between five and ten. Stage two of sleep is a very faint sleep and in this state your temperature and respiratory system fall considerably. Your pulse will also become slower at this point in the sleep process.

Both stage three and stage four of the sleep cycles are considered “deep sleep” and are certainly where you may have difficulty waking up. You will possibly feel very dazed and incoherent but this stage allows the brain to rest and as a result blood flow actually decreases, after which it is redirected to the body in order to help restore the body. It is important to note that there is a increased level of immune work that occurs during these two stages of sleep.

REM sleep is stage five and is generally considered the dreaming period of the REM sleep cycle. Moving in and out of the REM cycle occurs often so you may find yourself having several dreams during your period of REM. This part of the sleep process is defined by some physical breathing conditions both irregular and shallow. There may also be your heart quickening as a rise in blood pressure.

This important time in the sleep stage is vital to helping you process certain emotions for stress reduction and giving the person a truly good night’s sleep. Those who tend to sleep lighter than others are trapped in stage two and cannot seem to get to stages three and four where the best benefits of sleep reside. Those who can’t wake up so easily possibly spend a longer period of time in deep sleep and awake suddenly rather than come awake through the various stages of sleep.

Sleep can be put off kilter based on the amount of each cycle you got the night before so if you spend a long time in deep sleep you might become trapped in a light sleep the next evening. Your body adjusts over time and you spend the same about of time on average in each part of sleep, hopefully resulting in good sleep patterns. This is one of the reasons why it is stated that you won’t catch up on sleep but you can always get caught up on rest.