 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Donna
Hale, M.A, CBT,CHT
InnerFitness Programs
(415) 408-8839
donna@donnahale.com
Sleep Deprivation
There are times when our regular, 24-hour sleep-wake cycle is disrupted – sometimes for extended periods of time. For example, this might happen if we need to provide long-term care for someone who is ill, if we have a baby or if we work in an industry that sporadically requires us to work at night. Although we may feel nervous about the dangers of sleep debt, we should always keep in mind that the body has ways of ensuring that we get all the sleep we need: deep and REM sleep are made up at the earliest opportunity. (Constitutionally short-sleepers compensate for the short duration by foregoing most light sleep, gaining instead only two hours of deep sleep and two hours of REM)
As a species we would not have survived this long if conditions that constantly interrupt our sleep, such as looking after children, could have a devastating effect on us. Sleep has its own band-aid that any of us can take advantage of at any time – the nap. (Remember, though, if you nap: it can take up to twenty minutes to awaken fully and your “performance efficiency” – the optimum level of alertness – lags behind your revitalized energy: and napping when we are not suffering considerable sleep deprivation can upset the normal working of your biological clock). Hypnosis is a very effect tool for ‘tricking’ your subconscious mind into believing that you have indeed had that full cycle of sleep and will help you to awaken from your nap refreshed (POWER NAP).
The most important point here is: if you think you are losing sleep –
don’t panic!! Your body will make up any sleep debt and once you
have optimized the conditions for sleep, there will be every reason for
sleep to be your faithful nighttime companion.