Brain Waves and Sleep
Brain waves and how they can help you sleep
You may know some of this already, about brain waves and sleep, but please bear with me as it could be completely new to others. Your brain cells, called neurons, communicate with one another by electrical impulses. There are thousands of neurons and together they generate quite a bit of electricity. This electrical activity can be detected and measured using an electroencephalograph (EEG) machine.
From studying the EEG readings we know that brain activity varies depending on what the person is doing. The more alert you are the more electrical activity takes place in your brain and the closer together the waves on the EEG reading.
When you are asleep your brain waves are very gentle and wide apart. Ideally we wind down in the evenings and our brain waves become slower and more relaxed. When we lie down to sleep they gradually become slower and slower until we fall asleep.
That's what is meant to happen. For you, if you have insomnia, things have gone awry. Your brain waves and sleep patterns are all wrong.
Man Wide Awake
You may find that you are very tired, even completely exhausted, but when you go to bed your mind is racing and you just can't sleep.
There are many things that you can do to encourage sleep, they include:
- avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening
- avoiding nicotine
- going to bed at a regular time
- relaxing in the evening- say with a warm bath, soothing music etc.
- keeping the lights low toward bedtime
- making sure your bed and bedroom is comfortable and quiet
I hope this helps you sleep tonight.
Other related pages at Relax and Sleep
Aromatherapy :
Cures For Insomnia :
Insomnia Cure Bath
Breathing Technique :
Deep Meditation Music :
Sleep Apnea
How To Fall Asleep :
Insomnia Solution :
Power Nap
