01/07/2019 - Yawnder

Understanding the Relation Between Alcohol and Sleep

08/20/202401/07/2019 by Ben Trapskin

Anyone who has ever consumed alcohol knows that it makes people drowsy. This is the very reason why many people consume alcohol before going to bed because it helps them fall asleep faster. In many cultures, it is a custom to drink a nightcap after dinner or before going to bed because it is supposed to help the person relax and fall asleep faster. In that case, drinking any warm beverage, such as milk or herbal tea, aids in sleep. But there’s nothing that works like alcohol. The moment you consume alcohol, your nerves start to loosen up, and you feel drowsy and sleepy. Naturally, after drinking any alcoholic beverage, it does not take long at all to fall asleep. That is how most people consider the relation between alcohol and sleep.

About 20 percent of Americans use alcohol as a sleep aid. It’s true that alcohol induces sleep quickly but what we don’t realize is that alcohol also negatively impacts the quantity and quality of sleep. There are people who regularly use alcohol as a sleep aid to reduce sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep). But constant use of alcohol for sleeping results in alcohol dependence, just like any other sleep aid.

Because alcohol disrupts the quality and quantity of sleep, people usually wake up with a hangover. Keep in mind that alcohol is not like other sleeping aids that are specially formulated to help people sleep. Alcohol is consumed for pleasure, and that is what it should be limited to because consuming alcohol for sleep has both short- and long-term effects.

Why Use Sleep Aid?

There is only one reason why people use sleep aids, and that’s for falling and staying asleep. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who consume sleeping pills or other sleep aids on a regular basis do so without consulting a healthcare practitioner. Not all sleep aid requires a prescription, making it easier for people to consume sleeping pills randomly. Most people do not know how to consume sleeping pills safely. As a result, the dependency on the sleeping pill slowly grows and makes it impossible to sleep without it.

A large number of people around the world suffer from some kind of sleep disorder. In many cases, the sufferer is not even aware of the condition. Certain sleep disorders can go for years without being diagnosed or treated. This means the sufferer keeps losing precious sleep to the disorder.

In some cases, healthcare practitioners prescribe sleep aid for any of the three reasons:

To aid in falling asleep
To help in staying sleep
To prevent frequent episodes of wakefulness during the night

When healthcare practitioners prescribe sleeping pills, they are aware of the effects and side effects and can guide the patient to use the pills safely. They also know when to instruct the patient to slowly go off the pills and try to sleep without them. In cases like insomnia, sleeping pills are regularly prescribed by doctors to prevent the person from sleep deprivation. Sleeping pills are also prescribed when the patient suffers from some other disorder that prevents quality sleep. But when a sleep aid is prescribed by healthcare practitioners, it is done after considering the overall health of the person and the side effects of the sleep aid.

Although many people consume alcohol as a sleep aid, you will never find a healthcare practitioner endorsing this idea. Alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, but the side effects outweigh the benefits.

How Alcohol Disrupts Sleep

At first glance, it seems that alcohol is an effective sleep aid. But there are several ways in which alcohol disrupts sleep. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it reduces the alertness and hinders the function of the nervous system. Once you know that alcohol is a depressant, it isn’t hard to understand why any alcoholic beverage causes drowsiness and hangover and robs the person of all sensibilities.

Alcohol not only affects you negatively while you are awake but also when you are asleep. The following are the five ways in which alcohol disrupts your sleep cycle and quality.

Disruption of Sleep Cycle

There are four stages of sleep, and all of them are equally important in ensuring that you wake up refreshed and alert. If you spend a long time in one stage and do not spend enough time in the other, your sleep cycle is disrupted. It’s true that alcohol reduces the time taken to fall asleep, but there is an important way in which alcohol gets in the way of restorative sleep. This is by turning on both delta wave and Alpha wave activity. Delta wave activity happens when the person is in a deep sleep. This is responsible for memory formation, focus, and learning. But at the same time alcohol also turns on another brain pattern called alpha activity. The problem is alpha activity is not supposed to happen when the person is asleep. It takes place when the person is awake. When Delta and Alpha activities take place at the same time, it can prevent restorative sleep and leave you feeling tired in the morning.

Impact on Circadian Rhythm

While alcohol may help you fall asleep easily, it severely impacts the quality of sleep. Even if you fall asleep quickly, it’s common to wake up in the middle of the night. The reason behind this is that alcohol disrupts production of the chemicals that balance sleep and wakefulness. When you consume alcohol before bedtime, it produces adenosine, a sleep-inducing chemical in the brain. Adenosine brings on sleep very fast, but it also fades away just as quickly, making you wake up even before you’ve had enough sleep.

Blocking REM Sleep

Have you ever wondered why you wake up with a hangover after consuming alcohol? One of the reasons is that alcohol hinders the normal functioning of the nervous system and makes you feel confused and disoriented. There is another reason why consuming alcohol before bedtime leads to feeling groggy and confused in the morning. The reason is that alcohol prevents REM sleep. The final stage of sleep is called the REM phase and is considered the most restorative type of sleep. The brain becomes active in this sleep stage and boosts alertness, memory, and concentration. In short, this is the phase when the brain recharges and gets ready for the next day. When you miss out on REM sleep, you are more than likely to wake up confused groggy and disoriented because the brain hasn’t had time to recharge.

Aggravate Breathing Problems

Alcohol works by relaxing all the nerves and muscles of the body. That is why alcohol feels so relaxing before bed because it makes you drowsy and helps you fall asleep faster. But if you suffer from problems like snoring or sleep apnea alcohol aggravates these problems by causing breathing difficulties. When the nerves and muscles relax, the throat muscles also relax, obstructing the airway and preventing normal breathing. Even if you don’t normally snore, sleeping after consuming alcohol can make you more prone to snoring because of the relaxed throat muscles. When this continues for a long time, it can become chronic sleep apnea.

Waking Up for The Bathroom

Your body knows that sleep is a time for rest and not for frequent trips to the bathroom. This means your bladder is also sleeping through the night. But alcohol being a diuretic, increases your need to go to the bathroom during the night. While there is nothing harmful with going to the bathroom during the night, waking up frequently can prevent you from having a quality restful sleep. Every time you go to the bathroom you are turning on a light, which blocks the production of melatonin and makes it harder to fall back asleep.

Sleeping Naturally Without Alcohol

When you regularly consume alcohol for falling asleep fast, it can seem like there is no other way you could ever fall asleep. But that’s not the truth. There are ways to fall asleep without depending on alcohol, and one of the first steps is to treat any existing sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders are the biggest cause behind insufficient sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. To get proper nightly sleep, sleep disorders must be diagnosed and treated before they go out of hand. To kick the habit of using alcohol as a sleep aid, you should talk to your healthcare practitioner about natural sleep aids.

Once you stop consuming alcohol before bedtime, it can be initially difficult to sleep without it. But if you give your body enough time to adjust to the change, it’s possible to kick the habit and sleep without alcohol. Natural sleep aids like lavender oil, acupuncture, and melatonin supplements work to help you fall and stay asleep without side effects.

Is there a Relation Between Menopause and Sleep?

08/19/202401/07/2019 by Ben Trapskin

Sleep is very touchy. Even the slightest things can scare it away and make it elude you for long nights. For instance, if you’re sick, you may be unable to sleep for many nights. If you’re too stressed, sleep can evade you. If you’re too excited about something, it can make sleep go away. When you regularly experience stress, hyper arousal, or medical conditions, it can wreak havoc on your sleep quality and quantity.

Modern women are often under greater stress than men. Today’s women aren’t staying at home and cooking and cleaning anymore. They are going to work, managing demanding careers, raising children, caring for aged parents, and also doing their bit for the community. Women are capable of single-handedly managing both home and work and taking care of every little detail. But as a result, they also suffer from greater stress.

Around the age of 35 through 40, women begin to experience perimenopause symptoms. This is when women approach the end of their reproductive phase. Various symptoms mark the onset of menopause, from weight gain to mood swings to hot flushes. But a common complaint is insomnia or poor sleep quality. Several women approaching midlife complain of sleep difficulties. More often than not, the cause is perimenopause or menopause.

Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause doesn’t happen in a day. It begins from the time a woman crosses 35 and continues until the age of 45 or more. This transition phase is called perimenopause. Some women reach menopause too early while others can keep having children till 45. It all depends on the genetic makeup of the person.

Both perimenopause and menopause have similar symptoms. Not all women experience all of them, though. Some of the most common signs of perimenopause and menopause are:

Irregular Periods: As a woman crosses 35, irregular periods is the biggest sign of perimenopause. With time, periods become severely irregular and scanty, before stopping altogether. However, irregular periods can also be a sign of some other medical condition that only a doctor can diagnose.

Heavy or Scanty Periods: As the fertile phase of a woman comes to an end, periods are not only irregular but also heavier or scantier than usual. However, these may also be an indicator of some other underlying medical condition, especially if you haven’t yet reached the age of perimenopause.

PMS-Like Symptoms: Premenstrual syndrome usually gets worse in the years approaching menopause. Mood swings, breast tenderness, weight gain, bloating, and abdominal cramps are some of the symptoms that are common during perimenopause.

Hair and Skin Changes: Because menopause is all about hormones, these changes can affect your hair and skin. You may notice graying of hair or severe hair fall.

Night Sweats and Hot Flushes: Bodies of women approaching menopause get hot very easily. When others in a room are feeling cold, they might feel hot. This more commonly happens at night, making sleep difficult. Night sweats and hot flushes are tell-tale signs of menopause, especially when they happen at night. Feeling stuffy and uncomfortable can make it hard to sleep. All these factors contribute to insomnia and poor sleep quality.

Some other symptoms of perimenopause are:

Heart palpitations
Headaches
Loss of libido
Forgetfulness and concentration problems
Muscle cramps
Urinary tract infections

Insomnia during perimenopause or menopause isn’t because of one factor. Several factors combine to make sleep difficult for menopausal women.

What Happens During Menopause?

The transition from perimenopause to menopause is marked by the decline in production of certain hormones. These are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These three hormones not only regulate the reproductive and menstrual cycle but also have a significant impact on energy, mood, libido, cognitive and emotional functioning, and sleep. When these hormones start to decline, there is bound to be some problem to the normal functioning of the body.

Both estrogen and progesterone are responsible for promoting sleep and relaxation and keeping away anxiety and depression. Progesterone is not only the one behind each monthly cycle, labor, and breastfeeding but also regulates mood and keeps the sleep-wake cycle normal. Loss of progesterone also contributes to osteoporosis.

As the hormones fluctuate and decline all through the perimenopausal and menopausal stages, sleep often tends to be increasingly disrupted. When women cross perimenopause and enter menopause, it is not unusual for women to routinely experience insomnia and have a hard time falling and staying asleep.

Treating Insomnia During Menopause

It must be noted that as long as a woman continues to have irregular or scanty periods, she is experiencing perimenopause or menopause. The end of this stage is post-menopause when periods have been absent for 12 months or more. This means that the hormone rebalancing is now complete, and the body is not producing estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone anymore.

Not all women experience severe insomnia during perimenopause or menopause. But if sleep difficulties are keeping you up night after night, it’s time to take the necessary steps to stop or prevent them.

Instead of treating insomnia, healthcare practitioners are generally suggesting treating the root cause. Are hot flushes keeping you up? Are you experiencing rapid heartbeats or hyperarousal? Are you always too hot to be comfortable?

These are some common complaints during menopause, but there are steps to get relief.

The first things to control are your sleep habits. As your body changes, your sleep habits must also change along with it. Certain things to follow to ensure proper sleep hygiene are:

Sticking to Specific Sleep and Wake Times: When your sleep and wake times keep changing every day, the body is confused. Instead, stick to a particular bedtime and the same wake-up time every single day, even on weekends. This habituates the body to a rhythm. For instance, if you go to bed at 10 every night and wake up at 6 every morning, the body will automatically feel sleepy when it approaches 10 o’clock, and also be able to wake up without an alarm clock in the morning. Routine bedtime and wake-up time is the first step in healthy sleep hygiene.

Preparing Your Body for Sleep: As part of healthy sleep hygiene, you need to prepare yourself for sleep, so that the brain and the body know it’s time to shut down for the day. When you keep working till late or continue to use electronic devices, the body doesn’t get the indication that it’s time for bed. Instead, you should unplug, turn out the lights, take a relaxing bath, and do some light reading to induce sleep.

Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco: Certain things can interfere with your sleep hygiene, alcohol and tobacco being two of them. If you are in the habit of smoking or drinking before bed, it’s time to kick the habits when you reach perimenopause. Both alcohol and tobacco interfere with melatonin production and delay the onset of sleep. Alcohol also hinders REM sleep, the most restorative stage of sleep linked to cognitive functioning and memory formation.

Evaluate Your Bedroom: Often, we don’t have the right conditions for falling asleep. The room is too cold or too hot, the bed is uncomfortable, and ambient noise keeps making its way in. When you’re experiencing menopause-related insomnia, you need to take a good look at your bedroom and change what’s needed. If the room is too hot, you will only feel more uncomfortable. Keep your room as cool as possible to keep the hot flushes and night sweats away. If the room is too cold, turn up the thermostat to bring it to a comfortable temperature or use blankets. Also, change the mattress if it’s sagged and doesn’t provide the best support. You can also keep a bucket of ice beside your bed to cool off if you get hot during the night.

Don’t Stress Over Sleep: Stressing oversleep is one of the worst things to increase your insomnia. If you wake up in the middle of the night unable to fall back asleep, don’t stay in bed tossing and turning and worrying about not being able to sleep. Instead, get out of bed, have a nice, soothing drink, turn on a reading light and read a relaxing book. However, make sure to stay away from electronic devices and bright lights, because they can make it even harder to go back to sleep.

Remedies for Menopause-Related Insomnia

Because menopause is purely hormonal, the oft-suggested medical remedy is hormone replacement therapy. But not only is it expensive but can also have various side effects. Instead, there are natural remedies you may try for beating insomnia and having a better sleep.

Some of the non-drug ways to treat insomnia are:

Melatonin supplements
Acupuncture and acupressure
Relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing

In many cases, a mild dose of birth control pills may also be prescribed to balance the hormones and control symptoms of menopause.

If menopause has been giving you sleepless nights, do not hesitate to consult your general physician or gynecologist to work towards the best remedy.

Keto Insomnia – A Concise Guide

08/19/202401/07/2019 by Ben Trapskin

Not many of us usually connect our diet to our sleep quality. But the nutrition that we provide to our bodies determines the sleep quality and quantity to a great extent. There are various kinds of diets that a person can follow, in order to lose weight or stay healthy. But getting into a new diet can affect sleep. Some diets can cause insomnia while others can make you feel excessively sleepy.

There are foods that are good for sleep. Not only do they keep you healthy, but also keep your sleep cycle normal. Including those foods in your diet can improve your quality of sleep. But there are certain foods that can interfere with sleep. Foods that are high in sugar or carbohydrates or processed food are the biggest enemies of sleep. It is often recommended that large, heavy meals should not be consumed close to bedtime. This is because sugar and carbohydrates take time to be broken down and digested by the body, which increases metabolism and interferes with sleep.

The quality of sleep that a person enjoys is an indicator of his health. If he sleeps well without any interferences or disturbances, it indicates good health. Poor quality or quantity of sleep is linked to internal weaknesses or nutritional deficiencies.

One diet that can cause insomnia in some people is the ketogenic diet. Various diets come and go, and there are several people who like to try them out, in the hopes of losing weight or becoming healthier. But before starting any new diet, no matter how beneficial to other aspects of health, its effect on sleep should be carefully studied.

What Is The Ketogenic Diet?

Although the keto diet has been around for a while, it has recently started to gain massive popularity because it claims to help in weight loss and fat burn. In this diet, you need to cut down on carbohydrates and increase intake of healthy fats, proteins, and vegetables low in starch. The most significant aspect of this diet is the drastic cut-down on carbohydrates. You have to consume little to no carbohydrates, with most of the energy being provided to the body by fats and proteins.

The word “keto” comes from the small fuel molecules called ketones produced by the body as an alternate source of

Ketones are produced by the liver when both carbs and proteins are in short supply. Carbohydrates and proteins are what convert into glucose to provide fuel for the body. But when these aren’t sufficient enough, the body uses up fat to produce ketones, which serve as fuel for the body and the brain.

A keto diet is thought to be beneficial for weight loss because it helps the body burn fat rapidly. It also has other effects such as less hunger and a higher metabolism. However, there are significant side effects too, which happen when the body is in a state of ketosis.

What Is Ketosis?

When there is an excess of ketones in the body, it’s called ketosis. This is usually triggered by an insufficient amount of carbohydrates and proteins in the body when the metabolism is fueled entirely by fat. It also happens in diabetic patients when the blood sugar levels rise suddenly but can be managed with insulin.

However, when ketosis is a result of a keto diet, there can be a number of side effects. Some of the side effects include diarrhea, fatigue, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, and insomnia. Sleeplessness is one of the most significant side-effects of ketosis.

Even though every person’s reaction to the keto diet is different, insomnia is one of the most commonly reported symptoms. This is more noticeable when beginning the diet, as the body takes time to adjust to it. Insomnia, at first glance, may not seem as bad. But going without sufficient sleep, especially when you’re on a diet, can do more harm to your body than good. If you suffer from any sleep disorder, you must consult your doctor before going on a new diet.

The Connection Between Ketosis and Insomnia

There is a scientific explanation for the loss of sleep associated with ketosis. Since carbohydrates are usually the main source of energy to the body, they constantly supply the body with glucose and provide the brain amino acid L-tryptophan into the brain. This amino acid helps in the production of serotonin, a hormone that aids in relaxation, sleep, and overall wellbeing. As day turns into night, serotonin is converted into melatonin, the sleep hormone.

The reason behind the insomnia is the inclusion of little to no carbs in the keto diet. As a result, there is low L-tryptophan, which hinders the production of to serotonin and melatonin.

This usually happens in the initial stages of the diet, when the body is still getting used to the new system. Insomnia and inadequate sleep are one the most commonly reported symptoms of ketosis, which also helps people understand that the diet is starting to work.

There may also be other reasons behind insomnia triggered by ketosis. One of them is a high metabolism and extra energy. A keto diet is supposed to fuel energy and boost metabolism, making you more active and alert. However, on the downside, it can also cause delayed sleep onset and insomnia. When you’re bursting with energy all the time, it’s hard to fall asleep.

How To Prevent Insomnia Due to Ketosis

Generally, insomnia or sleep difficulties caused by a keto diet go away on its own once your body gets used to the new diet. To make sure this happens quickly, you must stick to the diet religiously. However, if your sleep problems keep getting worse and if it’s related to the new diet, then it’s an indication that the diet isn’t right for you.

Dream Water Review

08/19/202401/07/2019 by Ben Trapskin

Sleep disorders are omnipresent. Regardless of climate, daylight hours, or culture, a large number of people experience a wide range of sleep disorders, either on a regular basis or very frequently. Suffering from insufficient sleep once in a while is normal and doesn’t affect our health or normal bodily functions, but when we go without sleep for a long stretch of time, it can lead to various other health problems. Loss of appetite, weight gain or loss, hypertension, obesity, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, hormonal imbalance, and risk of cardiac problems are some of the issues that arise out of chronic lack of sleep.

There are people who can go forever without getting diagnosed or treated for their sleep problems. And then there are those who are ready to use just about any remedy if it helps restore normal sleep. None of these options are right. Sleep disorders shouldn’t be left un-diagnosed, but sleep remedies shouldn’t be randomly chosen either. Wherever possible, prescription remedies should be avoided, and natural remedies adopted. Natural remedies have no side effects and show results with continuous use. But unfortunately, most people who suffer from sleep disorders typically resort to over the counter sleeping pills. When sleep aids are chosen without considering the overall health of the person, they can have severe side effects.

If you would like to try a natural sleep remedy that has no significant side effects, you should try Dream Water, a sleep aid drink. Developed in 2004, Dream Water is designed as the water that’s supposed to help you sleep and dream. It is also endorsed by various celebrities like Demi Moore, Katy Perry, and Paris Hilton.

What Causes Sleep Disorders?

In modern society, sleep issues are usually caused by lifestyle disorders. With no fixed time for bed, erratic mealtimes, hectic work schedules, alcohol, and tobacco consumption, and excessive attachment to electronic devices are some of the factors that contribute to not only sleep disorders, but other health issues like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

In many cases, sleep disorders are also caused by environmental factors such as noise, light, temperature, and comfort of the bed. Those who live in a crowded neighborhood with the noise of traffic, loud neighbors, and ambient light creating a menace till late in the night are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders. The temperature of the room and the feel and support of the mattress are also significant factors behind helping a person fall asleep or keeping them awake.

Medical conditions can also be responsible for sleep disorders. Insomnia is a medical condition, so is sleep apnea. If not diagnosed and treated, they become chronic and hard to cure. Remember, if sleep disorders are chronic, natural sleep remedies often have no effect. That’s why, before starting a new supplement or sleep aid, make sure to consult your doctor and consider other health conditions that you might have.

What Dream Water Claims?

As the name suggests, Dream Water looks like water but is infused with three different ingredients that work together to help you relax, fall and stay asleep. If herbal teas or warm milk haven’t done anything for you, maybe you should try this beverage that’s made with natural ingredients used for years for their proven effectiveness. Unlike most other sleep aid, Dream Water can also be consumed before a long flight to help you relax and has been designed in such a way that you can easily go through airport security.

Plain, natural water is more appealing and safer than any other beverage. It’s something that anyone can drink without second thoughts. So when water comes infused with a sleep aid, it is bound to create a hype. After Vitamin Water and CBD water, we now have Dream Water. It is natural and pristine water but loaded with sleep-inducing ingredients that are also natural and do not affect the purity or safety of the water.

How to Use Dream Water

Dream Water is made with three ingredients:

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid: It aids in relaxation and anxiety relief by blocking the impulse transmission from one cell to another in the central nervous system.
Melatonin: This sleep hormone is responsible for governing the body’s internal clock and properly regulating the natural sleep-wake cycle.
5-Hydroxytryptophan: This promotes sleep and relaxation and stimulates melatonin production.

However, before you end up believing that this product is going to work for you, take advantage of the money-back guarantee and try out the water for at least two weeks. Everyone’s bodies and sleep issues are different, and what works for others may not work for you in some cases. That’s why it’s important to try out the product for at least two weeks to give the ingredients time to take action. If there’s no result in two weeks, the product isn’t right for you. You can then take the company up on their money back guarantee.

Cost of Dream Water

Dream Water is packaged like bottled drinking water and priced at $39 for a pack of 12. There’s also free standard shipping.

What Users Say about Dream Water?

The most commonly noted factor about this drink is that there’s no groggy or disoriented feeling in the morning, the kind that happens with other sleep aid. Rather, most users have said that this drink refreshed them and not only helped them in sleeping better but also made waking up in the morning easier.

In Conclusion

Dream Water has invented a brilliant idea of combining natural ingredients into plain water. If other soothing drinks like herbal teas and warm milk aren’t doing it for you, and you also don’t want to take prescription sleep medications, then Dream Water can turn out to be an effective remedy. The product has had mostly favorable reviews so far, and the money-back guarantee makes it safe to try at least once.

Having said that, it must not be assumed that the drink will work for everyone. If you have existing sleep disorders, you should consult your healthcare practitioner before starting to take any sleep aid.

Deja Vu and Dreaming: Is There A Connection?

08/30/202401/07/2019 by Ben Trapskin

Sleep remains a mystery to even to the scientific community. We have been able to build spaceships and send a man to the moon, but when it comes to sleep, much of it is still a mystery. Why? Because sleep is a state of unconsciousness and we don’t yet have the ability to wake up and recount what happened while we were sleeping. Science has been able to find out a lot of things about the mechanism behind sleep over the years, but there is a lot more that needs to be understood about this nightly phenomenon. The need for sleep has also been quite a mystery. Why exactly do we need sleep? Today it is believed that we need sleep because the brain needs to recharge and store energy for the next day. But sleep came about not because of rest but because of safety. The ancient man needed to be safe from wild animals after the sun went down. With nothing else to do, they chose to go to their caves and sleep, even if they did not feel tired. A few centuries ago, when electricity had not been invented, sleep was chosen because it helped save oil and gas. Besides, there was nothing else to do after the sun went down. The duration of sleep has also changed over the years. Man did not always need 8 hours of sleep. The early man slept for as long as 12 hours with a break in between. Today, science has found that man needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep because that’s the time to brain takes to recharge for the next day completely. However, some people need more or less than that amount to function normally. Although science has been successful in interpreting much of the sleep mechanism, there is one aspect that still needs a lot more research: dreaming. And if you have ever experienced Deja Vu – the feeling of familiarity with something that’s not supposed to be familiar – it may have something to do with your dreams.

Why Do We Dream?

Everyone dreams, including babies and animals (if your dog howls in his sleep, he’s probably dreaming of confronting other members of his species). But even though sleep is such a common phenomenon, no one fully understands the reason behind them. The father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, had written a famous book interpreting dreams, but there’s still so much that needs to be answered. Some believe that dreams express hidden feelings and desires, while others believe that dreams can also predict the future. But despite the several advancements made by science, when it comes to decoding the mechanism of dreams , it is still a long way off. Dreams occur in the final stage of sleep, also called the REM stage. In this stage, the brain slowly begins to become active, but the body is still inactive. This is unlike what happens in previous stages when the brain is inactive, and the body works to heal and recharge. The REM stage sleep is important for cognitive functioning and memory forming. In this stage, the brain consolidates thoughts and memories, boosts productivity and concentration, and becomes alert. When REM sleep isn’t sufficient, cognitive functioning can be affected. Dreams occur in the REM stage and not in other stages. That’s because the brain becomes active in this stage, right before waking up. Besides that, the heartbeats rise, and the body temperature also starts to become normal. It is believed by scientists that a conscious part of the sleeping brain is responsible for dreams. This conscious part of the brain has cognitive, sensory and emotional occurrences, leading to dreams. Dreams are usually life-like, complete with people objects themes voices and color. These things can often have a close resemblance to waking life. But dreams can also be about unfamiliar things. Some dreams can seem real because they are very vivid. Such dreams are usually remembered for a long time. Nightmares are also dreams, but only frightening or traumatic.

Deja Vu and Dreaming

We have all had the feeling of Deja Vu at some point. Deja Vu (French for “already seen”) is a sense of familiarity about something unfamiliar. For instance, you go to a place for the first time but feel like you have already been there before because it feels familiar. Why does that happen? Even science doesn’t have the answer to that. However, there is a possibility that the sense of Deja Vu has something to do with dreaming. A dream plays out just like real life, full of people and objects, colors, sounds, and voices. Sometimes dreams are about things, places or people we are unfamiliar with. But dreams can also be about things and events we are familiar with. When we dream of familiar people, places or events, they are actually bits and pieces of memories that are stored in our subconscious. Deja Vu is different from a vision. A vision is when something seems familiar because you remember having seen or experienced it before. But in Deja Vu, you have no idea why something seems familiar because you don’t remember seeing or experiencing it before. The dreams that we don’t remember might be the ones that appear as Deja Vu. However, there hasn’t yet been any fundamental proof to establish why we experience Deja Vu.

Is Deja Vu Precognitive?

Deja Vu is often assumed to be precognitive, in that they may be capable of predicting the future. However, there is no evidence to prove that dreams or feelings of Deja Vu are precognitive. If anything, then it’s purely coincidence. But dreams are called precognitive if you experience the same thing later in real life, even though you may not recall it. There is no evidence yet to prove that dreams can predict significant future events, but when it comes to déjà Vu, it could be something that our dreams tell us from beforehand.

New Theories About DejaVu

There are several new theories about DejaVu that have emerged in recent years:

Dual processing theory: According to this theory, deja vu occurs when there is a momentary delay between the processing of information in the two hemispheres of the brain. This delay causes a feeling of familiarity, as though the information has been experienced before.
Memory processing theory: This theory suggests that deja vu occurs when the brain has difficulty distinguishing between past and present experiences, leading to a feeling of familiarity.
Hologram theory: Some researchers have proposed that deja vu is a result of the brain processing information in a way that creates a hologram-like image, which can create a sense of familiarity.
Neurological disorder theory: Some studies have suggested that people with certain neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, are more likely to experience deja vu. This has led some researchers to speculate that deja vu may be related to abnormal brain activity in these individuals.
Multiverse theory: This theory suggests that deja vu may be a result of experiencing parallel universes, where a similar event has occurred in another universe, leading to a feeling of familiarity in the current universe.

It is important to note that while these theories are intriguing, they are still being researched and are not yet widely accepted in the scientific community. Deja vu remains a mysterious and fascinating phenomenon that continues to be studied and explored.

Deja vu in Popular Culture

Déjà vu is a phenomenon that has captured the imagination of many people and has been featured in various forms of popular culture, including movies, TV shows, and music. Here are a few examples:

The Matrix (1999): In this science fiction movie, the protagonist, Neo, experiences a feeling of déjà vu when he sees a black cat walk by twice in the same way. This leads him to realize that he is living in a simulated reality.
The X-Files (TV series, 1993-2002): In this popular TV show, the main characters encounter many strange and paranormal phenomena, including episodes that explore the concept of déjà vu. For example, in the episode “Monday,” a character experiences a time loop that repeats itself over and over, creating a feeling of déjà vu.
Inception (2010): In this movie, the characters use a device to enter the dreams of others and manipulate their subconscious. One of the characters describes the feeling of déjà vu as a sign that the dreamer is starting to become aware of the manipulation.
Lost (TV series, 2004-2010): This popular TV show features many mysterious and unexplained phenomena, including episodes that explore the concept of déjà vu. For example, in the episode “Flashes Before Your Eyes,” the main character, Desmond, experiences vivid flashbacks that seem to be a form of déjà vu.
Beyoncé – Deja Vu (2006): This popular song by Beyoncé uses the concept of déjà vu as a metaphor for a strong sense of attraction and familiarity between two people.

What is Jamais Vu?

Jamais vu is a phenomenon that is characterized by a feeling of unfamiliarity or unfamiliarity with a familiar situation, person, or place. In other words, it is the opposite of déjà vu. Instead of feeling like you have experienced something before, you feel like you are encountering something completely new, even though it is something you should be familiar with. Jamais vu is often described as a feeling of disorientation, confusion, or detachment. For example, a person may suddenly find themselves feeling like their own home is unfamiliar to them, or they may not recognize a close friend or family member. Jamais vu is not as well studied as deja vu, but it is thought to be related to disruptions in the brain’s processing of information. Some research suggests that it may be associated with certain neurological conditions or medications that affect the brain. While it is not clear what causes jamais vu, it is generally considered to be a relatively rare experience. It can be unsettling or distressing for those who experience it, but it is usually a temporary and harmless phenomenon.

Other Forms of DejaVu

Presque Vu

Presque vu is a phenomenon that refers to the feeling of being on the verge of remembering or discovering something, but not quite being able to do so. It can also be described as the feeling of almost achieving an insight or a solution to a problem, but not quite being able to grasp it. The term “presque vu” comes from the French language and translates to “almost seen.” It is similar to the feeling of tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon, where you are unable to recall a word or a name that you know you know. Presque vu is a common experience that most people have had at some point in their lives. It can be frustrating and can lead to a sense of mental block or difficulty in problem-solving. However, it is generally considered to be a normal variation in cognitive function and is not a cause for concern. Research suggests that presque vu may be related to the brain’s process of retrieving memories. When we try to remember something, the brain goes through a series of steps, including encoding, storage, and retrieval. Presque vu may occur when the brain is able to partially retrieve a memory but is not able to fully access it.

L’esprit de l’escalier

L’esprit de l’escalier is a French term that translates to “staircase wit.” It refers to the phenomenon of thinking of a clever or witty remark or comeback too late, after the opportunity to use it has passed. The term comes from the idea of someone leaving a social gathering or a conversation and, on the way down the stairs, suddenly coming up with the perfect response to something that was said earlier. This experience is also sometimes called “afterwit” or “afterthought.” It is a common phenomenon that most people have experienced at some point in their lives. It can be frustrating or embarrassing to think of the perfect response too late, especially if the conversation or situation was important or high-stakes. Research suggests that l’esprit de l’escalier may be related to the brain’s process of forming and retrieving memories. When we are in a conversation or social situation, the brain is constantly processing and storing information, including words, gestures, and facial expressions. L’esprit de l’escalier may occur when the brain is not able to retrieve a memory quickly enough to use it in the moment, but is able to retrieve it later, after the conversation has ended.

Tip of the Tongue

Tip of the tongue (TOT) is a phenomenon that refers to the feeling of being unable to recall a specific word or name that you know you know. It is a common experience that most people have had at some point in their lives. During a TOT experience, you may feel like the word is just out of reach or on the tip of your tongue, but you are unable to recall it. You may be able to remember some details about the word, such as the first letter or the number of syllables, but not the word itself. Research suggests that TOT experiences may be related to the brain’s process of retrieving words from memory. When we try to remember a word, the brain goes through a series of steps, including searching through the memory network and accessing the word’s phonological representation. A TOT experience may occur when the brain is not able to access the full phonological representation of a word, but is able to access some partial information about it. While TOT experiences can be frustrating, they are generally considered to be a normal variation in cognitive function and are not a cause for concern. Strategies for overcoming TOT experiences include taking a break from trying to remember the word, engaging in a distracting task, or using cues or hints to help trigger the memory.

Presque Entendu

Presque entendu is a French term that translates to “almost heard.” It is a phenomenon that refers to the feeling of almost hearing a sound or a piece of music, but not quite. It can also be described as the feeling of almost remembering a tune or melody, but not quite being able to recall it. Presque entendu is a common experience that most people have had at some point in their lives. It can be frustrating or distracting to feel like you are almost hearing something but not quite being able to hear it fully. Research suggests that presque entendu may be related to the brain’s process of retrieving memories. When we try to remember a sound or a piece of music, the brain goes through a series of steps, including searching through the memory network and accessing the auditory representation of the sound. Presque entendu may occur when the brain is able to partially retrieve the auditory representation, but is not able to fully access it. While presque entendu experiences can be frustrating, they are generally considered to be a normal variation in cognitive function and are not a cause for concern. Strategies for overcoming presque entendu experiences include taking a break from trying to remember the sound or music, engaging in a distracting task, or using cues or hints to help trigger the memory.

Capgras delusion

Capgras delusion is a rare psychiatric disorder in which a person holds the belief that a close family member, friend, or pet has been replaced by an imposter or a double. The person experiencing Capgras delusion may believe that the imposter is identical in appearance to the real person or animal, but is somehow “off” or different in some way. Capgras delusion is named after Joseph Capgras, a French psychiatrist who first described the condition in 1923. It is thought to be related to a disruption in the brain’s ability to process information about familiar faces and objects, leading to a sense of confusion or detachment. Capgras delusion is typically associated with underlying psychiatric or neurological conditions, such as schizophrenia, dementia, or traumatic brain injury. It is usually treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy, although treatment can be challenging and outcomes can vary. While Capgras delusion is a rare condition, it can be distressing and disruptive for those who experience it, as well as for their loved ones.