A condition of body and mind such as that which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is relatively inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended. (Websters)
Sleep Patterns for a Typical Sleeper:
In the normal adult there are two main stages of sleep that alternate at about
90-minute intervals. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep can be roughly described as a period when
the brain is active and the body is paralyzed (except for eye movements, middle ear ossicles, and
respiration). In non-rapid eye movement (nonREM or NREM) sleep, the brain is less active but
the body can move. Non-REM sleep is composed of four stages that are differentiated on the basis of
EEG characteristics. When normal individuals first fall asleep, they enter Stage 1 (sleep drowsiness)
and then progress through Stages 2, 3, and 4 of NREM sleep. Stages 3 and 4 (deep sleep) are often
called slow wave sleep or delta sleep because they are characterized by high amplitude, slow waves
(also called delta waves) on EEG. Slow wave sleep may last from a few minutes to an hour,
depending on the person’s age, before reversion back to Stage 2 sleep. Shortly after this, the first
REM sleep period begins, lasting about 15-20 minutes and is followed by another non-REM cycle.
This alternating pattern continues throughout the night, but as the night progresses Stages 3 and 4 are
less apparent and the periods of REM sleep grow longer. See graph below for an illustration of the
time course. By the criterion of external arousability, REM is the deepest stage of sleep, but by the
criterion of internal arousability, REM is the lightest stage of sleep, since a person is more likely to
awaken spontaneously from REM sleep than from any other stage.
Sleep Patterns in Ivey's World:
Inconsistent. Sporadic. Sleep inconsistencies can last days, weeks, and yes, months. A random night of solid sleep, is just that, random.
Sleep Patterns for Ivey's Momma:
Non-existant. Sleep non-existant instances do last days, weeks, and yes, months. Random nights of said child sleeping still results in momma NOT sleeping because her body and mind are gravely set in non sleep hell mode.
I used to sleep, but that was long ago. Now I spend hours trying to remember what it was like.
All this to say, I am exhausted. Mentally. Physically. My mind is foggy. My body aches.
After many multiple nights of inconsistent sleep, I need the sticker on my forehead that says, "Caution, driving heavy equipment or ingesting alcohol should be avoided." Side effects may include: mental exhaustion, unable to make simple decisions like chicken or beef, physical pains like sciatic nerve screaming in your ear, grumpiness, distracted in the sense of someone screaming "squirrel", lack of energy (barely enough to make coffee from a Keurig), forgetfulness - did I wash may hair or is this the 2nd time, and lack of want or need of verbal conversation of any kind - just grunt, or groan, whichever is necessary, jealousy of any one who looks well rested, speaks of being well rested, violently agitation toward anyone who tries to give sleeping tips and they have never lived with a blind child/person (for example could rip limbs from body of person whom mentions melatonin, scheduling, or any other nonsense crap --- and for the love of all that is Holy, DO NOT mention the commercial about non-24.....).
I love you all, but I'm just saying, today may not be a day that you will encounter my sunny disposition. Just give me the RED apple from Snow White and let me sleep.........
