But there are many other things that disturb your sleep - irritations that are not really dangerous, some happen to almost everyone to a lesser or greater degree and some are quite rare.
Over the past year I have been keeping a list of these "lesser evils" that my readers have asked me about. Let's take a look at some of them.
Outside Interference
This includes things like noisy traffic, loud music in the next apartment, a room that's too hot or too cold. Even the lure of a good TV show. These are things that are mostly within our control. Buy earplugs to shut out the noise, or, if you're renting, move to a quieter neighborhood. Adjust the thermostat or add or remove blankets. The TV show? You'll have to judge for yourself if it's worth losing sleep over.
Dreams and Such
People do tend to vary in their sleep patterns. There are short sleepers who need far less sleep than what is considered normal. There are long sleepers who require more sleep than average. Dreams vary as well, from the almost euphoric happiness of a great dream to a frightening nightmare. Then there are the truly terrifying night terrors and sleep paralysis.Reader Elaine wrote that she often dreams immediately upon falling asleep and is awake again an hour or so later. This is caused, I believe, from a continuance of waking thought. If you go to sleep with a very active mind filled with plans and worries, then those thoughts carry over into the dream world and produce troubled dreams or nightmares.
Elaine also mentioned a "zapping" sensation or noise as she was dropping off to sleep. This is common for anyone who experiences sleep paralysis. It feels like an electrical short circuit in the brain. This is really what it is, two synapses that don't quite jibe. The same thing is discussed as a cause for two other disorders - migraine and epilepsy.
