What Sleep Is Actually Doing For You
Most people think of sleep as rest. But sleep is one of the most active, productive periods of your entire day. Here are some very important health processes that happen while you sleep:
- The brain sorts and consolidates learning: The brain is strengthening neural connections and filing away everything from the day.
- Growth hormone spikes during deep sleep: Your child is literally growing while they rest.
- The immune system produces infection-fighting cells during deep sleep, which is why chronically sleep-deprived people get sick constantly.
- The brain processes emotions during REM cycles. This means your bad moods and emotional dysregulation are often just a nervous system running on empty.
- The body repairs tissue, regulates hormones, and restores energy reserves while sleeping.
The Nervous System, Which Controls Sleep, Not Habits
Habits and bedtime routines help calm the body but only if the nervous system is calm and regulated. Here are ways the nervous system controls a good night’s sleep:
- The nervous system has a “gas pedal” (sympathetic) for stress/alertness and a “brake pedal” (parasympathetic) for rest and recovery. Quality sleep only happens when the brake wins.
- When the vagus nerve is working properly, the body can shift from “on” to “off” at bedtime
- A subluxation is when there’s interference in the nervous system. When that happens the brain and body can’t communicate or signal clearly.
- The brake pedal gets overridden by the gas pedal, and your nervous system is stuck in “wired” mode even when feeling completely exhausted.
- It’s like trying to fall asleep after three energy drinks — the body is done, but the system won’t allow rest.
Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care Restores Sleep at the Source
Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care uses precise, gentle adjustments to remove subluxation and help the nervous system adapt. When subluxation is out of the way, the nervous system can finally shift between sympathetic and parasympathetic modes the way it was designed to work.
The vagus nerve can activate properly, initiating and maintaining real sleep cycles for quality sleep. When the nervous system is regulated and working properly sleep improvements come first. This is quickly followed by better digestion, fewer illnesses, improved behavior, and more emotional resilience.
Sleep is the foundation
When you can access deep, restorative sleep, everything else improves. Your memory consolidation, the body’s healing abilities, the immune strengthening, and even the emotional processing.
Remember, sleep struggles are a nervous system that is stuck, and there is a path forward.
If you’re ready to get to the real root of your sleep challenges, reach out to Dr. Desiree Van Bogart and the team at Desired Health Chiropractic.
Let’s get the whole family sleeping again!