REM Sleep

[mw2530]

Sleep has been a persistent problem for me in my adult life whether it is not being able to fall asleep due to racing thoughts or an inability to get quality sleep. About a year ago, I bought a smart watch that tracks sleep. According to the manufacturer, studies have shown that the device is about 70% accurate in terms of its accuracy in sleep data that it provides. Two main trends I have seen in my sleep data is that I am almost always short on REM sleep and I tend to wake up a lot during the night. Often times I don't even recall waking up especially if it is just a few minutes, but other times when I am awake longer, I usually remember. From what I have read, REM sleep is usually the sleep stage where dreaming occurs and is important in brain function. I know sleep problems tend to be common among those of us on the spectrum so I am curious if anyone else has similar experiences in not getting enough REM sleep or with waking up during the night. I know smart watches are not medical devices but I suspect that persistent trends in data are accurate. Lacking REM sleep also seems to make sense since those of us on the spectrum usually experience cognitive challenges such as information processing disorder and rigid thinking. I wonder if any studies have dug into this further. I have changed some habits which have resulted in improved sleep, but getting consistent quality sleep continues to be elusive. I notice big difference in my mood and my level of functioning based on the quality of my sleep.

 

[All-Rounder]

I have not yet figured out how to get my smartwatch or my phone to analyze my sleep, the process isn't automatic so I would have to start it somehow and I don't know if it can measure my rem or anything much than the length of sleep.

I would unlikely use it because every time before bed I'd have to trigger the devices, but I am subscribing to this thread because it's interesting and the quality of sleep can affect our health even after it's completed its course.

 

[Nitro]

I was determined to be narcoleptic in two independent sleep lab studies.
I consistently enter my REM state in under a minute and function on about 4-5 hours of sleep per night.
I consider it a gift.

 

[FilterFreq]

I have not yet figured out how to get my smartwatch or my phone to analyze my sleep, the process isn't automatic so I would have to start it somehow and I don't know if it can measure my rem or anything much than the length of sleep.

I would unlikely use it because every time before bed I'd have to trigger the devices, but I am subscribing to this thread because it's interesting and the quality of sleep can affect our health even after it's completed its course.

I feel very lucky that the cheap watch I got just does it without any additional setup!

Honestly I haven't noticed a dip in REM sleep unless my circadian rhythm is really hurting (which happens enough), but I do notice weird correlations with how I feel surrounding nights of less REM or deep sleep. For example, sometimes I have less anxiety when I sleep poorly, or feel more awake and alert when I get sub-optimal sleep scores as opposed to when I get something like 98/100. None of it really makes sense at all.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I also have narcolepsy and the associated sleep paralysis. My neurologist calls me weird because my sleep paralysis is not just paralysis, but my muscles go rigid. This frequently interferes with my breathing. Since the sleep paralysis occurs when REM is basically malfunctioning, I take medication to suppress REM altogether. I still dream. My neurologist told me REM dreams are the most vivid, but dreams don't occur exclusively in REM.
My sleep is typically fragmented as well.

 

[Tired]

I was determined to be narcoleptic in two independent sleep lab studies.
I consistently enter my REM state in under a minute and function on about 4-5 hours of sleep per night.
I consider it a gift.

Sounds like a magical super-power to me.

 

[Jumpinbare]

Just had my semiannual visit to my neurolgist/sleep specialist. He was a bit fixated on my cpap compliance (I have complex sleep apnea and narcolepsy). I only got an A- on compliance. I'm a bad boy.

 

[SusanLR]

I'm glad to hear dreams can occur in other phases of sleep, not just REM.
I start dreaming immediately and most all night long.
That's probably why 5-6 hours of sleep feel better than 8-10 extended.
I welcome sleep without dreams. My dreams are vivid and very much just like real life, so I wake up feeling I really haven't had true sleep.
I usually take an afternoon nap when I have time and that is the only time I seldom dream. Even if it's a long nap of an hour or so.

It would be interesting to get a sleep test to see how often I'm in REM.
I do wake frequently. About every 1 or 2 hours, but instantly fall back asleep with no problem.
I don't have sleep paralysis, and I don't have nightmares.
That is different too. Most people do have nightmares or "bad dreams."

 

[Human Avatar]

If I can get enough sleep which is not very often , my cognition and sensory input is much better and easier to manage.

My sensory issues are the most problematic when I wake up for the first 1hr and also right before I fall asleep .

Does anyone else here relate to having the same issues ?

 

[Judge]

REM Sleep? Frankly I consider it a "precious commodity".

Wish I had more...

 

[mw2530]

If I can get enough sleep which is not very often , my cognition and sensory input is much better and easier to manage.

My sensory issues are the most problematic when I wake up for the first 1hr and also right before I fall asleep .

Does anyone else here relate to having the same issues ?

I definitely notice a difference in my cognition if I get enough sleep, but it also has to be of good quality. There are times where I get enough hours, but still don't feel great because it is not high quality.

If I don't get enough quality sleep, my ability to focus suffers even when it pertains to things that I am good at or things that I like to do. I also tend to become more numb if I am not sleeping well. Physically and emotionally. One odd thing lately is that if I sleep well, I sometimes will wake up with my knee throbbing. I do a lot of running so may be sore from that, but I literally never feel any sort of pain during the day or really at any time other than these rare brief periods while sleeping or waking up.

I don't notice any differences in sensory issues regardless of time of day. Although I am not much of a morning person so maybe they are worse then.

 

[mw2530]

I'm glad to hear dreams can occur in other phases of sleep, not just REM.
I start dreaming immediately and most all night long.
That's probably why 5-6 hours of sleep feel better than 8-10 extended.
I welcome sleep without dreams. My dreams are vivid and very much just like real life, so I wake up feeling I really haven't had true sleep.
I usually take an afternoon nap when I have time and that is the only time I seldom dream. Even if it's a long nap of an hour or so.

It would be interesting to get a sleep test to see how often I'm in REM.
I do wake frequently. About every 1 or 2 hours, but instantly fall back asleep with no problem.
I don't have sleep paralysis, and I don't have nightmares.
That is different too. Most people do have nightmares or "bad dreams."

I think it is possible to be getting too much REM sleep, but I am not sure what the consequences are. I feel more refreshed after dreaming during a portion of the night, but it is probably because it is not all night long. I wonder if it just seems like you are dreaming all night since you just may not be able to remember times that you are not dreaming.

I never realized that waking up had such a negative impact on sleep as long as you fell asleep again within a reasonable amount of time. But waking up a lot has often sabotaged my sleep score, although it has less of an impact if I fall asleep quickly. If it shows that I am awake for more than 30 minutes or so during the night, it shows a much lower score. Even if I get enough sleep overall and enough deep and REM sleep.

 

[Human Avatar]

@mw2530

That makes sense the quality of sleep. I have noticed that as well.