IN THIS ARTICLE
- Sleep
- Help Getting to Sleep
- Sleep as Part of a Hormonal Symphony
- Unclog Lymph System for Better Sleep
- Eating Food Before Sleep
- Maximize Your Fat Burning During Sleep
- Reduce Snoring: Fat May be the Problem
- Immunity & Sleep
- Pleasure, Arousal, Stress, & Food Does Sleep Have a Chance?
- Sleep & Excessive Substance P
Pleasure, Arousal, Stress, & Food Does Sleep Have a Chance?
If this arousal thermostat is set too high then your nerves will be too stimulated, as if in a fight or flight state, and sleep will be difficult. It has now been discovered that this condition of heightened arousal is also linked directly to pleasure seeking and reward, which actually explains a great deal of inappropriate human behavior. This not only means a desire for food, it also means a desire for any stimulus that feels good.
In other words, your arousal thermostat is potentially causing urges that underlie behavioral patterns that you know are not good for you. When a feeling of reward or pleasure is obtained from a substance such as cigarettes, alcohol, pot, food, or risky behavior
For those of you who are technically minded, the arousal thermostat is established by a pair of excitatory neuropeptides produced by neurons located in the lateral hypothalamus, and projecting throughout your brain. They are called Hypocretins (Hcrt) and have also been called Orexins (appetite stimulating). They are intimately involved with how awake you feel and your desire for a reward.
If you lack Hypocretins you can't stay awake (narcolepsy). If you have the right amount your head is awake, your energy feels good (not hyper or anxious) and you have a normal drive for healthy pleasures and accomplishment. If it is set too high your nerves will feel wired (even though you may feel quite tired), you will have trouble sleeping, and you run a risk for substance abuse issues of one kind or another (or have a history of this).
Because this Hypocretin system is directly wired to your stress response, it is likely that a higher level of stress or ongoing stress is what pushed your arousal thermostat into an inappropriately high setting in the first place.
A wound up Hypocretin system gravitates to pleasure seeking and reward. There is a craving for a burst of endorphins (natural opiates) and/or dopamine (a reward). Impulses to use substances that cause damage to health must be replaced with consistent healthier behaviors. Also, the relaxed reserves in your nerves must be replenished and nutrition that supports changes in brain plasticity can be employed to help reset the arousal thermostat to a proper setting. While improvement in sleep can typically be noticed early on, it will take a bit of time to reset the arousal thermostat to a consistently lower and more appropriate setting.
To address this issue you need to build up a better supply of endorphins (natural opiates) from positive behaviors. By far the best exercise for endorphins is aerobics, which should be done at least three times per week on a consistent basis. Other endorphin-releasing activities include smiling, laughing, and sex. Anything you do that is fun, which does not involve substances or some form of harm, tends to be helpful. At the same time you need to do some constructive goal setting with tangible plans for accomplishment so that a sense of reward based on productivity is charted out. There should be obtainable steps along the way, as the smaller accomplishments add up eventually to completion of a larger or longer term objective.
With nutrition it is vital to replenish the reserves of relaxing nutrients. Thus, nutrients like Sleep Helper™ and RelaxaMag™ should be taken during the day as well as at bed. Use enough during the day to take the edge off.
Various other nutrients can help you build endorphins or enhance the release of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) a substance that helps repair and protect excited nerves. Top choices include:
PhosphatidylSerine
Reduced price!Phosphatidylserine is used by cell membranes of nerves for optimal health. It has been shown to directly nourish the hypothalamus gland and has been shown to modulate the influence of stress on the hypothalamus gland, helping to turn down the excess cortisol processing. This response is consistent with the goal of turning down the "arousal thermostat" setting, which is taking input from stress-processing nerves.*
Pantethine
Reduced price!Use earlier in the day to help get your energy level on, especially take 1-2 before aerobic exercise. Helps clear up brain fog and boost mood. Pantethine is directly metabolized to cysteamine, a natural compound that protects nerves and helps nerves make the important BDNF that not only boosts mood but is highly protective of nerves.*
Daily DHA™
Reduced price!DHA has now been demonstrated to facilitate the growth of nerve projections from existing nerve cells. It has also been shown to help maintain brain plasticity, directly enhancing cognitive function. DHA has been shown to boost levels of BDNF, a result that was enhanced by exercise. Dose is 2-4 capsules per day.*
Leptinal®
Leptinal, which contains higher amounts of DHA, also contains nutrients that support weight management and cardiovascular health. It is a more comprehensive choice for individuals with interest in these topics. Dose is 2-4 capsules per day. *
Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Reduced price!ALC is known to naturally raise the levels of endorphins and dopamine in nerves. This helps to improve stress tolerance. By having a better supply of these compounds in nerves then the nerves are more stable and less likely to require a stimulus to make them feel better. ALC has been shown to protect nerves from excitotoxic stress that are low in BDNF. Dose is from 2-6 capsules per day.*
