When the sandman skips your house, your brain pays a hidden price.
Celeste was an athletic young woman, active and engaged in a busy and, at times, stressful professional life. When the day was done, she slept like a log. However, she rarely dreamed.
While competent at her job, she started to feel increasingly numb when work became more stressful. At times, she might find it tough to relate to others or feel like life was on a conveyor belt—happening around her while she rode along—a somewhat detached observer. I wish I could have told Celeste in the past what I’m about to share with you now.
Your sleep isn’t just about how tired you feel—it’s about how your brain regulates itself overnight. While you may have heard about the importance of “deep sleep,” there’s more to the story.
The tiny locus coeruleus (pronounced “sir-RULE-yes”), a powerhouse of stress regulation, plays a surprising role in deciding when you enter REM sleep. REM is when dreams happen, but there’s more at play. In fact, your mental health depends on this time for more than wacky, altered realities.
But if your day is filled with stress, your locus coeruleus may stand in the way, disrupting the natural rhythm of your sleep cycles. Let’s dive into the neuroscience behind this hidden sleep regulator.
Sleep Begins Long Before Bedtime
Throughout the day, the locus coeruleus, a tiny nub in the brain stem, produces norepinephrine—which is like adrenaline’s more moderate cousin. Adrenaline is a hormone that sends your body into full “fight or flight” mode in “do or die” situations like an accident or violent attack.
Similar chemically, norepinephrine is a brain chemical that increases alertness, focus, and blood pressure in the course of everyday events—like paying attention in a meeting—and sometimes more so when we are faced with challenges or stress—perhaps if you are called out during that meeting.
Both adrenaline and norepinephrine are necessary to function, but too much can wear you out.
While norepinephrine and adrenaline clear the body in about an hour, they can trigger long-term disruptions. For example, they activate cortisol, the “stress hormone,” and impact blood pressure, the immune system, the gastrointestinal microbiome, and the sleep/wake cycle for potentially days later.
By Robert Backer, Ph.D.
