3 Articles on States of Consciousness: Sleep, Nightmares, Dreams, & Hypnosis
ARTICLE #1
TITLE
How to Get a Better Night’s Sleep – Well Guides
DESCRIPTION
Want to know about how to really “get a better night’s sleep”? This is the most comprehensive article that focuses on the issue. “Most people know they need to eat right and exercise to be healthy. But what about sleep? We spend about one-third of our lives asleep, and sleep is essential to better health. But many of us are struggling with sleep. Four out of five people say that they suffer from sleep problems at least once a week and wake up feeling exhausted. So how do you become a more successful sleeper?” The article is a comprehensive collection of many aspects of focusing on the issue. The reader will learn a great deal about what actually works to feel better due to a good night’s sleep.
SOURCE
New York Times, November 11, 2016, by Tara Parker-Pope
LINK TO RESOURCE
(Tiny URL) https://tinyurl.com/66a9y2zj
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ARTICLE #2
TITLE
Can a Musical Reminder Banish Bad Dreams?
DESCRIPTION
WOW!!! What a fascinating article about the therapy for those who suffer from recurrent nightmares: “NIGHTMARE DISORDER” “…the lasting effects of regular nightmares are very real. Nightmare disorder, a condition in which disturbing dreams are frequent and significantly impact life by producing fatigue or lasting feelings of unease and anxiety, is a surprisingly common ailment. In the United States, around 4 percent of adults—more than 10 million people—are affected. For those with nightmare disorder, lying down for a good night’s sleep can be an ordeal. They know that after they close their eyes, their brains will likely be flooded with negative emotions, and they’ll revisit a dreamworld they’d much rather avoid.” The article is great for understanding how the scientific method is applied to this condition. The article describes different techniques (imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) and targeted memory reactivation (TMR)) and how these were used in a number of studies to help reduce the frequency and emotional impact of having a nightmare.
SOURCE
Smithsonian Magazine, October 27, 2022, by Brian Handwerk
LINK TO RESOURCE
(Tiny URL) https://tinyurl.com/4m5mpnd7
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ARTICLE #3
TITLE
Is Hypnosis Real? Here’s What Science Says
DESCRIPTION
A fascinating article on a most fascinating type of State of Consciousness that most of us do not fully understand: Hypnosis!
“There are many myths about hypnosis, mostly coming from media presentations,” like fictional films and novels, says Irving Kirsch, a lecturer and director of the Program in Placebo Studies at Harvard Medical School. But setting aside pop culture clichés, Kirsch says hypnosis is a well-studied and legitimate form of adjunct treatment for conditions ranging from obesity and pain after surgery to anxiety and stress.” The article provides a full description and explanation of how a subject is “hypnotized” and clears up the disinformation about what hypnosis actually is about. The article also presents many of the types of problems (pain/anxiety/tension/PTSD/weight loss) that hypnotherapy has been scientifically found to be of great use and treatment.
SOURCE
Time, March 2, 2023, by Markham Heid
LINK TO RESOURCE
(Tiny URL) https://tinyurl.com/2cb8ud68
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CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
•Using your textbook and the articles: explain what is meaning of the term “States of Consciousness”?
•What is “Nightmare Disorder”? What are the types of treatments used to help reduce the impact physically and emotionally?
•What is hypnosis? What are the myths about hypnosis? What types of problems are treatable by hypnosis? How is hypnosis considered in the realm of a “state of altered consciousness”?
•Imagine that you are providing a group of new Psychology students with a lecture about sleep. A student asks, “What should I do to get a good night’s sleep?” How would you answer the question?
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