Conscious is a word adapted from the Latin word conscius, which translates to self-awareness. Consciousness can be said to be a state of alertness and awareness. A conscious person is one who is awake and able to recognize himself. Consciousness is usually defined by a person’s ability to pay attention and how they respond to internal and external stimuli. The other side of consciousness is in dream or dream. Alertness involves being aware of various things, such as dreams, moods, thoughts and perceptions (Farthing, 12).
Conscious is a word adapted from the Latin word conscius, which translates to self-awareness. Consciousness can be said to be a state of alertness and awareness. A conscious person is one who is awake and able to recognize himself. Consciousness is usually defined by a person’s ability to pay attention and how they respond to internal and external stimuli. The other side of consciousness is in dream or dream. Alertness involves being aware of various things, such as dreams, moods, thoughts and perceptions (Farthing, 12).
Consciousness has three levels, namely consciousness, subconsciousness and superconsciousness. The subconscious level is the weakest level of consciousness and the place where dreams originate. Psychologists call it the reservoir of all life experiences. Although we may not realize it, it is believed that every thought, experience, gain or loss, and impression we receive from a personal encounter has a profound effect on our thought patterns, cognition, and decision-making.
Often the subconscious can trick people into thinking that they have been inspired to a new way of solving a problem, when the truth is that they are simply repeating an experience that has been stored somewhere in their subconscious. There is usually a fine line between the subconscious mind and the superconscious mind, because in both cases; external stimuli do not intrude. When a person sleeps and dreams, it is said that he is at the level of the subconscious.
The conscious state is where the instruction to act comes from. This is the place of rationalization, where a person often considers options and thinks before making a decision. Therefore, the conscious level is susceptible to the intrusion of internal and external stimuli. This level is the problem-oriented level of consciousness.
The highest level of consciousness is the level of superconsciousness. Superconsciousness is not subject to the analytical limitations of the conscious state. As Sandra points out, the superconscious level is described as “one” because it sees everything as interconnected. As a result, when there is a problem to be solved, both the solution and the problem are seen as part of the whole.
Ludwig Arnold discovered that a person who is thought not to be functioning normally can be said to have altered consciousness. The abnormality is often due to a mental disorder and is considered temporary. The modified mode can be implemented in two basic ways; willful and malicious. People often engage in religious practices such as meditation and prayer, which can alter their state of consciousness. Misfortunes include sleeping sickness and other ailments such as fevers that can disrupt one’s consciousness (Sangho).
This is a 2-hour cycle that occurs in every living thing and consists of different things that happen over time. Rhythms are known to affect human consciousness. For example, the best way to sleep is when the body temperature is moderately low. Studies have also shown that alertness levels decrease significantly between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM and 2:00 AM and 7:00 AM (Hamilton).
Sleep cycles are different in different age groups. Younger people tend to sleep more, while older people sleep less. Sleep can be classified as either NREM (non-rapid eye movement) or REM (rapid eye movement). Younger people tend to be in more REM sleep. REM is associated with rapid heartbeat, vivid dreams and general relaxation of most muscles. NREM is associated with less vivid dreams; slower hearing beats and slower brain activity.
Sleep ideally passes through four stages. In the twilight phase, a person usually sleeps. At this stage, there is a general relaxation of the muscles, but it can be easily awakened by a small disturbance. In the second and third stages of sleep, the size of the brain increases. Body temperature and blood pressure usually drop during these phases. It is not easy to wake someone in this stage of sleep (Hamilton 3).
The fourth stage results in an even lower body temperature and a slower heart rate. After about an hour of sleep, the steps are repeated in the opposite phase of the four steps, starting with one. Lack of sleep is generally known to cause memory impairment. Sleep disturbances, especially in the REM phase, can cause memory loss. Students who stay up all night studying for the next day’s exam may lose memory of everything they read the night before (Farthing, 12).
People often use meditation to change their consciousness. Mediation is related to sleep. In fact, it can be said that this is the beginning of sleep. During meditation, a person usually experiences a decrease in heart rate. Blood pressure drops, which leads to more blood in the legs and arms. Therefore, a person experiences the same relaxation as during sleep. Psychoactive drugs have also been used to alter consciousness. These drugs usually interfere with normal mental functions and alter the mood, perception and thinking of the person using them. The biggest concerns with using these drugs are addiction and tolerance. An addict is a person who is addicted to drugs and cannot live without them. A tolerant person is a person who has become resistant to drugs due to excessive use and requires excessive doses for the drugs to work.
