Consciousness is “personal awareness of mental activities, internal sensations and the external environment”. States of consciousness are linked to two important types of brainwaves which each contain a specific mental state such as; alpha (relaxed wakefulness) and beta (vigilant wakefulness). The conscious realm not only consists of a variety of mental states, but is also related to the id, ego, and superego. The contrasting changes in my consciousness provide a broad spectrum of awareness. My focus ranges from semi-consciously watching reality shows to producing deep, well-thought-out ideas. My consciousness shifts and moves through different levels of awareness which encourages my level of productivity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Once I wake up in the morning, it takes me a few minutes to be fully aware and awake to start my day. The first phase is the starting point of the sleep cycle and is also known as the light sleep phase, where I feel drowsy. Some days, like today, it can be harder for my brain to notice the transition from the first stage of the sleep cycle to wakefulness. Therefore, I'm more likely to hit the snooze button once I hear the alarm to enjoy a couple more minutes on the first phase. Sleep establishes a state of consciousness that not only overlaps with the other, but is overlooked and most of the time unrecognized. When my brain produces a terrifying nightmare or an exciting dream, it is created in stage four of the sleep cycle. It's also known as REM sleep, a complex state of consciousness in which body temperature controls decrease but my brain is still able to actively communicate to strengthen its neural connections. For example, my brain attempts to associate new retained information I learned from the previous day with an older memory to establish a newly formed memory. This is a phase where my brain is rearranging my memory and thoughts to create what I identify as complex dreams. I've caught myself experiencing short bursts of detachment from my surroundings many times throughout my day, especially when I'm disinterested or bored. I usually don't realize I'm daydreaming until I've expanded everything I can on the specific thought. For example, I'm sitting in my art class and I'm having a hard time paying attention to my teacher as she lectures on the basics of color. My mind starts to go elsewhere as I start to think about what I'd rather be doing instead of taking notes. For a moment reality is blurred and I imagine myself in my room reading the book I have recently been obsessed with and couldn't put down the night before. While enjoying this visionary fantasy, I suddenly hear my professor calling my name and I immediately become aware of my surroundings again. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Overall, our experience of consciousness is functional and essential because I use it as a tool to control my reactions and create logical conclusions about my problems. It is associated, "between direct and indirect evidence of memory and perception they have renewed enthusiasm..." the study of unconscious processing. Because consciousness is composed of different mental levels and stages, it provides structure to our moral sense.