Every time you fall asleep you have a minor chance of experiencing parasomnias, disruptive sleep disorders that can occur when you are sleeping or when you wake up. They can also occur when you arise from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep or when you wake up from non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, resulting in unpleasant physical and verbal behaviors. While all types of parasomnias can be bothersome to the person and your bed partner, they all vary in their effects and symptoms. 

Have you ever woken up crying and scared from your dreams? If you have, then you might have experienced a night terror. This is an NREM parasomnia, which leaves the person confused and unable to talk normally.

On the Cleveland Clinic website, it said that people may also “pose a danger to themselves or others around them by jumping on the bed or running around.” They are usually more common during the first half of the sleep cycle. Night terrors are usually brief, but in some cases are able to last up to 30 to 40 minutes. People who experience these don’t remember the events that occur once they wake up. During the night terrors, the person may become more nervous, with the effects possibly lasting longer if someone tries to console or interact with the person experiencing it. These are fairly common in children three to 12 years old, and may also run in the family. Strong emotional tension or the use of alcohol can also increase the chance of night terrors among adults.

Sleepwalking is another type of NREM parasomnia, and occurs when the person appears to be awake because they are walking around, but is actually asleep. Similarly to people who experience night terrors, sleepwalkers usually have no memories of their actions. They may randomly wake up, confused, or they may just go back to bed, still asleep. They often occur early on in the sleep cycle and are most commonly seen in children ages six to 12.

However, one the Cleveland Clinic website it said that it also occurs “amongst younger children, adults, and even the elderly.” It also appears to run in families and can be dangerous to the person because they are unaware of their surroundings, causing the afflicted to accidentally bump into objects or fall down. 

Imagine yourself walking up, and suddenly you can’t move your body. This is called sleep paralysis, a REM parasomnia.  Sleep paralysis is when the person isn’t able to move their body or limbs when falling asleep or waking up because their muscles are paralyzed. It usually lasts for just a few seconds or minutes and can cause fear or anxiety. Sleep paralysis is speculated to be a genetic disorder, but the true cause is still unknown. Sleep paralysis can be disrupted by someone’s touch or loud noise.

Every time you fall into a deep slumber, you have a chance of getting a parasomnia. These disruptive sleep disorders can cause harm to both you are your loved ones, so you should go consult a doctor right away after experiencing one.

Graphic Courtesy of SLATE.COM