Parasomnia

Nightmares, sleep terrors, sleep walking or other sleep disturbances are called parasomnias. You may not experience any problems due to a parasomnia, however these conditions can pose safety issues and affect your ability to get the restful sleep you need.

A parasomnia describes any abnormal behavior or movement during sleep. Examples of parasomnias include:

Nightmares — These dreams feature frightening themes and may awaken you in the middle of your sleep cycle. They may also prevent you from falling back to sleep.
Sleep terrors — Also called night terrors, during these episodes the sleeping person abruptly awakes and appears terrified. They may also sleepwalk and talk.
Hallucinations — Some people experience vivid hallucinations as they fall asleep or wake up.
Sleep paralysis — During sleep paralysis, you cannot move for a brief period while falling asleep or waking up even though you are conscious. You may also experience hallucinations during this time.
Sleepwalking — When you sleep walk, you may appear awake and move like normal, but you are not conscious. Sometimes sleepwalking results in other actions such as sleep eating.
Acting out dreams — In this type of parasomnia, you may kick, talk or flail in response to your dreams.

If one of your family members is experiencing a parasomnia, gently guide them back to bed. People who experience parasomnia should not be wakened, as this can cause anxiety or aggression.

Causes

It is important to remember that a person who experiences parasomnia is not in control or aware of their actions. Parasomnias are not linked with psychological behaviors, so although the things they say and do may be strange and frightening, they are not an indication of the person’s mental health.

Parasomnias may be triggered by:

Alcohol
Certain medical conditions
Medicines
Sleep deprivation
Stress

Overview

A parasomnia describes any abnormal behavior or movement during sleep. Examples of parasomnias include:

Nightmares — These dreams feature frightening themes and may awaken you in the middle of your sleep cycle. They may also prevent you from falling back to sleep.
Sleep terrors — Also called night terrors, during these episodes the sleeping person abruptly awakes and appears terrified. They may also sleepwalk and talk.
Hallucinations — Some people experience vivid hallucinations as they fall asleep or wake up.
Sleep paralysis — During sleep paralysis, you cannot move for a brief period while falling asleep or waking up even though you are conscious. You may also experience hallucinations during this time.
Sleepwalking — When you sleep walk, you may appear awake and move like normal, but you are not conscious. Sometimes sleepwalking results in other actions such as sleep eating.
Acting out dreams — In this type of parasomnia, you may kick, talk or flail in response to your dreams.

If one of your family members is experiencing a parasomnia, gently guide them back to bed. People who experience parasomnia should not be wakened, as this can cause anxiety or aggression.

Causes

It is important to remember that a person who experiences parasomnia is not in control or aware of their actions. Parasomnias are not linked with psychological behaviors, so although the things they say and do may be strange and frightening, they are not an indication of the person’s mental health.

Parasomnias may be triggered by:

Alcohol
Certain medical conditions
Medicines
Sleep deprivation
Stress

In many cases, parasomnias do not require treatment. However, if your parasomnia is causing any of the following, treatment may be advised:

Daytime sleepiness
Hitting or kicking sleeping partner
Insomnia
Safety concerns
Sleep eating
Sleep walking outside the house

IU Health Sleep Disorders physicians are here to help you develop a personalized treatment plan for better sleep. The first step is to determine the cause of your parasomnia and prevent it from recurring. Your treatment may include:

Sleep Education

Following the rules of good sleep hygiene may reduce the frequency of parasomnias. You also need to sleep in a safe environment to minimize the safety concerns associated with parasomnias. Good sleep habits and strategies for restorative sleep reduce your chance of experiencing a parasomnia.

Overnight Sleep Study

To ensure your parasomnia is not related to another sleep disorder, IU Health Sleep Center physicians may have you undergo an overnight sleep study to monitor your sleeping patterns.

During a sleep study, small metal discs called electrodes are attached to the skin around your head. The electrodes feed information about your brain activity to an electroencephalogram (EEG). EEGs record the brain activity to map your sleeping pattern and note any abnormalities or disturbances causing the parasomnias.

You may also be recorded on video while sleeping if if your parasomnias involve other movements or talking. Most patients perform sleep studies at sleep clinics, though home sleep studies are an option for some patients.

Medicine Therapies

Some prescription medicines prevent parasomnias by allowing you to fall asleep and stay asleep. Sleep aids and sedatives can reduce parasomnia episodes, but may also make them worse. Your physician will work with you to find a medication and dosage that works best to ensure your parasomnias do not cause injury to you or another person.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Talking with a sleep psychologists may allow you to overcome the stress associated with parasomnias. Parasomnia may make you anxious about sleeping and cause you to believe things about falling asleep that may not be true. Tools can help you cope with a correct your beliefs and teach you behaviors to encourage restorative sleep.

Treatment