Talking In Sleep: Causes And Remedies
You will have seen at least one movie in which one of the characters discovers his partner’s infidelity because he was talking in his sleep. Speaking in sleep, however, is a real disorder known as sleep talk.
Talking in sleep is very common among children. Growing up usually occurs less and less or disappears altogether.
Although the name of this disorder really means “speaking while dreaming”, it is not quite so.
- Sleep talking mostly occurs during the deep sleep phase, which is when we are not dreaming.
- The person who talks in his sleep does not remember doing it.
- Most of the time it is difficult to understand what the person is saying. It can only be stammering or jarring words.
Sometimes complete sentences can be expressed, but totally decontextualized. Consequently, if your partner talks during the night and appears to be saying something incriminating, it matters too little to be considered evidence against him.
Talking in your sleep: what can be the cause?
There is usually no risk involved in talking in your sleep. Nonetheless, it is always advisable to try to identify the causes of the sleep talk.
One of these is genetics. If other family members talk in their sleep, there’s nothing to worry about.
Episodes of sleep talk can also be caused by stress, anxiety, and depression. When this is the case, it is advisable to seek therapeutic assistance to identify the root of the problem and rule out more serious causes.
Some medications, alcohol, or a fever can also cause nocturnal monologues. In these cases, it is enough to eliminate the cause for the ailment to disappear.
A heavy day can also be the cause of the problem, as can not getting enough sleep, having nightmares or suffering from sleep apnea. For this reason, it is very important to adopt good habits.
In very rare cases, sleep talking is the result of a mental disorder or serious sleep disturbance. However, if the problem arises suddenly after the age of 25, it may indicate a deeper problem and you will need to see a specialist.
Does your partner talk in their sleep? Here’s what to do!
The severity of the sleep talk is what determines whether or not intervention is necessary.
- If the phenomenon occurs less than once a week, it can be categorized as “mild disturbance”.
- It will be of “moderate” severity if it occurs more than once a week, but not every night and therefore causes some discomfort to the partner.
- If the phenomenon occurs every night and interrupts the partner’s sleep, we are faced with a serious case of somniloquy.
If your partner is talking in their sleep and this has become a problem, perhaps it is time for action. How to do it? Waking him up suddenly doesn’t seem to be the best solution.
Some practical tips
- Not getting enough sleep can lead to drowsiness. For this reason, establishing proper sleep hygiene could improve the situation.
- Taking a bath in lukewarm water and listening to music can lead us to sleep more peacefully and without unexpected conversations.
- A comfortable environment with the right temperature is also important for a peaceful sleep.
- Avoiding alcohol before going to sleep is a good habit, as it contains stimulating substances that disturb sleep.
- Drink a relaxing tea that helps you sleep.
- Wait at least three hours between the end of dinner and the time you go to sleep; It is also worth avoiding sweets and caffeine, especially for children.
- For some people, watching TV before bed can cause sleep disturbances and this is because melatonin production is altered. Removing the television from your room can be a useful measure to solve the problem.
If the situation does not improve and becomes chronic, it is advisable to consult a sleep specialist or a psychologist.
If your partner talks while you sleep and this really affects the quality of your sleep, you may need to take other steps. Earplugs, a white noise generator, or sleeping in another room could be solutions.
