Have you been told that you speak or produce unclear words while asleep? Somniloquy is the scientific name for sleep talking. Talking in your sleep can be funny, irritating or embarrassing depending on who your sleep partner is to you. Most times, it is an unconscious act that we tend to argue when confronted. Interesting most children and adolescents shouts out streams of babble late at night only to fall back to sleep. However, some adults sleep talk too. Sleep talkers mostly talk to themselves during sleep and others seem to be having a conversation with someone.


Typically, sleep talking is generally harmless and so not usually considered a medical problem. However, it can be a sign of a more serious sleep disorder or health disorder. Moreover, your sleep talking can be keeping your partner up all night and this could be embarrassing too. Imagine, you have a sleepover invite or camp to attend? Sleep talking can result in social isolation because you fear that others may become aware of your sleep disruption.

Why do you talk in your sleep?

Sleep terrors

Possibly, your sleep talking is a result of night terrors. People who experience night terrors often scream, kick and pant during sleep. These night terrors also cause some people especially children to sleepwalk.


Rem Sleep Behaviour disorder (RBD)

RBD is a sleep disorder in which you physically act out vivid, often unpleasant dreams with vocal sounds and sudden, often violent arm and legs movements during REM sleep. A person RBD may demonstrate the following behaviours while sleeping: talking, yelling, shouting, laughing, punching and kicking, cursing and so forth.  In some cases, people with RBD may injure themselves or their sleep partner as a result of dramatically or violently acting out their dreams. Another symptom of REM sleep disorder is being able to recall the dream if you wake up during this period. We recommend you visit the doctor if you have a similar experience.


Medications & Alcohol

Rem Sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) may be an adverse reaction to certain medications. Medications that incite muscle tone during sleep rapid eye movement sleep makes it possible to talk in your sleep.  Also, some medications such as antidepressants can also trigger sleep talking. Similarly, with alcohol in your system, you are most likely to have night terrors that can result in sleep talking. 

Emotional & Physical Stress

In comparison to children, most adults sleep talk due to physical and emotional stress.

Fever
People who are suffering from high fever tend to sleep talk. So, in this case, treating the fever would be a solution to sleep talking.


Mental health disorder 

Sleep talking occurs more often in people with mental health disorders. More specifically, it is frequently linked to people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, people who suffer from depression are most likely to sleep talk.


How to determine the severity of sleep talking
Sleep talk severity is determined by how frequently it occurs:

• Mild
When you sleep talk once a month you may not need to worry as this does not pose a threat to your health or others.
• Moderate
In this case, you sleep talk once a week but not every night. Again, the talking doesn’t disrupt the sleep of others in your room.
• Extreme
When sleep talking happens every time and interferes with the sleep of others, this calls for urgent concern and we recommend you see a doctor ASAP.


Lifestyle changes to help if you talk in your sleep

Avoid completely or limit your intake of alcohol
Avoid late-night feeding and heavy meals close to bedtime
Reduce stress-inducing activities
Create and stick to a healthy bedtime routine.  Read Also: How to know you have a sleep disorder


BOTTOMLINE


There’s no known treatment for sleep talking, but a visit to a sleep expert or doctor would help you manage the condition. Especially if your sleep talking is severe and it’s affecting the quality of sleep you and your sleep partner gets. Besides, it could result in social isolation and this may not be good for your well-being.


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SOURCE: https://www.wincofoam.com/