Occurrences in sleep

Parasomnia

Parasomnias involve abnormal movements or behavioral disturbances. The appearance ranges from “harmless” awakening with brief disorientation to complex movements with potentially behavior that endangers yourself and other persons.

Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking is spoken of as soon as one leaves the bed. Affected people get up, walk around with their eyes open and can also make noises such as marbles or short sentences. The acts can be targeted and complex (e. g. rearranging furniture, sorting clothes). Because orientation is incomplete, sleepwalking can lead to dangerous situations, e. g. uncontrolled leaving the house, eating inedible substances, self-injury or injury to others.

Affected people have only limited ability to interact with the environment. Forced speaking or touching someone who is sleepwalking may intensify the behavior and is therefore not recommended. The episodes can last from about 15 minutes to over several hours. The course of sleep and the quality of sleep may be disturbed by these events and lead to daytime discomfort such as headache, exhaustion and daytime sleepiness.
 

Nightmares

Affected people who wake up from the nightmare usually remember the dream very well and are quickly fully oriented. The dreams are very realistic, often have threatening content (e. g. persecution, fear, death, trapping or being locked up). Affected people then wake up with hyperventilation, palpitations, flushing, sweating or tension. The fear may persist after the nightmare, making it difficult to go back to sleep. Nightmares can lead to psychological problems, daytime sleepiness and social and educational limitations. Nightmares can be aggravated by stress, severe tiredness, certain medications or fever.