Parasomnia is described as an undesirable sleep experience, something that most people experience from time to time. In most cases, parasomnias are not harmful, but parasomnia disorders can be frustrating or disturbing, and in many cases, they are the result of an underlying condition or issue.
Parasomnia can affect you physically and mentally, depending on the type you have. Parasomnias can include things like waking up with a racing heart, which could cause strain on your cardiovascular system, sleepwalking, wetting the bed, or experiencing recurrent nightmares and hallucinations. Things like sleepwalking can be very dangerous, and nightmares can cause distress to yourself as well as caregivers or partners.
There are several ways in which parasomnia can manifest, but no matter the common type of parasomnia you have, you can find effective parasomnia treatment options.
Common Types of Parasomnia
There are three main categories of parasomnias:
#1: NREM-Related
The first is NREM-related, and these are usually considered arousal disorders where you partially wake up, or you start to act even if you don’t remember it afterward. These parasomnias are more common in children.
They include:
- Confusional arousal
- Night terrors
- Sleep-related abnormal sexual behavior
- Sleepwalking
In this category, night terrors are where you bolt up in bed, usually screaming with a racing heart and sweat and a feeling of fear.
Sleepwalking can actually cause you to get out of bed and perform complex tasks like doing housework, preparing food, or getting ready.
Other common types of parasomnia in this category include sleep-related eating disorders where you actually eat foods while you are asleep, sometimes frozen or raw, even dog food or cat food and cleaning products. This can present a serious risk for things like weight gain, high blood pressure, and poison.
Confusional arousals are when you wake up in extreme confusion, being very bewildered for roughly 15 minutes at a time.
Sleep-related abnormal sexual behaviors are when you engage in sexual activities, but you don’t realize you did it, and when you wake up, you have no memory of doing it. Most of the time, confusional arousals are harmless, but some people can engage in criminal or violent sexual activity without realizing it.
#2: REM-Related
The second are REM-related which are more common in adults. These happen during the final hours of sleep, or right when you are transitioning out of sleep. For this type of parasomnia, most people remember their episodes.
These parasomnias include:
- REM sleep behavior disorder
- Nightmare disorder
- Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis
REM sleep behavior disorder is when you physically act out the dreams you are having with things like screaming, gesturing, talking, or punching. This can cause injury to yourself or others.
Nightmares or nightmare disorders can cause significant stress and trauma as you have recurring nightmares that affect your mental health or your ability to function.
Sleep paralysis is when you wake up with a sense of dread and find yourself unable to move or speak.
#3: Other
The other category includes:
- Exploding head syndrome
- Bedwetting
- Sleep-related hallucinations
These can include bedwetting or exploding head syndrome, where you hear a sudden noise or see a flash of light right as you are waking up or going to sleep.
Hallucinations are when you actually hallucinate things that are not there as you fall asleep or wake up most strongly associated with narcolepsy.
Understanding Parasomnia Treatment Options
Parasomnias need individualized treatment based on personal triggers, causes, and any associated conditions. There are several types of parasomnia treatments depending on the underlying causes and severity, but they generally involve behavioral and lifestyle modifications and, in some cases, therapy and medication.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Interventions
Behavioral and lifestyle parasomnia treatment includes things like sleep hygiene and stress management.
Sleep Hygiene Improvement
Sleep hygiene improvement is the first behavioral intervention and this refers to things you do to ensure your sleep is of the highest quality with minimal disruptions. This can include going to bed and waking up at the same time, relaxing 1 hour before bed, taking a warm bath or stretching before bed, keeping your room dark and cool while you sleep, and removing devices like phones or tablets that might disturb you while you sleep.
Stress Management Techniques
Stress management techniques can be used to reduce triggers, particularly stress and anxiety, that are experienced right before bed.
With the right type of stress management techniques including yoga, meditation, progressive relaxation, and breathing exercises, you can ensure that you don’t experience a high level of stress right before bed.
Diet and Exercise Adjustments
Diet and exercise adjustments are also key interventions. What you eat, especially when you eat, will directly influence how you feel when you go to bed. Things like heavy alcohol consumption or sugar and starch can make it more difficult for you to sleep, leading to nighttime disruptions and parasomnias.
Similarly, exercise can help reduce the stress you experience during the day, improving your sleep.
Medical and Pharmacological Treatments for Parasomnia
Parasomnia treatment options also include medical and pharmacological treatments like:
- Prescription Medications
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Sleep Studies and Medical Evaluation
The type of medical and pharmacological treatments you receive are based on the symptoms you experience. These can include prescription medications like benzodiazepines to help manage stress levels as well as cognitive behavioral therapy and, in some cases, sleep studies or medical evaluations for other conditions like narcolepsy.
When to Seek Professional Help
You should find treatment for parasomnia when it results in significant disruptions or if you think it might be related to an underlying medical condition.
Causes
There are several potential causes or triggers for different types of parasomnia. Parasomnias can be triggered by disrupted sleep from things like chronic pain or sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, and stress.
Psychological disorders, including PTSD and depression, have been linked to parasomnias, as have neurological conditions like dementia, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, and narcolepsy.
For some people, the causes are genetic or the result of medications that are prescribed.
Given the risk that parasomnias are caused or triggered by neurological disorders, diseases, or psychological disorders, it’s important to seek help early for your symptoms so that you can address any underlying issues.
Why Seek Help
While in most cases, parasomnias are not harmful but just frustrating, they can cause danger to the sleeper and to people in bed, being very disruptive and resulting in other distress. For example, some people need parasomnia treatments when the sleep disturbances they experience include things like bedwetting, sleep paralysis, or abnormal sexual behaviors.
Early intervention for severe or disruptive systems is imperative as these conditions might be linked to an underlying disorder that requires more specific parasomnia treatment, a mental health disorder, or even a physical health disorder.
Summing Up
There are several categories of parasomnias, and no matter which one you have, you can find the right parasomnia treatment if you are willing to seek help. Addressing parasomnia is essential for improved health and safety. Explore different treatments today for better life quality and more restful sleep.