Why do you talk in your sleep

Sleep Talking Causes and Treatments

Written by Kelli Miller

Have you been told that you whisper sweet nothings in your sleep -- unaware that you ever spoke a word? Or, maybe your child shouts out streams of babble late at night -- only to fall right back to sleep. Have you been hoping your sleep-talking spouse will spill a long-time secret? Go ahead. Pose a question while they are sleeping, and don't be surprised if you get a single-syllable answer! But be warned: A sleep talker usually doesn't remember anything that's said during sleep.

Talking in your sleep can be a funny thing. Perhaps you chitchat unconsciously with unseen associates at the midnight hour. Or maybe a family member unknowingly carries on nightly conversations. Here are answers to your questions about talking in your sleep -- what you need to know about sleep talking, from causes to treatments.

What is sleep talking?

Sleep talking, or somniloquy, is the act of speaking during sleep. It's a type of parasomnia -- an abnormal behavior that takes place during sleep. It's a very common occurrence and is not usually considered a medical problem.

The nighttime chatter may be harmless, or it could be graphic, even R rated. Sometimes, listeners find the content offensive or vulgar. Sleep talkers normally speak for no more than 30 seconds per episode, but some people sleep talk many times during a night.

The late-night diatribes may be exceptionally eloquent, or the words may be mumbled and hard to decipher. Sleep talking may involve simple sounds or long, involved speeches. Sleep talkers usually seem to be talking to themselves. But sometimes, they appear to carry on conversations with others. They may whisper, or they might shout. If you share a bedroom with someone who talks in their sleep, you might not be getting enough shut-eye.

Who talks in their sleep?

Many people talk in their sleep. Half of all kids between the ages of 3 and 10 years old carry on conversations while asleep, and a small number of adults -- about 5% -- keep chit-chatting after they go to bed. The utterances can take place occasionally or every night. A 2004 poll showed that more than 1 in 10 young children converse in their sleep more than a few nights a week.

Girls talk in their sleep as much as boys. And experts think that sleep talking may run in families.

What are the symptoms of talking in your sleep?

It's hard to tell if you've been talking in your own sleep. Usually, people will tell you they've heard you shout out during the night or while you were napping. Or maybe someone might complain that your sleep talking is keeping them up all night.

What causes sleep talking?

You might think that sleep talking occurs during dreaming. But scientists still are not sure if such chatter is linked to nighttime reveries. The talking can occur in any stage of sleep.

Sleep talking usually occurs by itself and is most often harmless. However, in some cases, it might be a sign of a more serious sleep disorder or health condition.

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and sleep terrors are two types of sleep disorders that cause some people to shout during sleep. Sleep terrors, also called night terrors, usually involve frightening screams, thrashing, and kicking. It's hard to wake someone having a sleep terror. Children with sleep terrors usually sleep talk and sleepwalk.

People with RBD yell, shout, grunt, and act out their dreams, often violently.

Sleep talking can also occur with sleepwalking and nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder(NS-RED), a condition in which a person eats while asleep.

Other things that can cause sleep talking include:

Certain medications
Emotional stress
Fever
Mental health disorder
Substance abuse

How is talking in your sleep treated?

It is a good idea to see a sleep specialist if your sleep talking occurs suddenly as an adult or if it involves intense fear, screaming, or violent actions. You might also consider seeing a doctor if unconscious chatter is interfering with your sleep -- or that of your roommates.

If you think your child has sleep problems, make an appointment with your pediatrician.

A sleep specialist will ask you how long you've been talking in your sleep. You'll have to ask your bed partner, roommate -- even your parents -- this question. Keep in mind, you may have started sleep talking in childhood.

There are no tests needed to diagnose sleep talking. However, your doctor may order tests, such as a sleep study or sleep recording (polysomnogram), if you have signs of another sleep disorder.

Sleep talking rarely requires treatment. However, severe sleep talking may be the result of another more serious sleep disorder or medical condition, which can be treated. Talk to your doctor about your treatment options.

How can someone reduce their amount of sleep talking?

There is no known way to reduce sleep talking. Avoiding stress and getting plenty of sleep might make you less likely to talk in your sleep.

Keeping a sleep diary can help identify your sleep patterns and may help your doctor find out if an underlying problem is causing your sleep talking. Keep a sleep diary for two weeks. Note the times you go to bed, when you think you fell asleep, and when you woke up. You'll also want to write down the following:

the medicines you take, and the time of day you take them
what you drink each day and when, especially caffeinated drinks such as cola, tea, and coffee, as well as alcohol
when you exercise

Sleep Talking: Why Do You Talk in Your Sleep?

If you’ve ever talked in your sleep, you are in the majority. Sleep talking is common among adults as well as children. And while some may find it embarrassing, sleep talking usually isn’t dangerous.

Despite its frequency, experts are still unsure why people talk in their sleep. Researchers continue to explore new theories about what sleep talking might tell us about the brain. But for now, we can examine what we do know and what we don’t know about sleep talking.

What Is Sleep Talking?

Also known as somniloquy, sleep talking is a type of parasomnia. Parasomnias are unusual or undesirable behaviors that happen during sleep. Sleep talking can occur on its own, or alongside other parasomnias.

Sleep talking often occurs when an individual is just waking up. Yet, most people do not know that they are talking in their sleep while it is happening.

Sleep talking can happen during any of the stages of sleep, which include rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. This sets sleep talking apart from other parasomnias, which tend to occur during either REM or non-REM sleep.

How Common Is Sleep Talking?

Research notes it is difficult to know the exact prevalence of sleep talking, because it is difficult to study people who may not know they are sleep talking.

Yet, sleep talking is thought to be a common parasomnia. Experts estimate 70% of individuals do so at least once during their lifetime, and about half of children ages 3 to 13 talk in their sleep at some point.

Sleep talking tends to affect males and females at about the same rate. More research is necessary to determine how the condition impacts transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Symptoms of Sleep Talking

The main symptom of sleep talking is speaking during sleep without being aware that you are doing so.

People who talk in their sleep may vocalize single words, brief phrases, or complex sentences. Their speech can be loud, clear, and easy to understand, or it can be quiet or nonsensical. Usually, sleep talk does not address memories or refer to actual events in a person’s waking life.

Sleep talk can be unpleasant or loud, especially if one has a condition called REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Also, people who experience night terrors may say things that reflect fear or anxiety.

Although sleep talking is a parasomnia, experts consider it to be benign and do not recommend treatment for most cases. However, if other movements occur along with sleep talking, then another parasomnia may be present. And, if another parasomnia is present, it is possible that quality of life may be negatively affected.

Finally, some people who talk in their sleep may find it troubling or embarrassing, especially if they have a bed partner or share a room with others. Loud sleep talking can be disruptive and wake others who are sleeping nearby.

Why Do People Talk in Their Sleep?

Experts are still investigating why people talk in their sleep. Sleep talking often runs in families, so it may be at least partially genetic.

Sleep talking may be present in some individuals with certain mental health conditions. For instance, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with sleep talking. In addition, evidence suggests that sleep talking may be more common in children experiencing stressful events or who have symptoms of anxiety, depression, or behavioral disorders.

Researchers are unsure if sleep talking is related to dreaming. But, some researchers think sleep talking may offer insight into the dreaming mind and how the brain stores memories during sleep.

Sometimes, sleep talking is associated with other sleep disorders. These include sleepwalking, night terrors, and disorders that make people feel confused when they wake up. Sleep talking can also be a symptom of a condition called REM behavior sleep disorder.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM behavior sleep disorder (RBD) is a disorder that causes unusual behaviors during REM sleep, including sleep talking. People with RBD may talk in their sleep as they dream. They may also:

Sing
Whistle
Shout
Swear
Give speeches

Normally, people’s muscles become temporarily paralyzed when they enter REM sleep. This paralysis ensures that people don’t act out their dreams. Those with RBD, however, do not experience this paralysis. As a result, they talk in their sleep and move about while dreaming.

RBD is common among individuals with neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and dementia. People may develop RBD years before they show other symptoms of a degenerative brain condition. However, other sleep disorders, head injuries, medications, and PTSD can also cause RBD.

What Does It Mean When You Talk in Your Sleep?

Researchers are still trying to understand why people talk in their sleep.

On its own, sleep talking does not usually indicate a medical problem. However, it can sometimes be part of another sleep condition, especially when it is combined with unusual physical movements. It may also indicate a family history of sleep talking, or a mental health condition like PTSD.

If sleep talking is negatively impacting your or your bed partner’s sleep, let your doctor know. You may also want to inform your doctor if you have experienced other symptoms or changes in your health, such as:

Daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, or other symptoms of sleep apnea

Unusual movements at night
Sleep talking that begins at an older age
Any episodes of nighttime confusion
Taking a new medication
Recent fever or illnesses

How to Stop Sleep Talking

Since the causes of sleep talking are not well understood, there is little evidence for how to stop it. Treatment for infrequent parasomnias is rarely needed. However, if treatment is needed, doctors may first try to look for any contributing factors like side effects from medication or other medical conditions. They may also recommend avoiding sleep deprivation.

Many parasomnias occur when a person’s sleep cycle becomes disrupted and they find themselves “trapped” between sleep and wakefulness. People often talk in their sleep just as they are waking up. Since an individual’s habits affect their sleep patterns, practicing good sleep hygiene might help in the treatment of parasomnias.

Better bedtime habits often require making simple lifestyle changes.

Maintain a consistent sleep schedule: The body often has trouble adapting to new sleep patterns. Practice getting up and going to bed at the same time every day, even on the weekends.
Avoid stimulants before bedtime: Caffeinated foods and drinks and nicotine can keep you up at night. Caffeine may take up to 8 hours to wear off, so save the coffee for earlier in the day.
If necessary, adjust your medications: Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can negatively impact sleep patterns. If you suspect that a medication is keeping you awake or causing you to talk in your sleep, let your doctor know. They may be able to offer an alternative or adjust your dosage.
Make your bedroom an ideal place to sleep: Be sure that your sleeping environment is comfortable and promotes relaxation. Remove distracting electronic devices. Keep the room at a comfortable temperature and keep the lights low.
Optimize your light exposure: Timing your exposure to light can help regulate natural sleep patterns. Try to spend at least 30 minutes in the sunlight in the morning, and dim all indoor lighting at night.

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Tips for Sharing a Bed With a Sleep Talker

Having a bed partner who talks in their sleep can make it hard to get a good night’s rest. However, it is important to remember that they are most likely unaware of their sleep talking.

Sharing a bed can affect your sleep, but luckily there may be a few steps you can take to improve sleep with a partner.

Wear earplugs: Try blocking out the sound with earplugs or noise-canceling headphones.
Drown out the sound: Consider using a white noise machine to cover up the sound of your partner’s sleep talk. Or try playing music, running a fan, or utilizing another form of background noise.
Keep communication open: If your bed partner’s sleep talk is frequent, loud, or particularly disruptive, you may want to suggest that they consult with a sleep specialist. A sleep specialist can determine if their vocalizations are normal or a sign of a larger problem.
Sleep separately: If all else fails, try sleeping in separate rooms. This may help both you and your partner get better rest with fewer interruptions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep Talking

Can Sleep Talking Physically Harm You?

On its own, sleep talking can be a normal part of sleeping. However, if it is associated with other sleep disorders, then it may negatively impact your health. For example, if someone also has a REM behavior sleep disorder, then injury can happen if one attempts to act out movements that occur during dreams.

Are There Any Conditions That Mimic Sleep Talking?

There are a couple of conditions that mimic sleep talking. People who have nocturnal epilepsy may vocalize in their sleep. Catathrenia is a sleep breathing disorder that causes a person to groan, but not talk, in their sleep.

Does Stress Cause Sleep Talking?

This is a difficult question to answer, as experts are not yet entirely sure what causes sleep talking. On one hand, limited evidence suggests that children who experience stressful situations may talk in their sleep more than others.

On the other hand, experts don’t think that the words verbalized during sleep talk reflect waking events. Also, they do not know if there is a relationship between words being verbalized and events in the mind while sleeping. Thus, researchers note the need for additional studies on sleep talking and how it may reflect activity in the mind both while awake and asleep.

References

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About The Author

With a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Indiana University Bloomington, Rebecca enjoys making accurate, up-to-date health information accessible to all readers. As a freelance writer and editor, she has covered everything from healthcare and experimental music to education. Rebecca lives in Tennessee, where she spends her free time reading, writing fiction, and making music.

Position: Side Sleeper
Temperature: Cold Sleeper
Chronotype: Dolphin

Why do people talk in their sleep?

Content

Why do people talk in their sleep? Causes of somniloquia
How to stop talking in your sleep? Prevention measures

Statistics say that only 5% of adults and 30% of children have the ability to talk in their sleep. Probably each of us is familiar with at least one such person.

In society, there is an opinion that during such a conversation you can blurt out all the secrets. There is no single answer from science. Some experts say that this is not true, others are sure that during sleep a person only talks about what really happened to him, and on the last day.

Everything would be fine, but sometimes people not only talk in their sleep, but also toss and turn a lot. This can interfere with a partner who is sleeping next to you. To solve this problem, you can buy an orthopedic mattress of a suitable type. nine0003

The only thing that is known for sure is that a person can say words or sentences during such phases of sleep: fast and slow.

Interestingly, in the first case, it is difficult to wake up a sleepwalker, and in the second case, it is very easy. Sometimes he himself can wake up from the sounds of his own voice, though he will not even guess that he said something.

By the way, scientists call conversations in a dream such a term as somniloquia . It appeared a very long time ago, because many years ago people were interested in unraveling the mystery of why people talk in their sleep. Despite the fact that modern sciences have gone far, the secrets of the human subconscious for the most part remain secrets, and therefore it is still impossible to pinpoint the reason for talking in a dream.

There is no single cause of somniloquia, as already mentioned, but there are several predisposing facts. So, researchers are sure that the tendency to talk in a dream, like sleepwalking, can be inherited. nine0003

They also claim that such a "habit" develops in those people who have increased excitability and emotional instability. They experience certain emotions (even positive ones) too much, as a result of which they cannot sleep peacefully at night, as a result of which the speech center is activated.

In addition, some diseases can lead to this condition. It has long been no secret that in a fever, patients often conduct monologues. This can be provoked by strong drugs. nine0003

Sleep talking is a common occurrence in sleepwalking and nocturnal eating disorders. It is difficult to establish the causes of the disease, but there are a number of factors that can provoke somniloquia. why a person talks out loud in a dream is not easy to establish, there are a number of factors that can provoke somniloquy. For example:

disease;
fever;
alcohol consumption; nine0006
stress;
mental disorders;
depression;
lack of sleep;
sleep apnea;
sleep walking;
nightmares.

Somniloquia is much easier to explain in children. Most of them are subject to this specific disorder, and all due to the fact that they are actively learning about the world around them. This should not be feared, but one can only be glad that the baby is trying to understand the many new knowledge he received in one day. nine0003

Alas, pills for somniloquia have not yet been invented. However, if you avoid stress and get enough sleep, you can significantly reduce the amount of sleep talking. To do this, you need to provide yourself with the most comfortable sleep conditions, for example, buy an orthopedic mattress. Our article will help you figure out how to choose an orthopedic mattress correctly.

By adjusting your lifestyle, you can better control your sleep. For example, it is recommended to limit the use of alcohol and caffeinated drinks, refuse heavy meals before bedtime, and adhere to a regular sleep schedule. nine0003

Why do people talk in their sleep?

Komsomolskaya Pravda

ScienceInteresting

March 12, 2010 13:36

Since childhood I can't stand it when people tell me what I did in my sleep. Because I don't remember it and because I can't control myself.

Since childhood, I can't stand it when people tell me what I did in my sleep. Because I don't remember it and because I can't control myself. But every person has secrets. And you never know what you can blurt out during deep sleep. For example, to aspirate the name of a completely different man ... One of my friends told me that her husband says SUCH things in his sleep! At the same time, he calls her Nastya, while in real life his wife's name is Olya. This is how people lose each other. Afraid to let it slip in my sleep, I literally lost sleep and decided to focus on the prevention of sleep-talking. nine0003

The phenomenon of sleep-talking (scientifically known as “somniloquy”) has been studied for a very long time and has not yet been fully studied. It is firmly known that this phenomenon is more characteristic of men than women. The habit of talking in your sleep is often associated with sleepwalking and, like it, is often inherited. People talk either in REM sleep (during dreaming) or during incomplete awakening from delta sleep. In the first case, speech is legible and understandable, in the second, incoherent mumbling is noted. In some cases, a sleeping person can answer questions. The words of the speaker himself do not cause anxiety, which cannot be said about the listeners, because nighttime conversations also interfere with sleep, like snoring, although sometimes they are very funny. There are no serious medical consequences for this habit, the only important circumstance is that who is talking to whom and in whose bed. nine0003

Sleeping is a common sleep disorder and, according to some researchers, occurs in 50% of young children. In adults, sleep-talking occurs in approximately 5% of cases. Sleeping is more characteristic of excitable people who have experienced a strong impression the day before, both positive and negative. But sleeping and sleeping are two different things. A dream can be fantastic, unreal. And sleep speaking, as a rule, reflects the events actually experienced by a person. Therefore, the information given out during sleep in most cases turns out to be true. nine0003

Psychologists are firmly convinced that in a dream a person says only what he said personally the day before. Therefore, if you are being brainwashed, they say, you saw it in the cinema and dreamed up - do not believe it: he spoke with his own language and his own lips.

If you sleep next to a person from whom you have something to hide, and at the same time you are prone to sleep-talking, you need to take precautions:

1. Before going to bed, you need to relieve tension. Take a warm bath with relaxing oils, don't watch TV in bed. It is best to go out on the balcony and breathe for ten minutes (without a cigarette, of course). If you are very excited, you are overwhelmed with emotions, take a sedative. nine0003

2. It has been observed that sex before going to bed completely eliminates sleep-talking.

3. As a rule, sleep-talking is influenced by what has just been experienced. Therefore, if you are afraid to give out a secret that you have been keeping for a long time, you can not be afraid, it will remain with you.

4. Sleep-talking intensifies in stuffiness. If the room is cool, then the likelihood that you will let it slip is halved.

5. If you have already blabbed too much at night, do not rush to admit to what you have done. Blame everything on your unbridled fantasy, most of the partners of this version believe. menslife.info

BTW

Why do children talk in their sleep?

Almost all parents at least once in their lives have experienced that their child talks in their sleep. What are the reasons for this phenomenon, and when is it natural, and when is it time to sound the alarm and run to the doctor?

In most cases, sleep-talking, or somniloquia, as doctors call this phenomenon, is completely harmless and even helps the child adapt to the world around him. The fact is that the children's nervous system is less stable than that of an adult. The events that happened during the day, even if they were very joyful, can become stressful for a small person. In this case, the pronunciation of what was experienced in a dream is the result of vivid impressions, strong emotions. nine0003

Make sure that the child is not overexcited in the evening, do not allow him to watch TV, provide access to fresh air during sleep. The room should be slightly cool.

Speaking and murmuring also make it easier for children to move into another stage of sleep. Thus, children seem to lull themselves to sleep.

Very young children who are just learning to speak can use sleep talking as a launching pad for language development. At first, such children pronounce individual words in a dream, and only then repeat them in reality. nine0003

But if sleep-talking is combined with other symptoms, this is a serious reason to consult a pediatric neurologist. Symptoms such as a combination of sleep-talking with nightmares or sleepwalking, confusion after waking up should alert.

THIS TIME

Karen Slavik-Lennard has long suffered from her beloved husband Adam talking in his sleep. Almost every night she listened to his spiritual outpourings, because you still can’t sleep when someone is talking next to you in bed. As a result, Karen began to write down the statements of her sleeping husband in a notebook. And then she started a blog in which she began to post her notes. Initially, the magazine was intended only to amuse friends and relatives. However, over time it became very popular. Then Karen decided to automate the process and now puts a voice recorder on the nightstand by the bed, which turns on every time Adam opens his mouth. The Lennards had no idea that surreal statements could attract so many visitors to the blog. Over time, they decided to capitalize on their popularity and opened an online store where they sell T-shirts, bags, aprons and underwear with Adam's phrases. After the Lennards appeared on the British TV show This Morning, the site's popularity has grown even more, and today it has almost 2 million visitors. nine0003

SOME QUOTATIONS FROM ADAM'S BLOG:

...19.02.2009 Enough cheese. Enough!

23.05.2009 Little people are FUNNY… yes, yes, yes… (Suddenly, waking up at the same time. ) Spider!

17.09.2009 I must say that these pants are huge-oh-oh-ohm….m-m-h-h-m-m… baggy. When did you turn into a beetle? Weird.

02.10.2009 He had legs.

10/07/2009 (Quite abruptly, waking up at the same time.) Grab the python!

08.10.2009I'm going to poke you in the eye. You shouldn't say such things. My breath can kill. I like the fact that you are a moose. Yes. So soft, soft.

10/18/2009 You spin me. You spin me Stop spinning me!

31.10.2009 Who turned into jelly: the earth or me? It's funny. I can spring... Spring... Ridiculous.

11/01/2009 Big pig. Loud grunt. Tiny curled ponytail.

11/13/2009 Yes, I have mustard in my pants. Hey, I know you, but I don't like your face. Take it off... Yes, that's much better, much better. Give me back my hands! Limb thief. You have all your hands in your fingers. nine0003

11/18/2009 So many spoons. But you won't get a single one...

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