I've been having very odd sleep activity, looking for an answer or cure
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so lately I have been experiencing some really odd sleep activity. one night while sleeping i started screaming for my boyfriend when he came over I told him I couldn't move my arm, he says I was completely freaking out but I was moving it around while telling him. He told me I was and then got me to go back to sleep. This was a couple months ago but recently I've been experiencing activity like this every night a couple of nights ago I got up and started shuffling things around my dresser and just standing in front of the dresser before returning to sleep. this I have no recollection of. but my boyfriend told me, now last night I jumped out of bed flicked the light on and started freaking out that there was something in the bed, once again my boyfriend calmed me down and helped me back to sleep. I dont fully recall this episode but I very vaguely remember it. that's how a lot of the episodes are I know I'm sleeping but I can sometimes remember pieces of it like a dream other times I'm in denial it even happened. fortunately my boyfriend has been great about the whole thing, he helps and never complains and as of now it hasn't affected my rest, I still feel the same when I wake up but I'm concerned it will progress and that I am constantly waking up my boyfriend when he's trying to sleep too. any idea what this might be or how I might be able to fix it?
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lily65668 brittany53500
Posted
Hi Brittany,
It's called night terrors and it's related to sleepwalking. I had it big time around the menopause - I once came to my senses to find myself standing on the windowsill about to jump out of the window - but it's subsided since then. I actually remember my attacks afterwards, though most people don't. However, regardless of whether you remember them or not, you're still not in charge of your actions while it's going on. I used to be in the grip of all kinds of weird delusions during these attacks.
I'm afraid treatment is very difficult. You should try to get a sleep study done, though I know this is very difficult if you're in the UK. In any case, most NT sufferers don't actually have an attack while they're in the sleep lab.
The condition is difficult to treat too. Benzos of some kind are usually the drug of choice, but these bring their own problems of course.
Perhaps you could look at the possible triggers. Have there been any recent major changes in your life? Is there anything that's causing you stress or anxiety? Have you recently started on any new medication (or recreational drugs)? All these things can trigger attacks - especially anxiety about the condition itself. However, they don't actually cause attacks, as the cause is innate. Some of us are just born that way. It can be hereditary too. It might be interesting to ask your parents whether you sleepwalked as a child (which is how it usually starts) and whether there were any other sleepwalkers or night terror sufferers in the family.
Sometimes just talking about it can calm things down a bit. In any case, you and your boyfriend shouldn't get overly anxious about it, as this will make things worse. As I said, try and get a sleep study done - but don't be too surprised if it turns out completely normal. The good news is that this condition lessens with age. I continue to get these attacks even now, in my 70s, but these days they just consist of suddenly sitting bolt upright in the grip of some irrational fear, then coming to my senses and going back to sleep. I haven't actually jumped out of bed for years now.
brittany53500 lily65668
Posted
thank you so much for your reply. I suspected it could be night terrors I just never looked too far into it. so with what you provided I feel you are right, but I'm happy to hear they lessen the older you get. they have been continuing almost every night now but I will be visiting family soon, I haven't seen them in 2 years and my childhood was far from functional so I feel this may be the cause of the terrors. if they proceed when I am back from my visit I will look into having a study done. thank you again for your helpful insight!