For the most part, sleeping people will stay in their beds, moving around occasionally and possibly snoring. There are, however, some strange things that can happen during sleep, too.
The official term for abnormal behaviors during sleep is “parasomnia” and the National Sleep Foundation estimates that about 10 percent of Americans will experience them during their lifetime. It can happen as soon as you fall asleep or really any point during the sleep cycle. The NSF says that parasomnia may run in the family so there may be a genetic condition with the disorder.
Not sure what these behaviors might look like? Here are four funky things people might do in their sleep.
Sleepwalking.
The formal name for sleepwalking is “somnambulism,” and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) estimates that around 4 percent of adults sleepwalk. According to the Mayo Clinic, sleepwalking runs in families and is more common in children than in adults.
“During an episode of sleepwalking the brain is partially awake, resulting in complex behaviors, and partially in NREM sleep with no conscious awareness of actions,” the AASM website explains. So if you ever wake up and find yourself out of bed, chances are that sleepwalking could explain the mystery.
Related: Is Sleep Texting The New Sleep Walking?
Sleep eating.
Nocturnal sleep-related eating disorder, aka NS-RED, can happen sometimes when people are sleepwalking. According to WebMD, the condition can “interfere with an individual’s nutrition, cause shame, and result in depression and weight gain.”
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Sleep talking.
This is when you talk during your sleep, aren’t aware of what you’re saying, and can’t recall what you said when you wake up. The National Sleep Foundation reports that sleep talking “may be brought on by stress, depression, sleep deprivation, day-time drowsiness, alcohol, and fever.” But not to worry — WebMD says that sleep talking is really common, and usually nothing to be concerned about.
Texting in your sleep.
In an interview with CNN, Dr. Jim Fulop, from OhioHealth Sleep Services said that sometimes sleeping people might “grab their smartphone, which is right next to them, and they may text or do other things.” There’s not a lot of hard data on the condition, but many people on Twitter have shared their funny sleep texting experiences.
[Editor’s Note: The information provided should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Please seek a licensed health expert if you are ill or have questions related to your own health.]
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