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Problematic Sleep-Talking

by Emma
(Europe)

I'm 18 years old, and I sleep talk. Often.


My ex-fiance asked me questions once, while I was sleeping, where I admitted to having feelings for my bestfriend, which is true. But I also said that one of my gay friends flirted with me, which is obviously not true.

Recently I was at this camp, where I talked in my sleep to one of my roommates. And the past year (or less), I've woken myself up by talking in my sleep.

All this sleep talking creeps me out. I have no idea or control over what I'm saying. And that I can tell my secrets to whomever while I'm asleep, it's scary. Any thoughts?

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My Husband Talks In His Sleep

by Jamie
(Clarksonville)

Last night my husband and I went to bed on not so happy terms, he was tired from work. so we went to sleep without talking really, well in middle of the night I got up and used the restroom. When I returned I put my hand on his chest to give him a kiss. "Don't f-ing touch me" was what I got in return.

He doesn't remember it at all and just made things way worse between us. I don't see it as a big problem because it doesn't happen too often, once or twice a month. But I was wanting to know Is what they say in their sleep, their true feelings?

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Mar 09, 2016
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by: Anonymous

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Sleep Yelling Girl

Is it normal to yell clear sentences while you are asleep? I go to a boarding school and my roommate yells in her sleep. She will yell clearly and you can understand everything that she says and will thrash around in her sleep.

She seems aware of what she is doing the next morning and asks about what she is saying. It occurs often throughout the night. Sometimes an hour apart, sometimes five minutes.

It's been three nights since we've been roommates and it's not easy to change rooms. (Its a high school and there are 6 girls per room.) I have talked to staff at this school that could possibly make a change in things but nothing has happened so far.

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Shouting In Sleep

by Samantha
(England)

I can't actually hear me shouting in my sleep but mam says it's like I'm having arguments all night long.



Kevin: Thanks for writing in Samantha. Sleep can be such a funny thing in that so many of the activities our bodies are engaged in during it are completely out of our consciousness and memory. Sleep talking is definitely one such activity.

You can read more here about sleep talking, and sleep shouting by extension, or read more stories from sleep talkers here.

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Anger and Arousal

by Stef
(England)

My wife and I often have conversations while were both asleep. The problems often arise when we
wake up and for no particular reason, one of us may feel angry, hurt, or even sexually aroused! It's been getting that bad were now considering separate bedrooms prior to separation.

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Jun 20, 2014
other ways NEW
by: Anonymous

Why don't you try other things before a seperation? Like listening to music at night or earplugs. Or since you know what is happening, simply don't talk to each other first thing in the morning. Cool off and then apologize. I don't know that there is a problem with arousal. You don't know what you said and doubt that either of you meant it but I'm sure an apology will help.

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I Sleep Talk Only When Hot

by Tina
(Houston)

I did not start sleep talking until 2005, at age 32. The first one was simple but scary. I felt I was awake, laying in bed. I thought someone walked up to my side and stood there. I screamed and jumped up. Of course, no one was there, so I knew I had to be dreaming.

It got worse from there. My husband says I scream and use vulgar language. I have even woken myself up from being so loud. I kick, wave my arms around, sit up and move around. I have not gotten out of bed, yet. I hope not to.

I have discovered that it only happens when I get hot from too many covers. I sweat enough to soak the sheets and pillow. I have to sleep with beach towels under and over me. My husband cannot believe how hot my skin is to the touch. But it is difficult for me to stay cool, even with fans. This happens two or more times a week, usually over the weekend when I am in bed longer in the morning.

This absolutely happens during REM because I remember the dreams, usually. It has been 6 years and it has not gotten better. My hubby is not happy with it, obviously. But what can I do? Stay cool is the only thing I know of.

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Sleep Talk A Lot And Don't Remember Dreaming

by Danielle
(Australia)

Hi,

I have been told that I sleep talk frequently and at least every fortnight I wake my friend up telling her something is in the room, someone has told us to leave, etc. Other times I will just talk either gibberish or carry out a conversation that is understandable but makes no sense.

I never remember dreams that I have--over the space of a year there would only be a handful of times I can actually recall having a dream.

I am always tired and even wake up feeling tired. I have spoken to my doctor about always been tired but he said to get a usual sleeping pattern, read before bed and such, which I always do anyway.

Should I see a sleep specialist?

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Roomate Has Sleeptalking Disorder - Is It Harmful?

by Farah
(Malaysia)

I just want to know..if sleep talking can have harmful or dangerous effects?



Kevin: Hey Farah, sleep talking is almost never harmful in any way to the sleeper. The only real time it presents a problem is when it is disturbing the sleep of someone else. Is your roommate sleep talking loud enough or with such consistency that your own sleep is being compromised? If that is the case you may want to look into earplugs, or sleeping in a separate room if that is a possibility.

On the other hand, if it is only happening occasionally or is not bothering your sleep then there is very likely no cause for concern.

Warmly,
Kevin

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Losing Sleep

by Anonymous
(New Hampshire)

I am a 20 year old female and for the past few years (as far as I know at least since I was 14) I have been talking and walking in my sleep.

Lately, it seems as if it is getting worse. My boyfriend said I woke up in the middle of the night last night and had a 30-45 minute long conversation with him, which I do not remember AT ALL. I am waking up exhausted every morning. I am unable to take time out of work to go see a doctor during the week. I am not sure if there are any doctors that run on the weekends (I highly doubt it).

Anyone have any suggestions of how to keep my mouth shut at night?

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I Always Sleep Talk

by Lucy
(London )

I don't know when I started to sleep talk, but I think it began when I started to worry about my examinations and getting less sleep.

Am I sleep talking because I'm stressed out? My roomate always tells me I speak really loudly and she can't sleep, then she blames me when she's tired.

I have no idea that I'm sleep talking, I only once woke up with my mouth open and moving. Do you think I need help? I'm starting to get worried and I've been getting more tired recently.

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Dec 31, 2015
Sleepy Car rides NEW
by: Jessica

Ugh sleep is so weird, I know why and kinda how I sleep talk. It's so strange and super imbarassing because 99.9% of the time I sleep talk I do it in the car around people. I can feel my self drifting off but normally my mom or freinds don't know, sleep makes me uncomfortable so I try not to let on that I'm dozing off. The issue is when they talk to me I talk back but trust me I'm K.O at first my talking makes since but then in my head I get confused weather it's then talking or my dream, then I get even more confused thinking I answered them when I really didn't or thinking they said something when it's silent so I'll try to seperate the dream world from reality but I'm asleep so I can't and I just end up looking stupid.
I don't really know how to feel secure sleeping around other people
And I don't really know how to answer people correctly when this all starts, over all it's just super weird, kinda funny but weird since I can remember it after some one gives me a hint about what we were talking about.

Example from just today;
Freind: maybe for my birthday we can go to the beach
Me(asleep); yea the beach sounds great
Freind; yeah but witch beach should we go to
Me(asleep); ...
Freind; hello? Are you sleeping?
Me(asleep);noooo...no..no, the beach you should go to is umm...
Freind; yeah??
Me(asleep); I can't see the water from our room, we should have gotten ocean front
Freind; your so asleep!
Me(asleep); no I'm freak'n awake I just can't find my dolphin
Freind; (starts laughing historically)
Me(starting to wake up); no.. I left it in the... On the... Why are you laughing!?
Freind;cause your sleep talking right now
Me(fully awake); no I'm not see I'm awake
Freind; what were we just talking about?
Me; uhhhh
Freind; going to the beach for my birthday
Me; yea yea! You wanted to know what beach
Freind; that was priceless



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About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

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Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

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