Sleep sex - the sleeping disorder you never knew about
Sleep sex is a rare condition that causes unwanted sexual behavior during sleep. This condition ranges from disruptive moaning to unwanted sexual advances on their partner during sleep. Originally discovered by Stanford researchers in 2002 it is believed that this condition results from glitches in brain waves during sleep. Christian Guilleminault, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Stanford School of Medicine stresses that this condition is medical in origin rather than psychological.
Rather than moving normally through the phases of sleep - each of which has a classic brain-wave pattern - the patients in the Stanford study had strange patterns during sleep phases - short disruptions in their sleep. Recordings in the Stanford study showed that the sleep sex behavior occurred during these disruptions in the sleep cycle. Seven of the patients apparently had problems with walking in their sleep.
Apparently, sleep sex can be alleviated by the same medicines that fix problems related to sleepwalking. Emotional problems do in fact seem to change the way sleep disturbances are acted upon. Whether a sleep disturbance shows itself as sleep sex or sleepwalking depends on the emotional state of the sleeper when the disturbance begins.
The main point is that sleep sex is something that can and should be treated. Given that some reported cases involve violent acts committed on partners during sleep its important to get help as soon as possible. By removing the stigma associated, hopefully more sleep sex victims will get treated.
I’ve been fascinated by sleep related disorders for many years now. This is, however, the first I’ve heard of sleep sex. It’s reassuring to know that for those who suffer from it a treatment is readily available. I can’t imagine suffering from this condition and not realizing that a simple fix can be found by a visit to a specialist.
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Posted: January 21st, 2007 under Sleep Disorders.
Comments: 4
Comments
Comment from gary smith
Time: March 30, 2007, 11:14 pm
hi,i am only 21 i do need to talk to some one about this as my partner is pregnant and i am having sex with her only when we fall asleep i have idea it happens till i awake the next day.please help me as i am scared and have no where else to go and get help,
i have not been violent tho just having sex,but as i read this it worries me as she is pregnant
please help me
many tanks
GARY SMITH
Comment from Sleep Disorders Guide
Time: March 31, 2007, 11:06 am
Hi Nieve Styler,
Good informative site on sleep disorders…thanks for sharing …I am adding some more helpful informative about sleep and hope it will help your site visitors…..
Good Night Sleep
Lack of sleep can result in stress, lack of concentration, moodiness, memory loss, lower motivation and fatigue. It is important to get a good night sleep otherwise it may lead to different sleep disorders. More than eighty percent of people suffering from depression are suffering with sleep problems.
At present, one of the most common problems is Sleep deprivation. In fact the Better Sleep Council surveyed a thousand adult respondents and discovered that more than 30% of them confessed to not getting enough sleep each night.
Sleep Learning.
It is proven that chronic sleep problems affect 40 million Americans every year and an average of 20 million to 30 million individuals will lose sleep on an occasional basis according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Compound this with the knowledge that 22 million American citizens work night shifts or swing shifts, which causes many disruptions with the body’s normal cycles in terms of sleep considerations.
So how you will you get a good night sleep??? Here are 101 ways….
http://www.sleepdisordersguide.com/blog/good-night-sleep-101-ways/
Comment from tony middleton
Time: January 16, 2008, 9:19 pm
I believe I suffer from sleepsex. The problem is though that it makes me very very ill. I have had this problem for close to 30 years and it has ruined my life(socialy & financialy). I believe it came about from huge sexual frustration, no outlet for a very strong desire, and over masturbating and masturbating when drunk and going to sleep. This has been a total nightmare for me. I seem to have willed my self now not to do anything physical in my sleep but it seems to happen just in my head and make me ill in a different way. Also I have the problem that if I do anything sexual or even just get aroused this can bring on this sleep problem. It would be heaven to cure this problem.
Comment from rajesh
Time: September 21, 2008, 10:23 am
i have to say only one thing tht i am suffering from sleep masturbation from past 3 years and not getted any treatment but only Doxy 1 capsule has given the excellent effect by taking it this problem dosent happe its true
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