Parasomnias: Symptoms, Causes, Types And Treatment

The symptoms of parasomnias depend on the type of parasomnia each person suffers from. The main symptoms of this sleeping sickness are:

• Nightmares.
• Sudden awakening
• Night terrors in adults or children, in the case of childhood parasomnias.
• Somnambulism.
• Waking up disoriented.
• Discomfort during rest time.
• Sleep disorders.
• Sleep paralysis.
• Confusional awakening.
• Somniloquy in adults or infants.

Do you want to know what causes parasomnia? They may arise for the following reasons:

• Drink alcohol in excess.
• Eat just before going to sleep.
• To have a fever.
• Abstinence from any substance.
• Absence of medication that facilitates sleep, consumed later.
• Ingestion of a new drug.
• Consumption of drugs.
• Stress and/or anxiety.
• Difficulty breathing or sleep apnea.
• Frequent alterations in sleep schedules.

You already know what causes parasomnia and the symptoms that occur typical of this sleep disorder. Now, we will reveal what the types of parasomnia are. To do this, you should know that parasomnias can be classified into two large groups: awakening parasomnias and parasomnias associated with REM sleep.

Parasomnias of waking up

• Somnambulism It is a common sleep disorder in childhood, which lacks treatment. It is characterized by carrying out some movement or activity while deeply asleep, for example, walking. Sleepwalkers usually don’t remember what they did while they were sleeping.
• Night terrors This disorder manifests itself during periods of deep sleep. The person suffering from this disorder usually screams, cries and shows facial expressions of terror. It is also characterized by an increase in heart rate, the appearance of sweating and increased breathing. Night terrors in children are normal, they are part of childhood.
• Confusional awakening This type of awakening arises when people wake up disoriented and with a decrease in brain speed and attentional response to stimuli.

Parasomnias associated with REM sleep

• REM sleep behavior disorder Don’t know what NREM parasomnia is? It consists of making abnormal movements, such as violent punches and kicks, which can cause self-harm or damage to third parties.
• Isolated sleep paralysis This paralysis usually lasts seconds or minutes. It manifests itself through the inability to make voluntary movements with the head, trunk or extremities due to loss of muscle tone.
• Nightmares The well-known nightmares refer to unpleasant dreams that generate fear in people who suffer from them, who usually remember the content of the nightmares when they wake up. In childhood, it is common for children with night terrors and nightmares to have a bad time at night.

As noted in the previous section, parasomnias can be of various types. Treatment of this sleep disorder It will depend on the type of parasomnia that each person manifests, since some do not have treatment or do not require it.

People who suffer from parasomnias that do not require treatment can follow a series of indications that reduce the possibility of their appearance:

• Do light dinners and before bedtime.
• Limit screen use before bed.
• Avoid using drugs or alcohol.
• Do not self-medicate.
• Accompany if necessary.

However, parasomnias that need treatment, such as REM sleep behavior disorder, have a specific pharmacological treatment. So, what is the best treatment for parasomnia in this case? Benzodiazepines are usually used, specifically clonazepam. Therefore, it is essential go to the doctor and have a sleep assessment.

Similarly, parasomnias and night terrors give rise to psychological consequences. Mainly, anxiety symptoms arise linked to not having a completely restful sleep. We tell you more about it in What happens if you don’t sleep?

Therefore, modification of sleeping habits and environmental factors can also be carried out, as well as the application of relaxation techniques as you can consult in our article Breathing exercises to calm anxiety.

If, despite putting everything mentioned above into practice, parasomnias continue to cause you significant discomfort or limit your daily life, do not hesitate to contact us. go to a psychologist specialist in sleep disorders. Since, perhaps you require individual therapy, that is, more precise support that takes into account your particular needs.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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