This article is a collection of three of the most bizarre sleeping disorders ever found. Intrigued? I hope you are, as I am. : )
1. Bruxism (gnashing of teeth)
Bruxism is characterized by the grinding of the teeth and is typically accompanied by the clenching of the jaw. Growing up, my sister used to have this. We're sleeping on the same bed so often I wake up and tell her to stop the bad habit. But she still does so unconsciously. My relatives tell us maybe it's hereditary, because my maternal grandfather also had this.
Bruxism is mild enough to be considered an actual health problem, though some of our friends say one probable cause is stress. It can occur on either long sleep or short naps, considered as one of the most common sleep disorders recorded.
2. Sexsomnia (sleep sex)
Sexsomnia is informally known as "banditing," a form of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnia that causes people to engage in sexual acts such as masturbation, fondling, sexual intercourse and sexual assault while asleep. In medical terms, it is diagnosed as NREM Arousal Parasomnia, as a distinct variant of sleepwalking. Often unpleasant consequences associated with sleep sex are criminal defenses and rape cases. Other negative effects include feelings of shame and embarrassment.
Causes of this? Well, according to statistics, people who have encounters in sleepwalking and/or sleep-talking are more likely to exhibit sexsomnia episodes. In some cases, it has also been noted that sexsomnia could be caused by sleep-related epilepsy which results in sexual arousal, thrusting and orgasms. When this is the cause, the patient actually remembers the event and is not confused upon awakening. Scary, huh. Anyone sharing bed with a person having this will have much trouble, I guess.
3. Pavor Nocturnus (night terrors)
This is most commonly called "bangungot" in the Philippines. Though not proven, people believe that night terrors occur when a person slept when overly full after a meal. But in medical studies, this terror results because of lack of oxygen to the brain. It is a parasomnia disorder characterized by a temporary inability to regain full consciousness.
Sometimes, the person can't really move and is believed to be haunted by some demon who eats up the soul and takes the body. In due course, the sleeping victim wakes up abruptly gasping, moaning or screaming. When asked what the plot of the "nightmare" is, people rarely can recall the story of the terror. This usually occurs during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.
1. Bruxism (gnashing of teeth)
Bruxism is characterized by the grinding of the teeth and is typically accompanied by the clenching of the jaw. Growing up, my sister used to have this. We're sleeping on the same bed so often I wake up and tell her to stop the bad habit. But she still does so unconsciously. My relatives tell us maybe it's hereditary, because my maternal grandfather also had this.
Bruxism is mild enough to be considered an actual health problem, though some of our friends say one probable cause is stress. It can occur on either long sleep or short naps, considered as one of the most common sleep disorders recorded.
2. Sexsomnia (sleep sex)
Sexsomnia is informally known as "banditing," a form of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) parasomnia that causes people to engage in sexual acts such as masturbation, fondling, sexual intercourse and sexual assault while asleep. In medical terms, it is diagnosed as NREM Arousal Parasomnia, as a distinct variant of sleepwalking. Often unpleasant consequences associated with sleep sex are criminal defenses and rape cases. Other negative effects include feelings of shame and embarrassment.
Causes of this? Well, according to statistics, people who have encounters in sleepwalking and/or sleep-talking are more likely to exhibit sexsomnia episodes. In some cases, it has also been noted that sexsomnia could be caused by sleep-related epilepsy which results in sexual arousal, thrusting and orgasms. When this is the cause, the patient actually remembers the event and is not confused upon awakening. Scary, huh. Anyone sharing bed with a person having this will have much trouble, I guess.
3. Pavor Nocturnus (night terrors)
This is most commonly called "bangungot" in the Philippines. Though not proven, people believe that night terrors occur when a person slept when overly full after a meal. But in medical studies, this terror results because of lack of oxygen to the brain. It is a parasomnia disorder characterized by a temporary inability to regain full consciousness.
Sometimes, the person can't really move and is believed to be haunted by some demon who eats up the soul and takes the body. In due course, the sleeping victim wakes up abruptly gasping, moaning or screaming. When asked what the plot of the "nightmare" is, people rarely can recall the story of the terror. This usually occurs during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.
Bruxism - i knew that because i also a cousin which I shared room when I was in college who does that when sleeping. :( Sexsomnia, first-time i heard of it.
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot from this post and sexsomnia is something new to me. I guess who ever has one should lock himself alone to ensure they won't do anything they'd regret.
ReplyDeletehow I wish I can experience #2. LOL Yung #1 usually happens when I am too tired.
ReplyDeleteim not sure if its just me, but i find the list disturbing, I have a cousin you have no.1 case and its really scary, imagine you can really hear the teeth grinding.. wew.
ReplyDeleteI am also guessing that Sexomnia is something like a nature's way of dealing with the natural process :) Ahh, now everybody is on item #2 huh.
ReplyDeletewe all have our own disorder within ourselves. .thanks to this site we've learn some of it. . and been inform about it. .
ReplyDeleteI experience night terror sleep sometimes. Scientific or not, I believe that overeating before sleep is one real cause of it.
ReplyDeleteOnly now I heard the #2. All of these are very much concerned sleep disorders which need science explanation and luckily unhide medication process. Nice share.
ReplyDeletezomg! i guess i have all of this! haha should I consult a doctor nb? hindi nmn aq stress for sure hehe. Well, I sleep walk when i was a kid like i will walk and sit on the couch in our lounge room and my dad says i was like looking at our huge window but of course with eyes close hehe. Also I grind my teeth like hell whenever I go travel mybe I am tired hehe. and cant sleep lying on my back because I get most bangungot with that postition like seriously hehe love this post dear! xx
ReplyDeleteI experience this ones in a while if I watched horror movies or crime scenes- Pavor Nocturnus (night terrors)
ReplyDeleteMy eldest daughter has this Bruxism. I hate it so much, even I cannot sleep with her grinding of teeth and the saliva getting out from her mouth.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how these sleep disorders can be cured. Items #2 and #3 are concerning
ReplyDeleteMy first time to read about Sexsomnia here.. very informative post!
ReplyDelete-nanardxz zee
I'm so glad that I have neither three! I mean, the closest would have to be getting nightmares. But not the Bangungot kind. :P
ReplyDeleteSexsomnia is sounds new to my ears. Fortunately I don't have any of those types you mentioned here.
ReplyDeleteSexomnia seems quite intriguing to me. Good thing I don't have any of the three.
ReplyDeleteInteresting information. I never knew these things except for insomnia.
ReplyDeleteBruxism is quite common, but sexsomnia and pavor nocturnus are not that known to me..This post is very interesting..Yahweh bless. ralph
ReplyDeleteBruxism is quite common but this sexomnia is new to me. May ganon talaga? People with this kind of disorder should not share rooms with other people then!
ReplyDeleteExperienced a lot of night terror during my high school year, but after a year it just went away Thank God! By the way, my bff has bruxism and finding a solution for that.
ReplyDelete