Parasomnias

Another major classification of sleeping disorders is that of parasomnias. Parasomnias are those disruptions of sleeping patterns characterized by partial arousals either during sleep or sometimes in the transition between sleeping and waking states. A parasomnia is more common in children than in adults, and is often induced during times of high emotion or stress. Those who suffer from parasomnias don't have abnormal mechanisms governing the sleeping or wakeful states or the timing of waking and sleeping, unlike those who have dyssomnias. Instead, those with parasomnias display activation of physiological symptoms at inappropriate times. These can include the motor system, the nervous system or even cognitive processes.

Parasomnias sub-types

Parasomnia takes many forms. Common among children are sleepwalking and sleep eating, teeth grinding and night terrors. Other manifestations of parasomnias include sleep sex, rhythmic movement disorder, REM behavior disorder, restless legs syndrome and somniloquy. Some parasomnias can be a danger to themselves or others during episodes of parasomnias. For example, a person with REM behavior disorder can dream of kicking a football or pitching a baseball and injure the sleeping partner with arm or leg movements.

A sleepwalker presents a similar risk, only to his or her own personal safety. Children have been known to walk out on balconies, climb trees, or just wander to a strange part of town during their sleep walking episodes.

Somniloquy is characterized by words, sounds, and sometimes long speeches spoken aloud during the sleep transition period. Somniloquy is associated with night terrors.

Causes

The most common risk factors for any of the parasomnias include stress or emotional upheaval and depression. Since it is often more common in children before the age of puberty, some types of parasomnias are maybe the result of underdeveloped neural pathways in the brain which cause a type of short circuit where the body will attempt to perform activities viewed in a dream.

Bruxism or grinding of the teeth is believed by some to be the result of digestive problems, reflexive chewing action, or anxiety.

Symptoms

Unlike some of the other common sleeping disorders, parasomnias rarely manifest as something else such as excessive daytime sleepiness. In other words, teeth grinding can be heard by anyone close, sleepwalking or sleep eating involve moving around while still asleep, or in the transition state between waking and sleep. Somniloquy has even been recorded for amusement purposes. In the same way, restless leg movements and limb movements are all quite noticeable to others.

Treatment

There are wide varieties of treatments for individual types of parasomnias. For example, for those who exhibit bruxism or somniloquy, wearing a mouth guard will make it impossible for the symptom to continue, and will protect teeth surface in the case of bruxism. Usually barriers are the best thing for sleep walking and sleep eating. The danger of a child wandering out into the night is a real one, which concerns parents of children who have a tendency to sleep walk. Restless legs syndrome is often treated by iron supplements, life-style changes and other non-medicinal approaches.