Parasomnias are sleep disorders characterized by abnormal experiences, behaviors or psychological events, which can occur at different stages of sleep during the transition between sleep, sleep or wakefulness.Sleepwalking, night terrors, bruxism, nightmares, and movement disorders are examples of parasomnias that must be treated in a specific way, if they affect a person’s life.
Parasomnias in early childhood are common and normal, and treatment is generally not necessary, and is generally sufficient to reassure the child, as most parasomnias tend to disappear in adolescence; However, some parasomnias may be a sign that the person is experiencing a problem or insecurity., and others persist for years, and may be associated with stress and anxiety, so in these cases it is very important to identify them and talk to the doctor.
Some of the most common parasomnias are
Confusional awakening is characterized by situations in which the person wakes up confused, disoriented in time and space, reacting slowly, with memory loss, which usually occurs during deep sleep, in the first period of the night, and can last between 5 and 15 minutes.
Parasomnia is more common in children and young people, and the causes that may be causing it are lack of sleep, circadian rhythm disturbances, such as jet lag or change of school or work, medication, alcohol or tobacco use, or psychological or metabolic conditions..
Sleepwalking is a parasomnia that usually occurs about 1 to 2 hours after the person has fallen asleep, during which the person gets out of bed and walks while sleeping, and may include other inappropriate behaviors, such as urinating, touching objects or eating, for example.
Sleepwalking may not have a specific cause or may be caused by medications, fever or noise, for example.Learn how to identify and manage sleepwalking.
Night terrors are characterized by a wake-up call or crying, one to two hours after falling asleep, which usually occurs in children between the ages of 4 and 12, accompanied by other symptoms, such as fear, tachycardia, redness of the skin, confusion and disorientation.
Discover night terrors and see what to do
Nightmares are terrifying episodes that occur during REM sleep, which are very common in children and adolescents.
Nightmares can occur without an apparent cause and, in some cases, be triggered by fear, stress or anxiety; however, they may also be due to the use of certain medications, post-traumatic stress disorder, breathing problems or psychiatric disorders, for example.. Learn how to avoid nightmares.
Sleep paralysis is the inability to perform movements before falling asleep, while sleeping or waking up, and the person can only move their eyes and may still have frightening hallucinations.
Although parasomnia is more common in adolescents and adults, in some cases it can occur in children and may be associated with stress or poor sleep habits.Know what to do to prevent sleep paralysis.
Bruxism is the unconscious act of constantly grinding or grinding teeth, causing tooth wear, joint pain and waking headaches.
This parasomnia can be caused by genetic, neurological, or respiratory factors, such as snoring and sleep apnea, or it can be related to psychological factors, such as stress or anxiety. In addition, excessive use of caffeine, alcohol, smoking, or frequent drug use can also increase the frequency of bruxism. Find out what is the treatment of bruxism.
Night enuresis is defined as frequent involuntary loss of urine at night in children older than 3 years, which may be related to stunted growth, mental health problems, stress, or diseases such as diabetes.
Learn more about nighttime enuresis and how to avoid it
Each parasomnia should be treated in a specific way, however, avoiding stress and having good sleep hygiene are measures that can prevent any of them.
In most cases drug treatment is not necessary, however, medication may be justified if symptoms are severe, if they condition the person’s life, and if they persist, even after taking other measures.
Watch the video below and find out which positions help you sleep best: