As strange as it may sound, talking in your sleep is a common phenomenon. So what is causing this nocturnal chatter, is it related to our dreams, and should we be paying attention to it? We consulted a sleep expert to get the lowdown on sleep talking.
If you think your sleep talking is related to a lack of sleep or poor sleep quality, see our tips on what to do when you can’t sleep or how to use the Navy SEAL Sleep Technology to fall asleep fast. Or, for more strange nighttime phenomena, find out if the full moon really affects sleep.
What is sleep talking?
explains Teresa Schnorbach, a psychologist and sleep scientist who also works as a sleep consultant at The Sleep Clinic whatever (Opens in a new tab) (The brand behind today’s best mattresses). “Two out of three people talk in their sleep at some point in life, and it’s especially frequent among young people.” It’s usually harmless, though in some cases it can be a sign of a sleep disorder or more serious health problem (we’ll get into that later).
Sleep talking can occur at any stage of sleep; It’s usually easier to understand during the early stages of sleep (for example, non-REM stages 1 and 2), Teresa explains. If you’re talking during later stages like stage 3 REM sleep and REM sleep, it’s more likely to sound like moaning and moaning.
What do sleeping people talk about?
Sleep talking can range from weird words or grumbling and grumbling to entire conversations you can’t remember, but it’s hard to pinpoint how it relates to what’s going on in the sleeper’s brain. “The origins of content during sleep talking periods has been the subject of conflicting research,” Teresa says. “Speech may or may not be related to a person’s life, recent events, or past conversations. And although some research suggests that it is sometimes associated with dreams, sleep talking does not appear to be closely related to dream activities.
Why do we sleep talking?
While there is more research needed when it comes to working out why people talk in their sleep, we currently believe that it is generally caused by poor sleep or disturbed sleep. It may be due to a disturbed sleep environment – for example if your room is too warm or too cold, or too much ambient light is creeping in – or due to stress or alcohol.
However, there could be other reasons. “Sleep talking appears to be more common in those with underlying mental health conditions,” Teresa explains. “It is thought to occur more frequently in those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”
What about screaming in your sleep?
Most sleep talking is harmless, but screaming during sleep may be related to another sleep disorder. “Sleep disorders such as REM sleep disorder and sleep terrors cause some people to scream during sleep. Night terrors are characterized by terrifying screaming, writhing and kicking,” Teresa says. “It’s hard to wake someone who has sleep terrors.”
Is talking in your sleep harmful?
“Isolated, random repetitions of sleep talking are rarely a problem,” Teresa explains. However, if it is causing you distress, you may want to consult a professional for advice. She continues, “If your sleep talking begins suddenly as an adult or involves severe anxiety, screaming, or violent actions, see your doctor or sleep specialist.” He will most likely ask you how long you’ve been talking in your sleep, so talk to your bed partner, roommate, or someone’s ex so you have this information.
“Sleep talk can be diagnosed without the use of any test. If you have symptoms of another sleep problem, your doctor may order a test such as a polysomnography or polysomnography (polysomnography).”
For more information and tips on how to improve your sleep habits, take a look at Emma App (Opens in a new tab).
Theresa Schnorbach
Teresa Schnorbach is a psychologist and sleep scientist specializing in clinical psychology and cognitive neuropsychology. She completed her postgraduate training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) with the German Sleep Society (DGSM), endorsed by the European Research Association. She works as a sleep specialist for a family brand whatever (Opens in a new tab).
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