Parasomnia may refer to a variety of different sleep disorders. Many parasomnias may occur between the time the patient is awake and the time they enter NREM sleep. The conditions may also be present between the time the patient is awake and enters REM sleep.
Parasomnias may be classified as NREM parasomnias and REM parasomnias. NREM parasomnias may occur as the brain may be caught between a sleeping and waking state.Nightmares may be a type of parasomnia in which the patient may be abruptly woken up from REM sleep by a vivid dream. Often, nightmares may be associated with feelings of fear, apprehension or anxiety. Nightmares may be caused by a traumatic event that has taken place in a person's life. The patient may have trouble returning to sleep after a nightmare.
People that have night terrors may suddenly awaken with feelings of fear and anxiety. The person may be confused and have problems communicating. The patient may not remember the events the next morning.
Sleep paralysis may occur when individuals may not be able to move their limbs either when falling asleep or awaking. Brief episodes of complete muscle and skeletal paralysis may occur in people experiencing the condition. While it may not be harmful, the condition may be frightening for some patients, as they do not understand what is happening.
Sleepwalking and sleep talking may occur in people who walk or talk in their sleep, respectively. These people may have no recollection of the events the prior night, but the condition may be disturbing to people around them. People who grind their teeth in their sleep may have sleep bruxism.
Sleep bruxism may cause problems with the teeth or jaw discomfort. Other parasomnias may include bed wetting, nocturnal leg cramps, impaired sleep-related penile erections, sleep-related painful erections and nocturnal paroxysmal disorder, which may be a form of epilepsy, as the patient may experience seizures during NREM sleep. A health care professional may provide more information on these conditions and may recommend treatment.
