Sleep Disorders

You need your healthy sleep, as do we all. However, for many people the reality of sleep deprivation is one that is a nightly fear. Some strange sleep disorders can be explained, whereas others are more like sleep science gone awry. If you or someone you know suffers from any of these bizarre sleeping disorders, you’re not alone. Many of the inexplicable causes of insomnia stem from psychological disorders, while others appear to be genetic or caused by stress and other factors. The one thing they all have in common is the lack of a natural, healthy sleep that can lead to problems that extend into the daytime for these poor insomnia sufferers.

Here are 10 Wacky Sleep Disorders you may have heard of (and some you haven’t):

  1. Teeth Grinding: Also known as bruxism, the clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth is primarily a nocturnal activity that is categorized as a reflex. The spirit of the unconscious mind can cause this sleep disorder, yet the majority of people who grind teeth at night are unaware they are doing it.
  2. Sleep Walking / Talking: The ‘sleep science’ term for this is somnambulism.Sleepwalkers rise from their bed and actually perform normal daytime activities in a low state of consciousness.Some extreme cases of sleepwalking involve people driving, going outside, raiding the refrigerator, or committing violent acts.
  3. Somniphobia: This sleep disorder is categorized by a fear of falling asleep, which is a form of anxiety.Some reasons people might experience somniphobia – also called hypnophobia – are reported frequent nightmares.It can stem from a traumatic experience, such as waking up on fire or from an automobile accident.
  4. Rapid Eye Movement Behavior Disorder: (RBD) is a parasomnia that involves the dreamer ‘acting upon their dreams’.Grabbing, hitting, screaming, kicking, running, punching and other aggressive acts are some of the symptoms and it is an abnormal behavior that is associated with the REM stage of sleeping, when the most vivid part of dreaming occurs.
  5. Jet Lag: This sleep disorder is mostly about timing, so that’s why it’s called circadian rhythm sleep disorder.People with this insomnia trait are not able to wake up when they need to and often miss important career or school obligations. The nickname is referred to the temporary feeling people get when they travel, but sufferers of circadian rhythm sleep disorder feel the “jet lag” over prolonged periods of time, which leads to natural sleep rhythms being affected.
  6. Night Terrors: This scary sleep disorder is common amongst children.The official term is called pavor noctumus and mostly occurs in kids ages one to six or seven, although some older children and teens still get night terrors into their adulthood.The child will sit up suddenly with a burst of terror and even though they will seem awake they are confused and do not recognize even family members. Emotional disturbances during the day can trigger this phenomenon. It’s like “living nightmares” and is one of the scariest of the sleeplessness problems.
  7. Narcolepsy: Have you ever known someone who falls asleep in the middle of a conversation you’re having?This is narcolepsy, a strange sleep disorder that causes sufferers to suddenly fall into a deep sleep at very inappropriate times.This can be dangerous because people who have narcolepsy are more prone to fall asleep while driving or while doing other activities where attentiveness is imperative.
  8. Sleep apnea: This very common sleep disorder is characterized by loud and excessive snoring, frequently experienced by males (but many females have it, too). Being overweight, a smoker and stress can lead to sleep apnea and over time it has side effects that can lead to heart disease, strokes and other negative health issues.
  9. Restless Leg Syndrome: A medical term known as Willis-Ekborn disease which is when the sufferer can’t control the urges to move around uncomfortably while sleeping. It is a neurological disorder that is commonly felt in the legs but some people also get this RLS in their arms and torso.Moving around only provides minor relief and some people even feel ‘phantom limbs’ that tingle or itch.It is an uncomfortable form of insomnia.
  10. Sleep paralysis: People who experience sleeplessness also report instances of sleep paralysis, a condition that can include narcolepsy or hallucinations in which the body remains aware even while the brain shuts down for REM sleeping. It’s a form of panic, in its simplest form.

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