While snoring is easily the most annoying habit your sleeping partner can have, sleep talking definitely takes second place.
Not only can this strange condition mess with your beauty rest, it can also be downright creepy.
A recent study recorded a number of patients living with sleep talking (or "parasomnia") during their midnight chats. The results were freaky: almost a quarter of the words used by sleep talkers were negative, and 22% were "nasty" or mean.
One sleep scientist guesses that people sleep talk about the things we're afraid to mention during the day, but we're still learning more about this condition all the time.
To make things worse, it's common for sleep talkers to use a "creepy," unnatural voice, because they're not conscious when they speak in their dreams.
If you're losing sleep because your partner loves to gab into their pillow, don't worry. We know enough about parasomnia to help you beat this condition.
Some cases of parasomnia seem to be genetic, but there are factors that increase your risk of sleep talking.
The National Sleep Foundation says these will all increase your risk of talking in your sleep:
- Stress
- Depression and anxiety
- Lack of sleep
- Alcohol
- Other sleep conditions (like sleep apnea)
If your partner catches you talking in your sleep, there are a few treatments you can try.
Check with your doctor or a sleep specialist to see if another condition is causing your sleep talking. If you're dealing with major stress or anxiety, treating that will also help.
And be sure to get lots of sleep on a regular schedule. Avoiding eating, drinking, and smoking before bed will help.
If all of those ideas don't work, it can't hurt to invest in some silicone earplugs or a white noise machine. Just in case.
Know anyone who talks in their sleep?
