Sufferers often live their life in a constant state of heightened anxiety, worrying that the next time they fall asleep, could be the start of another episode. When it's all over, it's back to normal sleep patterns until the episodes kick-off again months later, without any warning. Sufferers experience episodes of excessive sleep for between 12 and 24 hours at a time over a few days or even weeks.ĭuring the episodes it's difficult to wake them, but when conscious, they'll often exhibit strange behaviours like a heightened sex drive, binge eating and even hallucinations 4. Kleine-Levin Syndrome (KLS)ĪKA Sleeping Beauty Syndrome, this rare neurological disorder takes 'sleeping in' to a new level. Causes are reported to include sleep deprivation, jet lag, narcolepsy, changing medications and certain psychiatric disorders. The accompanying terror sufferers’ feel can last longer, especially if the episodes are paired with hallucinations which they often are. ![]() The physical effects of being unable to move or speak are temporary, wearing off after just a few seconds to a few minutes. This is normal and we're usually not aware that it's even happening, but in a terrifying turn of events, sufferers of Sleep Paralysis wake up while their body is still paralysed 3. Here, the brain functions how it should during REM sleep, sending signals that keep muscles in a state of paralysis or relaxation. On the other end of the REM sleep disorder spectrum, there's Sleep Paralysis. REM Sleep Disorder is reported to primarily affect men over 50 and anyone on high-dose anti-depressants. The theatrical episodes don't generally last very long, but can be sudden and violent (think screaming, kicking and thrashing about), which means they can be harmful to sufferers and their unfortunate bed partners. So, instead of relaxing, suffers of REM Sleep Disorder do the opposite, causing sufferers to act out their dreams. With REM sleep disorder, the brain sends the wrong signals to the muscles 2. During REM sleep, our body relaxes completely, while our brain is alert and active. The sleep cycle is made up of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and non-REM stages of sleep. ![]() They do, however, often report an increased level of anxiety and fear of falling asleep.Įxploding Head Syndrome primarily affects women and older adults. Sufferers wake in a flurry of panic but luckily don't experience any pain 1, and aren't in any real danger. In the case of Exploding Head Syndrome, they're very loud things like shouting, crashing symbols, explosions and doors slamming. One of the more peculiar sleep disorders out there is characterised by hypnagogic (meaning the state between waking and sleeping) auditory hallucinations-in other words, sufferers hear things as they're drifting off to sleep. ![]() At least that's what these five very bizarre but very real sleep disorders would have us think. For most of us, sleep is a blissful blanket of warmth, tenderly transporting us away to a wondrous dream-world of soothing slumber.
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