Sleep-talking, a common phenomenon
Neuropsychologist Ginevra Uguccioni explains that it’s a common occurrence. 71% of men and 75% of women say that they have talked in their sleep at least once in their lives. Moreover, only 36% of the words spoken during the night are understandable. Indeed, most of our speech is indistinct and often consists of crying, laughing, whispering, etc.
Some, however, use flowery language as they repeatedly say insults or swear words! Enough to give your sleeping partner a good time! 😂
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Why do we talk in our sleep?
Sleep-talking has purely psychological causes! During REM sleep, the brain is in a phase of high activity. This type of sleep is also responsible for our dreams, which is when we talk. There is an externalization of the dream, which is often linked to what we’ve experienced during the past few days.
🤐 That’s why sometimes you ask your partner if they’ve taken out the bins. Or even… you insult them because there have been things unsaid during the day. We resolve our problems during the night, and sleep-talking is a part of this!
Children are much more prone to sleep-talking
The neuropsychologist also explains that children talk a lot more in their sleep than adults, just as they have more night terrors. Researchers assume that sleep-talking is part of language learning. So don’t be surprised if our little ones murmur during their naps! Moreover, there may be a genetic factor; if we tend to talk during the night, our children will probably do it too.
Does sleep-talking have an impact on our sleep?
Even though almost everyone talks in their sleep, only 1.5% of people suffer from it on a daily basis. Sometimes it is linked to another sleeping disorder, such as sleep-walking or even sleep paralysis. Pure sleep-talkers are quite discreet and don’t have any major sleeping disorders. This is in contrast to those who have to consult a doctor for a major parasomnia. Sleep-talking has the advantage that it doesn’t disturb sleep and doesn’t impact its quality.
💤 Talking doesn’t stop us from having a deep and therefore restful sleep. Unlike sleep-walking, we don’t wake up during a period of sleep-talking. There is no disturbance on our side… However, there is for those who sleep next to us! In short, it bothers others, but not us.
How to stop talking in your sleep?
As it’s not something that disrupts sleep, there’s no need to look for a magic remedy. There is no treatment for sleep-talking. However, you may be more talkative during a period of intense stress or if there has been a poor management of emotions during the day. In this kind of case, it’s interesting to meditate to fall asleep, as it will have the advantage of helping us relax. If the problem really bothers you, it’s also possible to consult a professional for hypnosis.
If there is no treatment to eliminate or reduce sleepiness, one can try to re-establish a more regular sleep rhythm to hope for a decrease in these nocturnal vocalizations:
- Going to bed at set times;
- Avoid exercises in the evening;
- Set up a quiet time without visual or sound stimuli before bedtime.
➜ It’s interesting to know if there are any other sleeping disorders linked to sleep-talking, which is why you must pay attention. Keeping a sleep diary may be a solution to monitor your nights, and if in doubt, you should consult a doctor.
Editor’s note: There’s no need to worry!Now you know all about somniloquy, there’s no need to worry if you talk during your sleep! However, if you have trouble falling asleep or if major stress is disturbing your sleep, contact a psychologist to discuss your situation with you in order to rediscover restful sleep.
🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now!
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