8 Strange Things That Can Happen When You Sleep
The human brain is so complex that we’ve never been 100% sure we understand everything about
it. Even when they think they have the answer to something, researchers are still cautious
about their findings. And this fact especially applies to the mystery that is the sleeping brain.
Sure, we have a measured understanding of sleep cycles thanks to MRI scans,
but we still don’t know why certain things happen. And when it comes to
sleep syndromes and phenomena, the mystery deepens precisely because
there are no set answers for why the sleeping brain works when it’s healthy.
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Now, nere are 8 mysterious sleep-related phenomena (some of which you probably didn’t know about):
1. Hypnagogic jerk. A hypnagogic jerk, also known a a hypnic jerk, sleep start, sleep twitch,
night start, or myoclonic jerk, occurs when a person's body twitches as they begin to fall
asleep. Before you start dreaming, your body is usually paralyzed so it doesn’t act out a
dream. But on some occasions, you might start dreaming before your body is fully “unplugged.”
During a hypnagogic jerk, your body might react to a sudden movement like falling or tripping. Like
with anything involving the complexities of the brain, researchers aren’t sure why this happens.
2. Sleep paralysis. For centuries, cultures around the world have tried to explain this
phenomenon using supernatural answers. Basically, it happens when the mind wakes
up during REM sleep (when the body is at its most relaxed, to the point of being paralyzed).
But researchers only know when it happens, not why. Today, it’s believed
that one in four people will experience sleep paralysis. Symptoms include breathlessness,
inability to move or speak, a sense of dread, and in some cases, hallucinations.
Sleep paralysis can be extremely frightening, and it occurs when someone is temporarily unable
to speak or move when they wake up. Scientists suggest that sleep paralysis occurs when a person
is passing through the stages of being awake and being asleep. When some people experience
sleep paralysis, they may feel pressure on their chest, or even a sense of choking. It can occur
while someone is falling asleep or just as they are waking up. There are many different factors
that may be linked to sleep paralysis. These factors include a lack of sleep,
certain mental conditions, the use of certain medications, substance abuse,
and more. If you experience sleep paralysis, you should speak to your doctor to get to the
root of the issue and find out what is causing your sleep paralysis. Your doctor may recommend
adjusting your sleep schedule while asking you specific questions about your health
to rule out the possibility of any other sleep conditions or mental health issues.
3. Sleepwalking. This disorder involves waking up in the middle of the night
and doing all sorts of activities. It’s a terrifying affliction because the person
doesn’t remember that they did it and in some cases, they can hurt themselves.
The causes of sleepwalking are a mystery. You’re more propense to be a sleepwalker if it
runs in your family, but researchers still don’t understand how or why it originates in the brain.
Have you experienced any of these strange sleep related phenomena? Keep watching for
some even more strange things that can happen to us while we’re asleep!
4. Sleep talking. Also known as somniloquy, this is a disorder where a sleeping person talks.
The things they say can range from mumbling to shouting, to long and complicated rants.
Like with most sleep disorders, we know when it happens during the sleep cycle,
but we still don’t understand what triggers it (other than hereditary reasons).
5. Nocturnal sleep related eating disorder (NSRED). Also known as sleep eating, this is
a type of sleepwalking that’s closely tied to a person’s conscious wants and desires for food.
It’s considered to be both a sleep disorder and an eating disorder because the person is
fulfilling a desire they suppress while they’re awake. Like with sleepwalking,
the person doesn’t realize they’re eating and they can’t remember any of it the next day.
Nocturnal sleep related eating disorder is similar to other sleep disorders such
as restless leg syndrome or even sleep walking. This sleep disorder most often
begins in a person's 30's, and can be caused by anxiety or extreme stress,
although scientists are still unable to determine the underlying causes. Sleep clinics which have
studied this disorder state that this night time eating usually occurs during delta sleep,
which is a deep sleep which occurs right before REM sleep begins.
6. Night terror. The difference between a night terror and a nightmare is that a
night terror involves specific actions. Night terrors involve screaming, panic,
sleep walking and thrashing around on the bed.
Like most sleep disorders, it’s believed to be congenital. However, no one understands why it
happens other than the fact that it gets inherited and it’s mostly children who experience it.
There are many different symptoms associated with night terrors. In children,
common symptoms include shouting, quickened heartbeat and breathing, thrashing, sweating,
and more. Night terrors occur while a person is in deep sleep. The person experiencing the
night terrors does not usually have any memory of the night terror the next day. Night terrors are
not dreams, but are rather a sudden reaction a person experiences as he or she transitions
from one stage of sleep to another stage of sleep. Night sweats typically occur roughly two or three
hours after a person has fallen asleep. This is when sleep moves from non-rem sleep to lighter
rem sleep. This transition from non-rem sleep to lighter rem sleep is usually a smooth transition,
however, in cases where a person experiences night terrors, he or she can become extremely
frightened during this transition, resulting in night terrors. Night terrors occur in only
about three to six per cent of children. Things that can cause night terrors include stress,
not enough sleep, adapting to a new sleep environment, certain medications, and more.
Although there is no treatment for night terrors, there are certain things parents can do to try to
prevent them. This includes reducing a child's stress, creating a relaxing bedtime routine,
ensuring a child is getting enough rest, and more. Although adults can experience night terrors,
they are more common in children. If you or your child begins to experience night terrors, speak
to your doctor to find out what may be causing the night terrors and what you can do to prevent them.
7. Exploding head syndrome. This painless syndrome
involves a person hearing an explosive noise before they fall asleep. It can
sometimes feel like an explosion is taking place inside the person’s head.
It’s considered a type of sleep disorder and an unusual type of hallucination that
happens to people who are in between being asleep and awake. The causes are unknown.
Scientists are unsure what causes exploding head syndrome, although some suggest that it
is possible that it is associated with minor temporal lobe seizures. Some scientists also
theorize that exploding head syndrome may be caused by shifts of middle ear components. Other
causes of exploding head syndrome include stress or anxiety. When a person experiences an attack,
they do not feel any pain, but may experience shortness of breath due to their increased
heart rate. Some people also state that they see flashes of bright light during
an episode. Exploding head syndrome most commonly affects people over the age of 50.
8. Out-of-body experience (OBE). While this isn’t a sleep disorder, it’s still interesting to note.
An OBE involves the feeling of “floating” or “observing” one’s body from the outside.
Out-of-body experiences are unrelated to sleep disorders. Researchers classify it as
a dissociative experience with psychological and neurological causes. It has nothing to do with the
“spirit” leaving the body and it’s most likely due to a temporary brain malfunction (Hines, 2003).
The human body is a mysterious and often puzzling thing. Sometimes our bodies do things that we just
can’t explain. And when we’re sleeping, we’re in our most vulnerable states. There are all sorts
of odd things that our bodies can do while we are sleeping. Some of these things can be explained,
while others...not so much. From sleep walking to sleep talking to out of body experiences and
everything in between, there is quite an air of mystery about what is going on in our brains when
we are sleeping. It can be a little bit terrifying - and even creepy - to think about, but as modern
technology and medicine evolves, maybe we’ll be able to get some answers to these questions.
If you notice that your sleeping patterns have changed, or that you have developed
a sleeping disorder but are not sure what is causing it, speak to your doctor. Try
to reduce the amount of caffeine you drink, and make sure that you are getting adequate
rest every night. Remember, our bodies need rest. Sleep rejuvenates us and helps
us recover after a long day. If you notice any strange changes to your sleep schedule,
speak to your doctor about what you can do to get you back on track.
What strange things have you ever done while you
were asleep? Let us know in the comments section below!
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