PARASOMNIAS: unusual behaviours during sleep
Parasomnias are sleep disturbances in which behaviours and physiological states that normally occur only in the waking state take place during sleep or the transition from sleep to wakefulness.
Nightmares: the worst of dreams
Nightmares are very frightening dreams and are likely to be remembered in vivid detail. The most common themes are being chased, threatened, or attacked. Nightmares can be a reaction to traumatic life experiences, and are more frequent at times of high fever, anxiety, and emotional upheaval. Sleep terrors occur early in the night, whereas anxiety nightmares occur toward morning.
Sleeptalking (Somniloquy): might we reveal secrets?
Do you sometimes talk in your sleep? Are you afraid that you might confess to something embarrassing, or reveal some deep, dark secret? Relax. Sleeptalkers rarely reply to questions, and they usually mumble words or phrases that make no sense to the listener. Sleepers can talk during any sleep stage, but most often sleeptalking occurs in Stage 1 or Stage 2 sleep. Stage 1 sleep, sometimes called "light sleep", is a transition stage between waking and sleeping. In Stage 2 sleep, sleepers are somewhat more deeply asleep and harder to awaken (about 50 % of the total night's sleep is spent in Stage 2 sleep). There is no evidence at all that sleeptalking is related to a physical or psychological disturbance, not even to a guilty conscience.