Since approximately one-third of our lives are spent sleeping, sleep disorders are directly related to our quality of life. Especially in recent years, there has been an increase in interest in sleep disorders to improve the quality of life. These studies sometimes reveal new sleep disorders.
Parasomnia (sleep/night terror), one of the sleep disorders, is a disorder also known as sleep sex. Some of you may know the name of this even if you haven’t experienced it. Because there are people who are sued due to sexsomnia disorder. You can understand why better when you read our content.
What is sexomnia, where all kinds of sexual behavior occurs?
Sexsomnia is the medical term for engaging in activities such as masturbation or sexual intercourse while sleeping. Night terror disorders include talking or walking while sleeping. Sexomnia, which can be quite annoying in this terror, occurs when the person gets stuck between REM and non-REM sleep stages.
“Could I have sexomnia?” If you are looking for an answer to the question, you need to ask this to your sleeping companion. Because people suffering from sexomnia are unaware of the sexual movements they make during sleep and do not remember any of them when they wake up in the morning. Of course, these actions may be actions that the person has never done before or will never do while awake.
Studies on sexomnia have revealed that men are more prone to this disorder and that it is most common in young adult men. But there is little information about how common it actually is. Researchers think that the incidence of sexsomnia is lower in people who do not have sleep problems.
Sexomnia is more than just dreams about sex.
A person who has dreams about sex may be performing some actions in his dream. However, the symptoms of sexomnia are different from this. Those who have sex in their sleep; He may also be more aggressive, shy or dominant. In addition to having sexual intercourse while sleeping, pelvic thrusting movements, encouraging the partner to engage in foreplay, and behaviors that imitate sexual intercourse are also among the symptoms of this disease.
It is also possible for the person to have their eyes open and stare blankly during intercourse. Spontaneous orgasm, moaning and not responding to the partner during sex are typical symptoms seen in sexomnia patients.
Why would someone have sex in their sleep?
Many reasons listed among sleep disorders are actually also valid for sexsomnia. While behavior and lifestyle may contribute, stress is shown as one of the prominent symptoms of this disorder. Those who use certain prescription drugs or excessive alcohol may also have sex in their sleep. Anxiety, chronic fatigue and exhaustion, anxiety, mood disorders, relationship stress and lack of sleep are among the triggers of sexsomnia.
Head injuries, Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome, reflux disease, migraines, sleep-related epilepsy and sleep apnea are also symptoms resulting from medical conditions.
Jan Luedecke, arrested for sexsomnia
While some sexomnia patients may be harmless, legal problems may arise in some cases. There is also a person who suffers from sexsomnia and is being sued.
Jan Luedecke, who was drinking alcohol and having fun with his friends in Canada in 2003, fell asleep on the couch at his friend’s house and tried to have sex with a girl he didn’t know at night. He wakes up when she kicks him off the couch, but he goes to his parents’ house a few blocks away and continues sleeping.
After the girl complained, they arrested someone for sexual assault. “That could be me,” Luedecke said, vaguely recalling trying to put on a condom. He gives a voluntary statement by saying.
When Luedecke said that he did not remember anything during sleep, Sleep Disorders Specialist Dr. Directed to Colin Shapiro. As a result of the tests performed in the sleep clinic laboratory, it is revealed that Luedecke suffers from sexsomnia and he is released.
Sexsomnia can last a lifetime if left untreated.
To treat sexomnia, the underlying cause must first be treated. In addition, medications such as antidepressants are one of the treatment methods. Therapy and stress management are recommended for people experiencing extreme pressure. Additionally, some studies show that obstructive sleep apnea treatment significantly reduces sexsomnia attacks.
It is important for those with sleep sex disorders to be warned by their partners and to start treatment as soon as possible. Therefore, if you see your partner unhappy in the morning, it is useful to ask what happened at night. 🙂
Bonus: This disorder was discussed in House MD:
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