Anyone may experience some kind of sleep interruption throughout their life, whether due to snoring from a bed partner or other similar reason, but there are some sleep disorders that are nightmares come true. These are the creepiest.
Nightmares
Nightmares or bad dreams are episodes that occur either during sleep or at the time of awakening characterized by being undesirable experiences. According to the Mayo Clinic, the nightmare-based disorder, found within parasomnias (abnormal physical or behavioral phenomena during sleep) often causes significant discomfort to the individual and may even interfere with their normal daily activities. Some of the serious consequences include excessive sleepiness, increased anxiety and mood problems, and a general reluctance to go to bed.
Hypnagogic hallucinations
Hypnagogic hallucinations, or dream-related hallucinations, are not exactly a disorder, according to the American Sleep Association . About 10% of the population experiences them and people with narcolepsy, for example, are more likely to have a higher rate of dream hallucinations than anyone else. These hallucinations are never produced while sleeping but at the time of falling asleep or waking up. They can be the result of excess alcohol or drugs, or simply be related to insomnia, anxiety, stress or other factors.
Sleep paralysis
People with sleep paralysis are unable to move despite being awake. Our natural instinct is the one that keeps us immobile while we sleep in order to avoid unknowingly hurting ourselves. However, sometimes this instinct malfunctions and keeps us paralyzed despite having already woken up. It’s even scarier when combined with hypnagogic hallucinations.
Sexsomnia
It is a little-known condition with little research, but according to Psychology Today, this behavior often occurs as a result of confused arousal. While sleeping, these people are not fully aware of what they are doing and tend to seek a sexual encounter with their partner – or with strangers . Sexsomnia is more common in people with other sleep-related problems but it can also be caused by alcohol consumption or again lack of sleep.
REM behavior disorder
REM sleep conduct disorder is similar to sleepwalking , but rather than simply wandering aimlessly during sleep, people with this disorder can physically express perceived movement in dream scenes. Thus, they can scream, move their legs, hit, kick without being aware of it. Like sleepwalkers, people with REM behavior disorder do not remember what they did during their sleep. This occurs when there is inadequate signaling between the brain and the body during sleep, and can sometimes be a symptom of Parkinson’s disease.
