Some people with this disorder (and it can attack both men and women) have been putting themselves and others at risk for years. The disturbances have gone unreported for several reasons; some people are afraid, embarrassed or ashamed to discuss the problem with their doctors.
Many believe it is of no use because there's nothing that can be done. And that's where they're wrong.
The disorder is caused by unusual brain wave patterns during sleep similar to those seen in sleepwalkers. It can be treated with drugs such as Valium, or, even in some cases, with treatment used for sleep breathing problems.
Christian Guilleminault, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Stanford School of Medicine says:
"The aggressor and the victim are often both in difficult situations and don't know how to express the problem. They feel that there is nowhere to turn."
If you are a victim of any of the disturbances mentioned in this article, talk to your doctor. Help and support are available.
An excellent place to look for help or information is the Sleepsex.org site. After two years of collecting reports and conducting interviews with those who were willing, Michael Mandan wrote the first (and only) book about sleepsex: "Sleepsex: Uncovered." It was published last December.
