Definition: From the Latin meaning "around sleep," it is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal sleep behaviors. Parasomnias involve unconscious complex, semi-purposeful, and goal-directed behaviors that have meaning or importance to the individual. These can include night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep eating, sleep sex, rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder, or any number of potential behaviors that occur while the person remains asleep.
Pronunciation: pare-uh-som-nee-uh
Examples: I tend to have parasomnia behaviors when I am stressed out.
