The person who wrote this morning mentioned harboring no anger toward his wife. However, because of his sleep behavior, she was becoming afraid of him. When he wakes up in the morning, he has no recollection of his behavior, as is common in this type of episode.
An article published by the BBC News reported much the same thing. According to the news item, violence in sleep is a lot more common than previously thought. Many people, frightened or ashamed, don't come forward to report these events in their lives.
Dr. Peter Fenwick, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist and Neurophysiologist , Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London reports that the most common behavior includes kicking, hitting, and putting their hands around their partner's neck.
Dr. Fenwick also said that US studies indicated up to four in every 10 men in the US suffered from some sort of sleep disorder and one in seven could become violent.
According to the doctor, this isn't something new. Indeed, there is a record of a knight, back in the 1600s, who stabbed his friend to death in his sleep.
There can be numerous causes, including sleep walking and confusion when suddenly awakened, as might happen with someone suffering from sleep apnea. Another possibility is REM (rapid eye movement) disorders. Ordinarily, during this phase of sleep, when drams occur, the muscles of the body are paralyzed. If, for some reason, this paralysis isn't present, a person may act out a violent dream.
Another cause might be post-traumatic stress disorder where memories of violence erupt during sleep. A typical case would be that suffered by soldiers returning from the front.
CHOCOLATE AND NIGHTMARES
Another news item tells us that people who tend to act out their violent dreams should avoid chocolate. Apparently there is something in this delightful sweet that aggravates the condition.Don't worry. If you don't suffer from this condition, the chocolate won't bring it on. However, it is documented. Dr. Robert Vorona of the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia says that it's perhaps the caffeine in chocolate that causes the absence of paralysis during dreams.
Be assured that violence during sleep does exist and is not an isolated problem. Talk to your doctor if you or a loved one suffers from this disorder. He may be able to help.
