Chances are that someone has pointed out to you that you’ve been talking in your sleep at some point. In fact, almost all of us have done it at some point, although when this behavior becomes a habit it is referred to as somniloquy, a sleep disorder that involves frequent and unconscious sleep talking.
There are different ways of talking while asleep: some people stammer unintelligible words, while others manage to pronounce perfectly understandable sentences and even manage to string together a very coherent whole speech. There are those who speak spontaneously, without receiving any stimulus, and others speak motivated by another person, who is generally their interlocutor in the dream. The curious thing is that on many occasions our voice can sound different from the one we have when we are awake and this usually scares the person who is listening to us.
However, sleep talking is a very common phenomenon, especially among children and boys. In fact, it is estimated that between 50 and 80% of children and adolescents have talked in their sleep at some point, a trend that is disappearing over the years.
Does sleep talking mean anything?
The content of the speech can be completely random and sometimes lasts only a few seconds, so there is not even time to understand what the person has said. Other times, the content corresponds to daytime experiences, which may be past or recent.
Many people, especially partners, try to understand the meaning of the speech, but in reality, it may be meaningless or, in any case, may be a manifestation of the unconscious that does not necessarily reflect what the person thinks or feels when awake.
We must remember that dreams are not always a manifestation of our deepest desires or impulses; sometimes they are simply pieces of everyday life randomly intertwined. At other times, they are memories that have been activated by some event we have experienced during the day or even by a sound coming from outside that our brain picked up while we were sleeping. Therefore, we should not rack our brains too much trying to find the meaning of those words.
The basic mechanism
A person can talk in their sleep at any time of the night and during any phase of sleep, although it is more common in the deeper stages. For this reason, people tend to talk more in the early hours of the night because as the clock advances, sleep becomes lighter.
During the REM phase, what is known as paradoxical sleep occurs, a phenomenon in which brain activity is very intense and dreams are particularly vivid. During this phase, muscles normally disconnect to prevent us from harming ourselves. Usually, the facial muscles also “disconnect” and the vocal cords remain inactive, but sometimes this mechanism does not work properly and we can pronounce words from the dream out loud.
We can also talk in our sleep during what is known as “transient dreams”; that is, daydreams that occur when we are not completely asleep but not completely awake either. At that time, the muscular disconnection has not yet been completed and that is why we can repeat some phrases from the dream.
Why do we talk in our sleep?
Sleep talking has a number of causes. Often, when you look deeper into a person’s family history, you’ll discover that there’s a genetic component. It’s also linked to other sleep disorders, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, or sleep apnea.
It has also been found that certain factors can make this phenomenon more frequent, such as periods of high stress, anxiety and depression, alcohol and drug use, lack of sleep and fever. In addition, it has been found that when we sleep in an unfamiliar environment, such as a hotel, we have a greater tendency to talk in our sleep.
What to do?
Normally, sleep talking is not a serious problem and rarely requires treatment, although people do worry about it because they are afraid of saying something embarrassing while they are sleeping. Therefore, it is not unusual for them to avoid sleeping in the presence of others, which can become a difficulty for the relationship. However, when this phenomenon appears abruptly after the age of 25, it can be a symptom of other problems, so it is best to consult a psychologist.
When sleep talking is a symptom of something else, it is necessary to delve deeper into its causes and eliminate them at the root. For example, if it is a consequence of stress, anxiety or depression, it will be necessary to work on these states to promote a more restful sleep.
When it is a problem in itself, it often helps to create comforting habits before going to bed, such as listening to relaxing music or taking a hot bath. Obviously, you should avoid stimulating substances in the evening/night and you should make sure that your bedroom will help you have a peaceful sleep, that it has a suitable temperature and is dark. It is also recommended that you always try to go to bed at the same time.
Reference:
Petit, D. et. Al. (2007) Dyssomnias and parasomnias in early childhood. Pediatrics; 119(5): 1016-1025.
