Talking in your Sleep

Sleep talking is a sleep disorder known as somniloquy which can cause you to unconsciously talk while you are sleeping.

The sounds you make when talking in your sleep can sound like mumbles, gibberish, and ranting. You may also have complicated and coherent conversations. Sleep talking happens to anyone but it will affect males and children more than women.

Triggers

The most common triggers responsible for sleep talking are alcohol, sleep deprivation, fever, stress, depression, and anxiety.

Talking in your sleep is a symptom of various other sleep disorders such as night terrors, sleepwalking, REM behaviour disorder and sleep apnea.

Stages

Sleep talking tends to happen throughout the various stages of sleep at night. In the deeper stages of sleep when the brain is turned off, people start to mumble or talk gibberish.

In lighter sleep cycle while our brain is more active, sleep talking becomes more understandable.

Harmful

Sleep talking is not harmful to you or your health but will leave you embarrassed especially if you share a room with someone. Sleep talkers try and avoid sleeping when people are around as their talking can be annoying and disruptive.

Decoding

Many sleep talkers will try and decode their experiences, but the content is generally completely random or vaguely linked to past or present experiences.

Sleep talking will only happen outside of your conscious awareness, so, whatever you said can’t even be admissible in a court of law.

Sleep talkers worry that they will say something that will be embarrassing or problematic.

Duration

Sleep talking is typically short-lived and no special treatment is required. When it becomes a problem, speak to a specialist to rule out any underlying medical or psychiatric disorders that might be the cause.

Prevention

Avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol at night, and you should try and get a full night’s sleep. If you minimize your stress and anxiety, you will reduce sleep talking events.

You don’t need medical treatment if you have a mild case of sleep talking, but in more severe cases, medication or psychotherapy will be considered.