Sleep walking is one sleep condition that seems to affect a lot of people. There is also this condition that is similar to sleep walking, but it affects a relatively small number of people.
This condition is unbelievably strange to say the least. It is called Sexsomnia, also known as sleep sex whereby a person participates in abnormal sexual activities while still fully asleep and unaware.
This person initiates or partakes in sexual activities without being actively aware of what they are doing. In mild cases, a person may always start to make some moaning sounds which are similar to sounds made by people during sex while they are asleep.
Although sexual dreams are not considered a type of sexsomnia, in more severe cases, a person may actually initiate sex with any available person on the same bed while fully asleep. Some masturbate until they reach orgasm or stop once they regain consciousness.
Sexsomnia often causes self-touching or sexual motions, but it can also cause an individual to seek sexual intimacy with others unknowingly. Sexsomnia may also occur at the same time as other parasomnia activities, such as sleepwalking or talking.
Common symptoms include fondling or rubbing, moaning, heavy breathing, elevated heart rate, sweating, masturbating, pelvic thrusting, initiating foreplay with someone else, sexual intercourse, and spontaneous orgasm.
Other symptoms include no recollection or memory of sexual events, blank or glassy stare during events, unresponsive to outside environment during events, denial of activities during the day when fully conscious, sleepwalking or talking.
Aside from the physical symptoms that occur during episodes, sexsomnia can have harmful emotional, psychosocial, and even criminal consequences because this health condition causes them to initiate sex with an unwilling partner because they are not in control of their body or action at the time.
While other parasomnia disorders like somnabulism (sleep walking), sleep talking, and night terrors are widely researched and discussed, inadequate research and hesitance associated with the discussion of this disorder arises from its sexually aggressive nature.
These people appear to be fully awake during the act but often have no recollection of the sexual behaviour they exhibit while asleep, making this condition a frightful and deadly disorder.
Sexsomnia is a relatively new condition, but very difficult to study long term because it takes place randomly during the night. It’s first official case was reported in 1986. And according to a 2015 study, only 94 cases of sleep sex have been documented worldwide.
Most available research has found that sexsomnia episodes occur mostly during non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM), the dreamless, deepest stages of the sleep cycle.
This disorder has ruined the lives of quite a number people suffering from it and has left them in shame and confusion.
It seems impossible and unbelievable for one to initiate sexual intercourse or even rape a person without knowing it, a confusing characteristic for those witnessing an individual in an episode of sexsomnia is the appearance of their eyes being open.
Although the eyes are described as being vacant and glassy, they give the appearance of the individual being awake and conscious, although the individual is completely unconscious and unaware of their actions.
Even though the causes of sleep sex remain unknown, research shows the condition has clear risk factors, primarily medical conditions, lifestyle habits, jobs, and medications that interfere with sleeping patterns. Lack of sleep, extreme exhaustion, excessive alcohol consumption, use of illegal drugs, anxiety, stress
Some over-the-counter sleep medications used as common treatment for insomnia, have been said to result in sexsomnia as an adverse effect. Stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol consumption and hard drugs may also cause one to develop sexsomnia.
Many people have found that taking antidepressants help them overcome this particular sleep disorder, so also are some types of anti-seizure medications.
When sexsomnia is related to the use of alcohol or illegal drugs, treatment involves immediately stopping use or reducing the drug to a safe level of use.
People experiencing sleep sex as a side effect of prescription medications may need to stop taking the drugs or change the dosage and start maintaining a healthy, regular, sleep-wake schedule.
In addition to doing away with these drugs that may induce sexsomnia, people should quit living in denial or spiritualizing this disorder. There are conditions that only science can explain.
Nobody from your village is out to ruin or control you while you are asleep. You have a condition and it is a dangerous sleep disorder which requires professional medical attention.
Sexsomnia treatment may combine medication, therapy and lifestyle changes. Possible sleep sex triggers, such as stress and alcohol, should be avoided. Lifestyle changes to reduce stress and anxiety may also be incorporated into sexsomnia treatment.
Doctors may prescribe sedatives or antidepressants, which have been effective for some individuals suffering from sleep sex. Taking certain precautions, such as sleeping in a separate bedroom with a locked door, may also be recommended.
Sexsomnia treatment may require the diagnosis and treatment of underlying sleep disorders. Untreated sleep disorders can cause a variety of parasomnias, including sleep sex.
Seeking help can increase awareness and understanding of the problem and help both individuals and couples deal with sexsomnia in a constructive manner.
Before you are charged for rape, go and get help on time. See a psychiatrist, who specializes in sleep disorders for proper diagnosis and treatment. You shouldn’t take this sleep condition for granted.