Crazy things that people do in their sleep and how to help

Many people may mumble in their sleep or toss and turn. Some have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

There are conditions much more irregular than these that indicate your sleep quality isn’t all it should be.

If you’ve ever lived with a sleep walker or talker, you know that it can be pretty funny when they go about their night-time antics.

It gets a lot less funny when, say, your son gets up and walks out the front door at 2:00 a.m. (Asked the next day, he has recollection of neither getting up and walking out nor of your going out after him to guide him back inside.) Or suddenly hearing the voice of your housemate babbling on, then rising to a yell.

These are not all that uncommon.

Sleep disorders affect not just the sleeper

Parasomnia is a sleep disorder in which your slow wave sleep is disrupted. Slow wave sleep is our deep sleep, where our bodies truly rest. It is this phase of sleep that finds us sleepwalking, talking, and eating and when sexsomnia, night terrors, and restless leg syndrome occur.

Dr. Nitun Verma is a specialist in sleep medicine of the Washington Township Center for Sleep Disorders:

“I heard about one patient who, after getting the wrong sleep medication, sleep drove to Taco Bell, ate a ton of burritos, then returned home to bed. He didn’t remember any of it but put the pieces together when he found hot sauce packets all over himself. Textbook sleepwalking, which is a parasomnia.

“I remember another patient who is a high profile professor at a prestigious university. He suffered from exploding head syndrome, where he would hear a violent explosion in his head just as he started to fall asleep.”

Sleep driving and sleep eating are also parasomnia disorders. Eating while asleep doesn’t usually pose a problem–unless someone tries to cook using a stove or other appliance–but imagine driving while sleeping. Puts a whole new spin on yelling “wake up!” as the traffic light turns green but the car in front of you doesn’t move.

There are steps you can take to alleviate parasomniac activities and get a better night’s sleep; the implications of good quality sleep are pervasive to all aspects of life.

There are drugs that can help but by their very nature, any foreign substance disrupts natural sleep–better to try less intrusive methods first, beginning very simply with sleep rituals. These can lead to a more restful sleep with fewer awakenings.[1]

1. Relax before bed

Take some time for quiet rest or short meditation before bed. Deep breathing or a warm aromatic bath can help to soothe and de-stress. Warm milk and herbal teas can also help us to relax (just not too soon before bed or you may have to get up during the night to use the bathroom).

2. Regular exercise

It’s good for everything about you, not the least of which is sleep. Exercise affects your metabolism and keeps all systems in your body working properly. We weren’t meant to sit still.

3. Put away electronics

We’ve become so attached to our smart phones, tablets, and computers that they are often the first thing we look at in the morning and the last at night. Avoid this. Try shutting everything down (or not looking) at least two hours before going to sleep. Many studies have shown that staring at radiant screens before bed negatively affects our sleep.[2]

4. Cut down (or out) alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes

Alcohol is a depressant and may make you feel sleepy but having it your system when you go to sleep can interfere with deep-level sleep. Caffeine, too, is a big no-no: if it perks you up in the morning…studies have shown that caffeine taken within 6 hours of bedtime can affect your sleep.[3] Cigarettes, well, there’s nothing good about them; if you smoke, you can only help yourself by quitting.

5. Optimize your bedroom for sleep

Darken the windows, get a new pillow, adjust the temperature, wear earplugs–whatever makes you the most comfortable and least likely to interrupt your sleep.

6. Dream-state sleep

The second type of sleep disorder that can occur is REM (rapid eye movement) behavior disorder, or RBD. In the active dream state, some people act out their dreams but don’t consciously know what they’re doing. A story from Dr. Verma illustrates:

“A father was arrested when he dreamt his house was on fire and he ‘saved’ his newborn baby by throwing him out the window to firefighters below to catch. Trouble was, there was no fire, no firefighters, but he did throw the baby out the window (The baby was ok).”

Yikes.

If you or someone in your home suffers from a sleep disorder, there are methods you can employ to handle the episodes.

Don’t wake a sleepwalker–because the actions occur unconsciously, sudden awakening can lead to terror and/or aggression. Gently guide the person back to bed, speaking softly and soothingly.

A sleep driver should be urged to pull over, the driver removed safely from the car, and the keys hidden.

If you are the sufferer, place locks and/or alarms on the windows and doors, hide keys and sharp objects, and sleep on the floor to prevent injury.

There are circumstances under which a professional should be consulted: if conditions persist and all natural efforts to control them fail, dangerous or aggressive behavior manifests, or you are chronically exhausted.

The nature of sleep is still somewhat of a mystery. What we do know–unequivocally–is that good quality sleep is crucial to your health.

15 Things Truly Passionate People Do Differently

1. They get excited more often.

Excitement is the fuel that can drive innovation and success. Bringing a dream to reality takes dedication and hard work. When you can find the excitement in the project and renew the excitement with each milestone, it’s easier to power through the inevitable rough patches that can derail any project.

2. They devote their lives to their dreams.

Passion needs plenty of TLC. And when you love what you do and are truly passionate about it, you’ll feed your dreams with every ounce of love and care they need to succeed. It can be a risk, but they devote their lives to accomplishing their goals.

3. They surround themselves with their works.

When you find something you love, it starts to become part of your life. Truly passionate people find ways to incorporate their work into every aspect of their life. Whether you begin spending time with other people who are helping bring your passion to life or just take your work with you everywhere you go, your dreams become part of your daily life.

4. They think positively about the future.

When you’re passionate, you believe in yourself. You have a belief that things will work out, because you believe so strongly in what you’re doing. Passionate people look forward to the future and embrace the challenges that it will bring.

5. They always have their passion on their mind.

Passion evokes a razor-like focus and drive. Whether they are driving to work, reading a book, playing with their kids, or laying at bed at night, they have their passion on their mind. They are always looking for ways to improve a process, finding solutions for their roadblocks in everyday life and applying them to their work.

6. They are willing to take risks.

No guts. No glory. Someone who’s passionate must take risks to succeed. Whether it’s putting their life savings on the line, leave a steady job to pursue their dreams, or turn down more lucrative offers with less upside, passionate people will take risks to deliver on their dreams.

7. They accept consequences.

Many people are willing to take risks, but when those backfire, many people jump ship. Truly passionate people accept their new circumstances and keep moving forward. Whether the news is good or bad, they continue on the same.

8. They make their passions a priority.

Passions without priority? Those are hobbies! They find ways to make sure they spend the time and effort to grow their passion and make their dreams come true. If you want to truly succeed, find what you’re passionate about and truly believe in and make it a priority.

9. They don’t back down.

People will doubt you. They will mock you and remind you of each and every failure. Truly passionate people won’t back down. The criticism and skepticism only fuel the fire. They never give in.

10. They have unbelievable focus.

There are distractions everywhere. Truly passionate people don’t let anything between them and their dreams. When you believe in something so strongly and dedicate your life to it, maintaining focus can be challenging. The truly passionate people succeed by limiting distractions and keeping their eye on the prize.

11. They take it to the next level.

Going through the motions is not an option. Passionate people bring it everyday. And they up their game. They work harder, practice more, spend the time to master the details, and do everything better.

12. They create a roadmap for their dreams.

When you believe in something so strongly, you can see it happen. But the difference in being a dreamer and a champion is the roadmap that gets you there. Truly passionate people leave nothing to chance, developing a plan for each step and understanding that this roadmap will evolve and shift, but ultimately lead them to the ultimate goal.

13. They inspire others.

Passion is contagious. Whether it’s the people you work with, your family, or those you meet on a daily basis, passion can rub off. If you’re having trouble finding that passion, find people who are doing great things and spend time with them. You’ll often times find that they will inspire you to follow your own dreams.

14. They overcome failure.

Failure is inevitable and comes in many forms. Rejection of a grant, dismissal of an idea, or a idea that didn’t work out. When you’re blazing new trails, obstacles will stand in the way. Passionate people learn to overcome their failures and become better because of it. The roadblocks become a source of pride and overcoming them renews their passion rather than squashing it.

15. They radiate their passion.

If you meet someone who’s truly passionate, you will know. Every part of their being seems to radiate the passion they bring each and every day.

7 Reasons Subconscious Mind Is My Guide

What is subconsciousness? I’m sure that nowadays many people have no idea of this notion. What can I say about people, even if scientists can’t finally unravel the power of subconscious mind and teach humanity to use the abilities of their senses? I think that subconsciousness is a type of mind that exerts great influence on my thinking, behavior, feelings and emotions. I believe that it holds the answers to all my questions. The only secret is to find the key to this under-explored type of mind.

I’m a highly sensitive person that’s why I often pay attention to my inner world. Moreover, I try to explore my subconscious mind in order to live in accord with myself and others. I believe that subconsciousness can help me form a success oriented consciousness. Wise people say that those who have total control over subconsciousness are strong and happy people. They are free from tears, diffidence and anger.

I’ve understood that my subconscious mind is a good guide. Its secrets and resources can stimulate my growth and development. If something doesn’t go my way in life, I try to plunge into my subconsciousness, because I know that all answers are inside my mind.

1. My intuition is a wonderful advisor

One of the most difficult things in life is to take a right decision. I have often hesitated whether to do something or not, because I feared to make mistakes and spoil my life. A bit later, I realized that fear and inaction were far worse than just making mistakes.

Every time I have to take a decision, I tend to listen to the voice of my intuition. It has never put me in a spot. Furthermore, if something happens wrong, I’ll never regret about my decision, because it’s my will and choice.

My best friend’s dad is a very authoritative and rich person. Once he told me that when he couldn’t find an efficient solution to some kind of a problem, he always listened to his intuition. Since that day I decided to follow my internal compass in order to reach my goals in future. I was sure that my intuition could open up new perspectives.

2. My dreams carry valuable information

Even ancient people treated their night dreams as something sacred. They interpreted their dreams and followed the signs. I believe that dreams are the forgotten language of human beings. It seems to me that every dream carries valuable information and hints. If people could analyze and interpret their dreams, they would be able to prevent many problems and misfortunes.

I treat the language of dreams seriously, because I think that my subconscious mind uses dreams, as if trying to tell me something or warn about things that are going to happen.

I have had a lot of prophetic dreams. At first, I didn’t pay too much attention to them. But then I noticed that some of those dreams came true. I decided to take advantage of that ability. I bought a book of dream interpretation in order to understand the messages of my subconsciousness. Nowadays, when I have a prophetic dream, I use this book. My dreams help me find the reason of my inner disharmony.

As a creative person I always try to draw inspiration from everything I feel and experience. Sometimes, dreams feed my imagination and help me create new masterpieces. Dreams can be both positive and negative. I’m an optimist and I prefer to focus more on good and pleasant ones.

3. My subconsciousness can heal me

I want to confess that I’m terrified of hospitals. When I fall ill, I tend to resort to non-traditional therapies. Some people use herbs, others prefer medicines, but my choice is the power of mind. I believe that the way of thinking plays an important role in the formation of my well-being. I know that consciousness and body are tightly interconnected. I try to convince myself that my body is able to recover without medicines. I tell myself that I’ll never fall seriously ill, because I’m the healthiest person in the world.

Human body is a unique and self-healing mechanism. It can heal wounds and kill infections without antibiotics. When I feel bad, I go to sleep. I imagine that every cell of my body struggles against different kinds of bacteria. My body is the best doctor. Sure, it doesn’t mean that you should never consult doctors. If you have a serious disease, you should see your doctor regularly.

4. It helps me accept the truth of life

Have you ever dreamt about living your life without problems? Do you think that life without problems is better? I think that banal and absolutely carefree life isn’t interesting, because difficulties remain the most important and significant part of human existence. That’s why I don’t try to avoid problems, but treat them as opportunities.

I surmise that my subconscious mind sends me problems in order to show that I’m doing something wrong. As a confident person, I begin to find solutions to my issues. Consequently, I have a chance to change something in my life for better. Problems are the best source of opportunities. This little truth has become my life motto.

5. I can improve my relationships with people around me

It may seem strange, but my subconscious mind assists me in building healthy relationships with people around me. As a sensitive person, I feel the aura of people I’m talking with. Moreover, my intuition often prompts me whether to communicate with somebody or not. I don’t make friends with negative people, but I treat them with respect.

My subconsciousness hints me how to behave and find the best way out of different situations. I can spend hours thinking about interpersonal issues. I connect with my subconsciousness, trying to decode its signals and understand how to act. Furthermore, I always try to cultivate the mind of a successful person, because I know that positive and successful people attract good luck.

6. I could easily find my calling

When I was a teenager, I couldn’t make a right choice. The most challenging thing was to find my calling in life, no one, except me, knew what I really wanted to be. One of my friends advised me to listen to my heart and ignore the pressure of my family. After a considerable reflection on my lifestyle, I came to a conclusion that I wanted to be a teacher. I analyzed my interests and hobbies. I weighed all pros and cons of that profession and realized that my subconscious and conscious minds want to be a teacher too.

7. I can solve my inner conflicts

Cooperation with my subconscious mind is the best therapy for me. I don’t let inner conflicts ruin my life by chronic worries and depressive thoughts. If I have a problem, I ask my subconscious mind for the answer. Consequently, it tells me what’s wrong and I start doing something, because I’m not used to get caught in an endless loop of negativity. I know that it’s very hard to understand what’s in your head, but I work with myself.

In conclusion, I want to mention that subconscious mind is the key to a successful life. People can change their vision of the world, emotions, feelings and habits. Try to cognize yourself and you’ll be able to find your calling, attract wonderful people and develop new abilities.

I’m not afraid of different life tests. They’re not problems for me; they’re valuable opportunities and experience. This life approach helps me keep an active lifestyle and never give up. Have you ever used your subconsciousness to your advantage? Share your thoughts, please!