What Are Parasomnias — and During What Stages of Sleep Do They Occur?
Night terrors and sleepwalking are two examples of parasomnias.
Parasomnias refer to the strange things that someone may do or experience during sleep. Examples include sleepwalking, talking during sleep, or night terrors. Often, people do not remember parasomnias the next day.
In this video, learn what causes parasomnias and during what stages of sleep they typically occur, according to Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, Pharmacy Editor at GoodRx.
- Stacia Woodcock, PharmDStacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.
References
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Khan, I., et al. (2021). Exploding head syndrome. StatPearls.
MedlinePlus. (2021). Night terrors in children.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Sleepwalking.
Proserpio, P., et al. (2018). Drugs used in parasomnia. Sleep Medicine Clinics.
Singh, S., et al. (2018). Parasomnias: A comprehensive review. Cureus.