Do I Have Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Arousal Disorder?

Do you experience recurrent episodes of sudden awakening from sleep, usually occurring during the first third of the night, accompanied by sleepwalking? (Sleepwalking is defined as rising from bed during sleep and walking about. While sleepwalking, you are relatively unresponsive to the efforts of others to communicate with you; and can be awakened only with great difficulty.)

Do you experience recurrent episodes of sudden awakening from sleep, usually occurring during the first third of the night, accompanied by sleep terrors? (Sleep terrors are defined as abrupt terror arousal from sleep, usually beginning with a panicky scream. There is intense fear and signs of autonomic arousal, such as mydriasis (dilation of the pupil), rapid breathing and sweating, during each episode. There is relative unresponsiveness to efforts of others to comfort you during the episodes.)

Can you recall no or little (e.g., only a single visual scene) dream imagery?

Do you have amnesia regarding the episodes?

Do the episodes cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning?

Are you sure that the disturbance not attributable to the effects of a substance (e.g., drug abuse, medication)?

Do you suffer from coexisting mental or medical disorders, and can you confirm that they do not explain the episodes of sleepwalking or sleep terrors?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have non-rapid eye movement sleep arousal disorder.

While it is unlikely that you have non-rapid eye movement sleep arousal disorder, you are displaying some signs related to this condition. NREM sleep arousal disorders are most likely to occur in childhood. Between 10 and 30 percent of children have had at least one episode of sleepwalking. Far fewer adults experience this type of disorder. People who experience NREM sleep arousal disorder suffer short periods (usually lasting one or ten minutes, but in some cases it can even last up to an hour) of being partially asleep and partially awake. During such episodes, sleepwalking and/or sleep terrors occur. If you would like to receive more information about the disorder, you should visit your doctor.

While it is unlikely that you have non-rapid eye movement sleep arousal disorder, you are displaying some signs related to this condition. It may be useful to plan a visit to your doctor to discuss your symptoms. NREM sleep arousal disorder has a genetic cause. But there are other things that can increase the chance of episodes, for example, exhaustion, stress, sleep deprivation and use of sedatives.

Unfortunately, you are displaying symptoms typically seen among individuals who have non-rapid eye movement sleep arousal disorder. Scheduling a medical appointment may be very important in this case. Most of the children will get rid of the disorder while growing up. As a parent, it may be important to promote healthy sleep habits. If adults suffer from this condition, alcohol use should be reduced. If the episodes happen often and create danger for the person or their partner, it may be important to make some changes to the sleep environment. For example, removing sharp objects, locking doors, padding corners with pillows, etc. When the episodes are severe, medication can be prescribed to control the symptoms.