Also called parasomnia, sleep talking is a kind of sleep abnormality that can interfere with your sleep and with the sleep of those next to you. It is a common and yet, particularly frustrating problem. Typically people who talk in their sleep are unaware of their actions and of the effect that they are having of the quality of their sleep.
Stress is the most common culprit of sleep talking. After a busy or particularly stressful day, the brain is unable to ‘turn off’ and keeps ‘talking’ about the everything that took place that day. Other causes of sleep talking are eating too much before bed, not eating enough and lack of sleep.
There is to date no medical ‘cure’ for sleep talking, but there are some things that can be done to help with this situation:
Relaxation: Finding a good way to unwind could truly help the sleep talker’s nightmare. Types of relaxation might include things such as exercise (walking or yoga are good choices), prayer or meditation, massage or anything that might ease the stress of the day.
Hypnosis: There are those people that say that since sleep talking is not a conscious decision, that hypnosis, which deals with the unconscious mind, is a good option. Hypnotists feel that treating the disorder with hypnotic therapy has the potential to work well because it reaches the subconscious mind where the root of the problem lies.
Diet: Care needs to be taken with what is eaten at night particularly in the hours before sleep. Large, heavy, high fat meals are a bad idea right before going to sleep. Try to eat a light, nutritional meal before going to bed. Also, avoid things like caffeine, energy drinks and alcohol.
When all else fails, the most important piece of advice is to seek the help a professional therapist or licensed sleep specialist. At times, the only way to properly diagnose and treat a sleep disorder is by working under the supervision of a sleep center.