Have you ever been disorientied after being awakened from a deep sleep? A state of feeling confused or unsure of the surroundings around you? This could be an episode of sleep drunkenness.
According to experts at Healthline, Sleep drunkenness is when your brain has a particularly challenging time waking up, leading to feelings of confusion and grogginess. An individual experiencing sleep drunkenness would feel like being drunk even without consuming alcohol the night before.
What are the symptoms of sleep drunkenness?
Some of the symptoms include confusion on waking up, startled reflexes or blunt responses. Some individuals may even experience physical aggressiveness, slow speech and poor memory.
Why do some experience sleep drunkenness?
Poor quality or not enough sleep, consumption of certain medications, including some types of antidepressants, can be a reason to trigger the condition.
As per Cleveland Clinic, a sleep disorder like sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or insomnia, regular consumption of alcohol or even a mental health condition like panic disorder, bipolar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause sleep drunkenness.
Is it dangerous?
“If it happens once a year and no one gets hurt, you probably don’t need treatment,” says Dr. Martinez-Gonzalez, a sleep specialist to the Cleveland Clinic.
"But in some rare cases, people have harmed themselves or others while sleep drunk. “Some people end up sleeping in separate rooms, and that can have a negative impact on you and your partner,” he added.
Treatment:
Having a proper sleep schedule and staying consistent is important. Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages or caffeinated beverages close to bedtime. Reduce screen time before bedtime as well.
For more information, consult a health expert.