Violent Sleep Behaviour

2025-12-21 02:29:25
Since childhood I’ve had unusual sleep behaviors like talking, screaming, and moving my limbs during sleep. This seems to run in my family (my father and sister have milder issues), but over the years mine has become more severe and sometimes violent. I have very vivid dreams and episodes of sleep paralysis, and when I wake up I sometimes struggle to re-orient to reality. For example, I once woke up screaming at my mother about being killed in a dream, fully believing it was real and forgetting my actual identity for a short time. There have also been episodes where I’ve kicked my father, thrown pillows or bags at a roommate, hit myself, and once tried to choke my sister with a pillow — all while asleep. I have no memory of these actions and no violent intent while awake. These episodes are distressing and frightening, and I’m concerned about safety. I’m planning to undergo a sleep study but would like guidance on the correct type of evaluation and what condition this could represent.
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Avoid fried and spicy food Water intake more Do connect and consult Will help you

Answered2025-12-23 13:30:51

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Need a few more details please consult for further evaluation and treatment

Answered2025-12-23 13:20:18

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Consultation with a psychiatrist

Answered2025-12-23 12:37:04

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This sounds like a sleep-related disorder (parasomnia), where the brain partially wakes up during sleep, causing movements, shouting, or violent actions without awareness or memory. It’s not intentional and usually not a mental health issue.

Answered2025-12-23 09:55:00

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Hello, I am Dr. Romain Rajan, General Physician. Ex-Resident, RML Hospital, New Delhi. Your case has been allotted to me. Based on the detailed history you have described, your symptoms are not normal sleep talking alone. The combination of violent movements during sleep, acting out vivid dreams, confusion on awakening, sleep paralysis, lack of memory of events, and risk to self or others strongly suggests a parasomnia, most likely REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD) or a complex NREM parasomnia, and in some cases overlap with sleep-related dissociative or seizure-like disorders must also be ruled out. The fact that this has been present since childhood, runs in the family, and has progressively worsened with violent behaviors makes formal evaluation essential. These episodes are not intentional, and patients are often completely unaware of their actions during sleep. What This Could Represent (Possibilities) • REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (dream enactment due to loss of normal muscle paralysis during REM sleep) • Severe NREM parasomnia (confusional arousals / sleep terrors with motor activity) • Overlap parasomnia • Less commonly, nocturnal seizures (must be ruled out) • Contribution from stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, alcohol, or medications ⸻ Correct Evaluation You Should Undergo • Video Polysomnography (Sleep Study with EEG + EMG + video recording) – this is the most important test • Neurology or Sleep Medicine specialist consultation • Detailed sleep history including timing of episodes, triggers, and family history • If indicated, brain imaging or EEG to rule out seizures A routine sleep study without video or EEG is NOT sufficient in your case. ⸻ Immediate Safety Measures (Very Important) Until proper diagnosis and treatment: • Do not sleep alone if possible • Remove sharp or dangerous objects from the bedroom • Use soft pillows and barriers; avoid sleeping near edges • Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs, and sleep deprivation • Maintain a fixed sleep schedule ⸻ When to See a Doctor Immediately Seek urgent medical care if: • Episodes are becoming more violent or frequent • There is injury to you or others • Confusion persists for long after waking • There are daytime blackouts, memory gaps, or seizures • New neurological symptoms (weakness, speech issues) appear ⸻ This condition is treatable, but requires proper diagnosis and tailored management, often involving medications and strict sleep hygiene. For a detailed discussion, correct evaluation planning, and step-by-step management guidance, you may connect with me on my WhatsApp number: 85271646 seven seven for this concern or any future medical queries. Through WhatsApp consultation, you will receive a comprehensive medical evaluation, guidance on the correct type of sleep study, medication planning if required, safety counseling, and long-term management advice.

Answered2025-12-23 04:28:55

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Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management

Answered2025-12-22 11:56:53

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Consult Psychiatrist

Answered2025-12-22 05:33:58

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Please consult

Answered2025-12-22 05:30:28

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Consult a sleep medicine specialist or an pulmonologist in your area

Answered2025-12-22 04:22:52

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If you want to discuss your problem in more detail, feel free to message me on WhatsApp at nine one one nine two five five six nine nine for a free detailed discussion*

Answered2025-12-21 13:22:11

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You need a superspecialist like psychiatrist

Answered2025-12-21 10:45:09

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Most likely diagnosis is  REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (with parasomnia overlap) test: Video polysomnography Specialist: Sleep medicine / Neurology This is a medical condition, not a psychological or moral issue,Effective treatments exist and safety can be significantly improved.

Answered2025-12-21 09:26:15

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What you are describing sounds like an ‘REM sleep and behavioural disorder’. We call it RBD. *The fact that this has been going on for some years dating back to young age, you must be screened for a particular condition called PKU (PhenylKetonuria). There is a blood test available for PKU. There are treatments which involve changes to diet and medications if this is confirmed. *The other condition you will need testing for is a type of epileptic disorder. So when you have sleep studies done, please make sure that they can also do your EEG during the study. If it turns out to be an epileptic disorders, this will need to be treated with anti epilepsy medication. All the best. J G S R clinic

Answered2025-12-21 08:43:13

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Kindly consult a psychiatrist to understand whether the issue is behavioral

Answered2025-12-22 09:59:48

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Consult sleep therapeutics . Specialist in sleep medicine. If you r from Hyderabad i can guide you
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For more details take practo consultation

Answered2025-12-21 19:05:17

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Psychiatrist

Answered2025-12-21 10:20:10

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Genetic problem

Answered2025-12-21 08:26:08

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