Talking, walking
or acting while asleep.
Parasomnias are events around sleep or waking, including behaviours that happen when someone is not fully awake. The event and any injury risk matter.
These experiences are not all the same.
Sleep talking
Talking during sleep can be common and is often harmless. Other symptoms or distress may change what needs attention.
Sleepwalking
Someone may move around with eyes open but without normal awareness. Sleepwalking generally happens in the earlier part of the night and may not be remembered.
Night terrors and nightmares
Night terrors can involve screaming or movement while the person is still asleep, often without later recall. A nightmare is a bad dream that someone wakes from and may remember.
Acting out dreams
Repeated punching, kicking or other dream-enactment behaviour warrants assessment. REM sleep behaviour disorder is one possibility, but other conditions can resemble it.
Pat repeatedly kicks and punches during sleep, nearly injuring a partner. What is the better response?
Read the explanation
Potential injury changes the situation. Make the sleep space safer and seek assessment, rather than trying to identify the condition from the behaviour alone.
Keep safety practical.
Clear trip hazards and move sharp or breakable items away from the sleep area. Address risks around stairs, doors and windows while preserving safe escape in a fire.
Seek advice for frequent episodes, new adult symptoms, injury or significant disruption. Stress, insufficient sleep, alcohol and some medicines can contribute, but assessment may be needed to understand the event.