Sexsomnia (The Pleasure Principle)

I do hope everyone has been enjoying the rewards of summer, the beautiful rays of the sunshine, the firecrackers, the cookouts, family reunion, summer vacation, for college/school, its time to inhale and exhale.      
     
I would like to take the time to bless my medical journal with discussing a silent disorder, few do not know what this disorder is, yet, many have never even heard about.      
     
Within this realm we call life, we try on a daily basis to take care of our body with selecting healthier food, which would fuel the body, infusing our metabolism with hopefully, organic fruits and vegetables, we honor our two brain hemispheres with positive thoughts, and we love unconditionally with the four chambers of our heart.      
     
What if you had no control of your sexual desires, it becomes frightening to imagine going to sleep, whereas, your mind is in the state of delta sleep, yet the body is as actives as if it was awake. That is frightening juts to think about such.      
     
Be advised many parasomnias occur when the brain is not in a dream state      
     
Parasomnia      
     
Like sleepwalking, sexsomnia is a parasomnia, a sleep-related disorder that occurs when you’re in between deep, dreamless sleep and wakefulness. Behaviors during an episode may include fondling, masturbation, sexual intercourse, pelvic thrusting and spontaneous orgasm. Although you’re asleep, it can appear to others that you’re awake (recited-07-12-24-SKC).      
     
What Is Sexsomnia      
     
What is this parasomnia condition that few have never heard of, or has baffled the science of medicine, a disorder of the mind?      
     
Sexsomnia, is in relevancy to sleep disorders, which in the medical community we called parasomnias, which may include sleepwalking, those who sleep talk, many who have been diagnosed with sleep eating and sleep terrors.      
     
I studied this disorder in my undergrad studies as I prepared for my Master’s Degree in Nursing/ Forensic Psychology (Neurological Cognitive Disorders), it became a part of my dissertation.  
       
I became fascinated in regard to a condition that could be a blessing to others depending on how you approach it, or a hindrance to others, this disorder has ruined relationship or has broken up marriages.      
     
Let’s explore just what is Sexsomia is in more in detail and elaborate on this condition, I will utilize my thesis format for all gathered notations going forward.      
     
     
What Are The Factors That Seem To Trigger Sexsomnia      
     
There was a study by senior staff psychiatrist at the Hennepin County Medical Center at the University of Minnesota who studied this parasomnia disorder.      
     
It was later suggested the people who have a history of either talking in their sleep or sleep walking as a younger child unfortunately go on to develop the condition of sexsomnia or various parasomnia once they get older.      
     
I hope you are a fortunate person this condition escapes well into your adulthood.      
     
There are several triggers which, may or may not arose sexsomnia      
It is a known fact obstructive sleep apnea may be a trigger      
     
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSP)      
     
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep condition in which a person may stop respirations for for 10 seconds to two minutes many times per hour each night.      
Strangely so, Obstructive Sleep Apnea does affect more men, however, it is prone to affect women as well.      
During the cessation of respiratory, it is the culprit that triggers the arousal, typically in men, which is the result that elicits the sexual behaviors as a man is in slumber, and this is not what is classified as a nocturnal wet dreams, gentlemen this is more serious.      
     
These Are The Symptoms Of Sexsomnia      
     
fondling or rubbing      
moaning      
heavy breathing and elevated heart rate      
sweating      
masturbating      
pelvic thrusting      
initiating foreplay with someone else      
sexual intercourse      
spontaneous orgasm      
no recollection or memory of sexual events      
blank or glassy stare during events      
unresponsive to outside environment during events      
inability or difficulty waking during events      
denial of activities during the day when fully conscious      
sleepwalking or talking      
     
Can Medication Cure Sexsomnia      
     
The only know medication that seem to aid in Sexsomnia is Clonazepam. Clonazepam a drug which can be utilize for anyone who suffers from epilepsy, or who have been diagnosed with restless legs syndrome or  panic disorder, it is eh drug of choice that has a success rate to control unwanted sexsomnia for many, however, it may or may not help everyone.        
     
How Does Sexsomnia Work?      
     
Like sleepwalking, sexsomnia is a parasomnia, a sleep-related disorder that occurs when you’re in between deep, dreamless sleep and wakefulness.      
Behaviors during an episode may include fondling, masturbation, sexual intercourse, pelvic thrusting and spontaneous orgasm.      
Although you’re asleep, it can appear to others that you’re awake. Someone experiencing an episode might have an open-eyed, vacant look, Dr. Horvat says.      
(Cited 07-12-24-SKC).      
     
Sexsomnia Is It A Wet Dream      
     
Please know the difference, nocturnal emissions, which are commonly called “wet dreams,” are not the same thing as sexsomnia.      
Be advised to know nocturnal emissions are considered a normal part of male adolescent development and they are also experienced by adult men.            
However, some people, men, with the disorder of sexsomnia would mistake their condition for nocturnal emissions if their behavior is not witnessed by another person.      
     
I hope I have enlightened the mind to take the knowledge of this not talked about disorder, whereas, if you are suffering from this, or not, you would be more overstanding and can relate in depth if someone was to do discuss.      
     
May our soul gravitate on the wings of truth as our blended intellects search and seek.      
     
SKC Interim DON, APRN