Do You Do Things in Your Sleep?

United States
February 19, 2012 6:37pm CST
I don't know about anyone else, but I've had trouble sleeping since I was kid. I used to have what the doctor told my mom were "night terrors" (probably has a clinical name lol), and I used to sleepwalk outside in my underwear, pee on the coffee table, and see things--scary things!--in that state where you're technically awake but not really aware. Things haven't been acting up lately. I've been getting steady sleep. But this morning I caught myself shoveling mini donuts into my mouth at 5:30am! I don't remember waking up. I don't remember getting out of bed or going into the kitchen. But when I was finally aware of my surroundings, I had a mouthful of white powdered sugar donuts and I was chowing down! I must have stood there and ate half the bag. I remember once my dad was yelling at me for being drunk and passing out at the kitchen table with my face down in a gallon jug of chocolate swirl ice cream. But one problem: I hadn't been drinking. I must have just been sleepwalking and decided I wanted some dessert. The last big "incident" I had was a few months ago. I was sitting up in my bed and trying to fight someone in my room. Of course, no one was there. I was screaming at the wall. So if there are any ghosts in my apartment, they're probably pissed off now. Do you guys ever sleepwalk or get into stuff you shouldn't when you're sleeping? I've read about those people who drive and cook and all sorts of other stuff while they sleep. That scares me. I literally had to be locked in my room as a kid or I'd wander off. I'd hate to wake up one day wrapped around a light pole!
4 people like this
21 responses
• United States
20 Feb 12
So i have never sleep walked before. But i can tell you some funny stories about other people in my life. So my boyfriend used to take Ambien to go to sleep and one day his mom found him on the backporch eating a bowl of fruit loops and she was like why are you on the back porch he didnt even remember waking up or eating that and then i gues she just came back to bed. Now he also used to get online with his Play station and play games and his friends would be on and he would be doing weird things playing with them they would say and they would call him and tell him that hes ambien tripping and to go to bed. Really crazy medicine i know that lol. Ok so now my mom used to take ambien as well and one night she took her while my mom, my and my cousin went to disney for a couple days and before going to sleep my mom kept talking about this band that was playing in the room and it was really crazy and she kept asking for her demon lotion so i dont know what that was about but it was really weird and scary. Now my dad elevates his legs at night. My mom kept saying this for a while and i didnt believe her at all so one day we were at disney again and he went to sleep before me and i saw what my mom finally was talking about. Its really crazy. Now i dont know what i do in bed because im sleeping but my boyfriend says i sound like im sucking on something or eating and i move my mouth at night and its not the first time ive heard that before either lol.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
20 Feb 12
I sleepwalked when I was a child but that stopped when I was about 12. The only thing I do is have what I call "screamer" dreams. I used to have them several nights a week, dreams that I knew were dreams but I couldn't wake up from and my kids got used to me screaming at night. Since my divorce and moving back east I've had very few of them, maybe one every few months. So I think it's just stress. I've heard of people that do things in their sleep just as if they were awake, that's scary. Some sleeping medications can cause that, too.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Feb 12
Yeah. I won't touch those sleep meds because I've heard some pretty scary stories about them. Already getting up and walking around is one thing, but compounded with sleep medication, it's hard to tell what would happen. I've had a bunch of dreams that I woke up really, really hoping that I'd been dreaming, but I can't recall ever having one that I couldn't wake up from. That's gotta be freaky. Thanks for the response.
@dodo19 (47066)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
20 Feb 12
As a kid, I used to sleep walk. My mom used to tell me stories about what I'd do when I'd sleep walk. I haven't done it in years though. However, over the last couple of years, I have done other things in my sleep. My husband has told me that I talk, make noises, and things like that. It's actually quite funny.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 12
This sounds about like me. My mom has a slew of sleepwalking stories from when I was a kid. I don't know about the noises and whatnot. I sleep and live alone, so there's nobody to relay the info. But I woke up one morning in the county jail's drunk tank with some big guy cursing me out. He was screaming at me that I keep him up all night snoring! "Sucks to be you, buddy, but I'm leaving in 20 minutes as soon as I see the magistrate!" As long as it's just some type of noise, though, I can definitely live with it. My pants can't take too many more donut nights. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
20 Feb 12
This sounds scary and funny, but I know this really happens. I have a cousin who also do things when he is sleeping. When he was around 5 or 6 years old, I saw him stand and pissed on his pillow. Then he also stand up and punching the air as if he is fighting with someone. The worst thing he did is when he was a teenager. Maybe he is around 16 years old by that time. He was sleeping one afternoon after he played basketball with his friends. Suddenly he woke up and we thought he is totally awake and went out of the house. After half an hour he came back and asking why he is in the middle of the road (he woke up while he is walking along the road.) And we all said "what"? He is a married man now with one daughter and I haven't asked what other funny or scary things he ever done these days (hehehe)
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Feb 12
I hope he got rid of the pillow before he went back to sleep! I've also been out in the road sleepwalking before. It's scary and disturbing to hear that the next morning. Maybe you should ask next time you see him. He might have more stories! Thanks for the response.
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
20 Feb 12
I have had full conversations with my husband that I have no recall of. Apparently one night i suggested that we get a hotel room for our anniversary and even gave him the phone number of a place. Unfortunately the hotel room that I gave him the number for was about a 10 hr drive from our house.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 12
My friend's girlfriend used to answer questions in her sleep. We thought she might be faking it, so he lit a lighter one night and let is burn for about 2 minutes, and then he put the hot metal part on her ankle. Nothing. So she was definitely asleep and answering questions. Talk about weird! And I bet your husband had some questions for you after learning about a hotel so far away that his wife had such knowledge of! But seriously - 10 hours away is like 2 states away for most states. That's a hike! How did you get the number!? Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
• Serbia And Montenegro
20 Feb 12
I find sleepwalking people scary. I`ve never had those kind of problems. I`m mostly talking in my sleep. But there are times when i`m not yet asleep but I`m dreaming, lets say that I`m walking somewhere. I trip in my dream and have the feeling that I kicked the bed. After that I`m totally confused if I really kicked the bed or not.
• United States
21 Feb 12
I get that all the time too! It's very freaky, isn't it? You can actually feel what's happening in the dream. Spooky stuff! Thanks for the response.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
20 Feb 12
no, when I sleep I sleep, and I wake up easily. I knew someone whose husband ate in his sleep. He did not believe her. He had been injured at work and was on disability and kept gaining weight. She had to show him the chocolate frosting on his face and pillow. I wonder what causes you to have these issues as an adult. I have heard of children having night terrors, but it seems they do not grow up to have sleep walking or sleep eating problems.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 12
I'm also seriously gaining weight from somewhere. I watch my calories and carbs, but I'm packing on the pounds. I think I must be eating far too many donuts in my sleep. I do always find crumbs in my bed and wonder how they got there. I keep buying those little donuts because it's a small snack that you don't have to feel guilty about. Well, that doesn't matter if you eat the whole bag I guess. I'd hate to have to purge my home and lock the fridge, but these sleep munchies aren't healthy. I had the night terrors as a kid. I guess they just evolved into something else. Tell your friend's husband that I have some choco minis if he's hungry! Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
20 Feb 12
Lots of things go on here while people sleep. My daughter is a sleep walker. My hubby eats in his sleep occasionally too. The only thing I do ( I have been told) is talk in my sleep. We have an alarm system in out house. So if one of the kids tries the door, it would sound off. Thankfully that hasn't happened yet.
• United States
21 Feb 12
With over 20 responses here, I think only 1 person said that they sleep soundly. Everyone else either now or has before walked, talked or ate in their sleep. Wow. I definitely don't feel as weird about it now! And I also hope the kids never get up and start walking around. I don't have any kids of my own yet, but I can remember being like 10 and hoping that my younger brothers (6 and 4 at the time) didn't pick up that habit. I used to be scared that they'd be out in the road and disappear. So I imagine that fear is magnified 100x when you have kids of your own! Every fear probably. Thanks for the response.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
20 Feb 12
Something must be bothering you deep inside? stress? trauma? you should have yourself checked or something.. But i tend to notice you always go for the food? lol donuts and ice cream aren't bad things lol but that is pretty scary you might fall on the stairs or something... get professional help i believe is the answer or if i am your parents i will tie you to the bed post but you take care please and get some help.
• United States
21 Feb 12
I don't know. It probably is something deep inside me--of anyone--that triggers an episode like that. But, yeah, I'm always after the food! The ice cream thing was like 10 years ago though. This was my first incident in a long time. So I'll hold off on the hospitalization for now. Thanks for the response.
• United States
20 Feb 12
I have never done any of those things. I just recently started having problems getting to sleep for a couple of hours after going to bed, so the doc gave me ambien. I haven't had any issues with it cause it is just the ambien without the cr. So after I go to sleep about 30 minutes or quicker after taking it, I sleep very well the rest of the night. I actually have begun to feel rested after I sleep now that I take it.. I used to get up every morning feeling like, I needed to be going to sleep now instead of getting up.
• United States
20 Feb 12
Feeling rested is something that has always evaded me. Even as a kid, I can remember going to bed at 10pm, waking up at 7am to get ready for school, and feeling tired all day! With that much sleep, you should feel rested. So I'm definitely jealous of you there. My night terrors were only occasional things as a kid. I remember sleeping a lot. But I'm like you in the sense that I have a lot of trouble falling to sleep. But I'm also scared to take that Ambien! I might go from eating donuts to breaking into a bakery and trying to make them. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@r3jcorp (1382)
• Philippines
20 Feb 12
I don't do things while in sleep, I am very positive of it because my husbands and my daughters are complaining for my snore. I could easily get sleepy and I cannot control it, I have to stop right away even just to have a nap. By the minute I am in bed, I get snoring and sometimes my daughter would wake me up for fear that I am having a bad dream. The problem is when I wake up in the middle of the night, I could not get back to sleeping even if I still need it. I will be up until the morning so usually I am on my computer, playing games or doing mylot.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 12
My dad can also fall asleep extremely quick and begin snoring. Me, I have to toss and turn for at least a half an hour before I sleep. I've bought a new mattress, new pillows, I continuously wash my bedding because I like the fresh smell. But sleep is something hard fought for me. But I'm the exact opposite of you when it comes to getting back to sleep. Weird! If I do get to sleep and then wake up in the middle of the night (usually to pee or to get a drink), I can get right back to sleep instantly. I wonder why it works like that? hmm... Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7477)
• Canada
20 Feb 12
I used to walk to the bathroom almost nightly in my sleep when I was a kid. Family kind of got used to it. Problems would develop when we were visiting or travelling overnight. Apparently once they had to rescue me during the night because I was searching for the bathroom to no avail. I have no memory of any of this. My brother says I once urinated down the furnace grate in our room in my sleep. I don't think that really happened though because we would have smelled that for awhile. I still talk in my sleep according to my wife and kids... but so do they. It isn't because of stress either. I actually tell jokes, laugh sometimes talk gibberish. I don't do any damage to anyone or myself so at this point it doesn't concern me a whole lot.
1 person likes this
• United States
20 Feb 12
This sounds like me. According to my mom, I used to pee in her candy dish and on other things when I would sleepwalk. And I know I still talk in my sleep. I've actually caught myself doing it. But I'm not sure if I tell jokes. Or at least funny ones. I also wasn't concerned about the whole sleep thing for a while. But after catching myself woofing down donuts like the last meal before lethal injection, I'm scratching my head a little bit and wondering what else I might doing. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@hunibani (720)
• Philippines
20 Feb 12
No, I don't. And you are scary! I talk while I'm asleep, but not like what you are doing. Heh. If I were in your house lol I would be running already!
• United States
20 Feb 12
I don't think it's anything to be scared of. My wall just made me mad one night, so I was starting a fight! But in all seriousness, I hope no one gets injured. So far, the only thing I've put a hurting on is a bag of donuts. Thanks for the response.
@hunibani (720)
• Philippines
20 Feb 12
And It is really scary, that you don't know what you are doing. You might injured someone or yourself.
• United States
20 Feb 12
I have had what some describe as "night terrors" as well! I often hallucinate--half awake and half dreaming. So I might shout or scream. It scares my husband. Sometimes I'll wake up screaming and can't remember what I was dreaming about. Sometimes I'll think I see bugs crawling on the walls or my pillow. These things vanish instantly as soon as I'm wide awake, but it sure his scared me and my family members a few times. I wish I could make them stop, because it embarrasses me sometimes. It's no fun to have a concerned family member run in because you're screaming bloody murder, and then sheepishly say, "Oh...I was just dreaming." :/ I suppose I should just feel fortunate that I've never actually had something bad happen!
@soulist (2985)
• United States
20 Feb 12
I talk in my sleep. My boyfriend finds it funny and he wants to start writing down the things I say so he can tell me in the morning some of the things that I have been saying. Sometimes I murmur, other times I could have a full conversation.
• United States
21 Feb 12
Well, he might not like what he hears if he keeps listening! I've wanted to put a tape recorder by my bed before, but I'm totally too freaked out to do it. Not that I think any type of ghost voice would show up or something, but what if you were listening and all the sudden you started speaking Swahili or solving physics equations!? If I'm talking in my sleep, I don't want to know about it. Thanks for the response.
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
20 Feb 12
It is a very scary thing when people sleep walk. They can get really hurt. And in your case lol can do embarrassing things. At least it really is a medical condition and your not crazy. I have never done anything like this. The most I ever do in my sleep in have bad dreams. I dont talk in my sleep and I dont snore. The only time I snore is when I'm really sick.
• United States
21 Feb 12
You don't talk in your sleep. Don't sleepwalk. Don't eat donuts. What fun are you!? But I'm not sure which I'd rather have. I don't have bad dreams anymore. Most of my dreams are fairly neutral. I think I'd really hate to start having nightmares again like when I was a kid, so if I had to choose, well, at least donuts taste good! Thanks for the response.
@MATT69AC (333)
• United States
20 Feb 12
I snore and I have heard I have talked a little in my sleep. I have sleep walked two times but I was half asleep half awake it is kinda hard to explain. I think it is pretty crazy what we do in our sleep.
• United States
20 Feb 12
I know exactly what you mean. It's hard to explain! I've found myself in that state a lot over the years. Some nights I'll wake up - and while I know I'm "awake" I don't know that I'm awake. It's just weird. It's like limbo or something. You're barely there but yet you're still able to function. Lucid dreams are also freaky - those dreams where you can actually control things. It's like you're just thinking, but every thought is brought to life in a dream state. It's definitely crazy what we do sometimes! Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@almond24 (1248)
• Hungary
20 Feb 12
I don't sleepwalk, but sometimes I talk while I sleep. Usually in an unknown or non existent language that nobody understands. I'm amazed how people are able to "take care about themselves" while they don't know what they are doing.
• United States
20 Feb 12
So you've created your own language? Nice. I also wonder about how people can really keep a handle on themselves. It's proven that you can fully function while you're technically "asleep," yet there aren't very many cases of people going crazy. Thanks for the response.
@bvinhas (10)
20 Feb 12
I'm not sleepwalking but I know people who sleepwalk. That person is my cousin and she would sleep during the night to pee bath and was behind the door of the bathroom. I've heard many times that we can not wake sleepwalkers. I also have a friend who is sleepwalking and his mother woke him up while he was wanting to walk, and woke. I do not know how it is possible some people walk at night but would like to know.
• United States
21 Feb 12
I'm definitely not sure, but I don't think sleepwalkers are actually asleep in the same way other people are asleep. But I'm definitely not an expert on the subject. The whole peeing thing seems to be quite common. I think that just must have to do with needing to use the bathroom! A person's brain probably knows they really have to go, but maybe not so much that they wake up. So they just go pee somewhere. At least it's not #2! Thanks for the response.
• United States
12 Mar 12
You're hilarious! I deal with sleep disorders but I don't think people would be entertained by my stories. Maybe you could adopt a strategy where you allow yourself mini donuts while you're awake so you won't crave them at night. Seriously though, it doesn't sound like you get into the deepest stage of sleep where you get quality rest if you're tired the next day. Have you ever done a sleep study?