Husbands all around the world just suddenly found something interesting about those sweat pants you sleep in. The possibility that you’ll take them off and want to have sex while you sleep! No? You don’t think so? How do you know? According to researchers, Sexsomnia can affect anyone. Do you know for sure that you aren’t afflicted with possibly the best sleep disorder ever? People! If your nocturnal emissions are uh, no longer a one person activity, have no fear. You’re not alone. Other people are boning in their sleep too.
Sex…too magical to be contained with consciousness.
The rare, but recently recognized sleep disorder does in fact cause one to have sex in their sleep. It can include the full range of sexual behavior, including simple fondling, sexual vocalizations, moaning and groaning, and intercourse.
Well, naturally the vast majority of reported cases of sexsomnia involve men, but women can initiate sleep sex as well. People with prior history of sleep disorders are more likely to experience sleep sex, doctor’s say. So if you do other things in your sleep, like I don’t know…debone a whole chicken let’s say, perhaps you’re on the short list of non-conscious copulation havers. I’m thinking this would be an awkward or awesome third date conversation.
Dr. Michael Mangan, PhD, an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire in Durham and author of the e-book, Sleepsex: Uncovered (First Place winner of the Danielle Steel Book Title Contest) says that sleepsex can even enhance non-sleepsex:
“The ordinary inhibitions that confine them to a routine pattern of sexual behavior when they are awake aren’t there. So they’re more adventurous and will do partner-pleasing stuff they don’t ordinarily do.”
So basically, the freaky-deaky should be expected, then? Well, certainly. But there are some drawbacks.
“It can be annoying to have someone pawing away at you when you’re trying to sleep, so you suffer from sleep loss.” Or “A man or a woman might show little interest in sex while he or she is awake,” Mangan says “But when they go to sleep they turn on and this creates the question on the recipient’s side: Are you dreaming about sex with other people?”
So, sexsleep conundrums. Well, who saw that coming? But, wait, there’s good news! It’s treatable! Yes, having sex while you’re sleeping is treatable.
If stress or anxiety is causing you to have sleepsex, you may benefit from mental health counseling. (Wait, the sex doesn’t make stress or anxiety better?) Good sleep hygiene — getting a full night’s sleep, keeping to a regular sleep schedule, and seeking treatment for any medical conditions you may have, are all said to be important factors.
So there you have it folks. Let’s keep all that sleepsex to a minimum unless you and your partner really, really, like it. If it’s causing strife, then well, you can fix it by being less anxious and stressed, which I thought sex was a good cure for already. I’m so confused.
Anyway…SEX!
