Is your bedwetting a type of Parasomnia?
Parasomnia is the term given to a category of sleep disorders.
Many unwanted behaviours, movements or emotions can occur whilst we sleep. These include activities such as sleepwalking, night terrors, nightmares, sleep talking, bruxism (teeth grinding), restless legs syndrome, snoring and sleep apnoea.
Sometimes these behaviours can be extreme - for example, sleep-related eating disorder (SRED) where people get up and consume food during the night whilst asleep and then have no recollection of eating the following day.
Some health experts say that bedwetting falls into the category of parasomnias - but there are no precise conclusions about this.
The exact causes of parasomnias are not always clear.
These types of unwanted behaviours can occur during any stage of sleep, including non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Factors such as food and drinks, sleep deprivation, stress, certain medications and other medical or psychological conditions can trigger parasomnia.
Certainly when we think about our stressful modern-day lifestyles it’s not surprising to learn that many people struggle with this type of disorder. Late night snacking on highly processed foods, alcohol consumption, stressful agenda-driven timetables as well as blue light emissions from excessive late night laptop or mobile phone screen usage, all contribute to interrupted sleep patterns.
Treatment and Management of Parasomnias.
In the initial instance, it’s good to consider sleep hygiene. This means taking a closer look at the habits, behaviours and environmental factors that can be adjusted to help with getting a good night’s sleep.
It’s also important to manage stress levels and this can be done more easily by incorporating relaxation exercises, guided meditations and hypnosis into your daily routine for a short period of time, creating a ‘detox for the mind’. Talking therapies such as CBT and NLP also help with reducing emotional overwhelm, enabling you to gain a new perspective on problems.
The ‘My Dry Bed’ online programme for teenagers and young adults incorporates all these strategies for that reason, helping you to work through these problems in a more methodical way.
Looking for more structured help and support?
Take a closer look at my series of online programmes designed for different ages and situations:
Mini-course for parents, teachers, boarding school staff and medical professionals with resources to support you. Understand the problem and what actually works.
£47
The bestselling, structured step-by-step training programme for children aged 5–12. Guided meditations for improved sleep. No alarms, no medication.
£197
Training programme for older children and adults in their 20s. Practical advice, emotional support, behavioural change in the privacy of home.
£227
Alicia Eaton | Harley Street
Prefer more personalised support?
While many families find that an online programme gives them the structure they need, some situations benefit from more individual support.
Every young person’s experience is different, and it can be helpful to talk things through and create a plan tailored to your situation.
As a Behaviour Change Psychotherapist specialising in helping families solve unwanted problems such as bedwetting, I offer:
Online consultations via Zoom
In-person sessions at my London Harley Street practice
Ongoing support if needed
For more urgent cases and harder to solve problems, I can put together a bespoke package that can include home and school visits.