Sleep Disorder

I'm not sure my question is a mental health question or not. My boyfriend has some kind of sleep disorder. He goes to sleep but his mind will not shut down. He doesn't have a problem with breathing or snoring but talks full conversations throughout the night, he jerks his arms and legs around. It's like he's still awake but I know he's asleep. He also has nightmares and wakes up several times throughout the night. When he gets up in the morning he is so tired. Any help on this subject is greatly appreciated.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

There are a lot of reasons this might be happening, and there are sleep study centers at various university medical centers, and that is where I would start looking.

[imcrazy2]

have your boyfriend talk to his doctor about a sleep study to determine exactly what is going on.  This is not mental health, it's physical, but from what I understand is very treatable, and MUST be treated.

[terranova]

I suggest that anyone who has any problems sleeping -- whether difficulty falling asleep or experiencing deep satisfying sleep -- always try a melatonin supplement before seeking medical help (unless, of course, there's urgent danger which needs to be addressed by a doctor immediately).

Taking a dose of melatonin, a harmless OTC supplement, every night just before bedtime, is always preferable to other "sleep medications."

Give it a shot. It might not help. In fact, it may be unlikely to help in his situation. But there's nothing to lose and possibly something to gain.

[quinnard]

It sounds like your boyfriend definitely has a sleep disorder.  Please urge him to have a sleep study done ASAP.  I have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder (ideopathic hypersomnia), and one of my symptoms is spending too much time in REM sleep and not enough time in restful sleep, and as a result, I am very tired most of the time.  Your boyfriend may have a similar problem.  There is an excellent sleep study center in Columbus, Ohio that is very thorough, and they will definitely help get to the bottom of his problem.  Hope this helps, and good luck!

[Arsi]

Please can someone tell me how can I do sleep study, polysomnography course online?  

Thanks

[middnight]

i have a hard time falling asleep at night. sometimes i will fall asleep at 4-5 in the morning and sometimes not at all. i dont think or worry at night i am just relaxed but cant sleep. i have had this problem ever since i was a kid.

[Lol026]

When I had sleeping problems excercise helped me, mainly running.  Although I didn't have the same symptoms as your boyfriend instead I couldn't sleep.  The doctor prescribed me with sleeping tablets but I found running for 30 minutes 5 times a week dramically improved my quality of sleep better than any sleeping tablet and I didn't feel groggy in the morning.