Is Husband's Nighttime Violence a Sleeping Disorder? Posted: 03-18-06 21:49pm
My husband is sometimes "unpleasant" when
awoken during the night-snappy, and
slightly agressive- he sometimes says
things he feels bad about and apologises
for in the morning. I have become used to
it, but last night he was exceptionally
aggressive (i had to wake him to help me
as both our 3 year old and our 4 month old
were awake and crying at the same time)-
cursed, called me names,and was really a
bit frightening. this morning he had no
memory of saying anything at all. He
remembered being up, and checking on our
daughters but that is all. Was he
sleepwaking? sleeptalking ? He seemed to
be awake- he was walking around, he was
also unpleasant to our 3 year old and put
her back to bed even though she was wet.
He remembers checking her and finding her
dry(?) He turned on lights, asked
questions and also managed to use the
toilet.
A few minutes after the incident he got up
of his own accord and agued with me
because he thought I had checked the baby
too soon after he did.
He has a vague memory of doing this.
Is this some kind oif sleep disorder? is
there a possibility of him becoming
violent towards me or our children without
meaning too?
It seems that your husband has a serious
psychiatric disorder, perhaps dissociative
hysteric neurosis or psychogenic hysteria.
Psychiatric disorders are not sleeping
disorders. He may become violent without
real attention to what he is doing and/or
will to overcome his violence. He needs
expert help from a psychiatrist to help
control episodes such as the one your
describe. You can consult a mental health
professional to help your family identify
and cope with your husband's behavior.
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