Sexsomnia Exposed (KTLA.com) |
LOS ANGELES ( KTLA) -- Sexsomnia is a seldom discussed condition that plagues countless sufferers nationwide.
To the unitiated, it may seem strange or even a joke. But sex therapists such as Dr. Ava Cadell say it's a very real condition and she has treated scores of sexsomniacs over the years.
"Sexsomnia is a condition where you -- a man or a woman -- has sex while they're sleeping, and when they wake up, they don't remember a thing," says Cadell who adds, "the consequences of having sexsomnia include a lot of guilt and shame and embarrassment, when you have a partner who doesn't want your sexual advances when they're asleep."
Jessica Zellars, a patient of Cadell's, says she started suffering from the sleeping syndrome after a traumatic breakup. Zellars says the condition affected her dating life and "I didn't know what I was doing -- zombie like, intense, get what wanted, roll over and go to sleep, no memory of it the next day."
For the past four years, Cadell has been treating Zellars with hypnosis, reinforced by audio cds. Zellars raves about it saying, "hypnosis has saved my life -- embarrassment, secret, hypnosis saved, changed for better."
Cadell says the treatment helps patients get to a healthier, more relaxed frame of mind, allowing them to sleep in peace. By opening up the subconscious mind through hypnosis, Cadell has helped sexsonmiac patients replace their nighttime sexual urges with calming and relaxing behaviors. And for that, Zellars is greatful.
To the unitiated, it may seem strange or even a joke. But sex therapists such as Dr. Ava Cadell say it's a very real condition and she has treated scores of sexsomniacs over the years.
"Sexsomnia is a condition where you -- a man or a woman -- has sex while they're sleeping, and when they wake up, they don't remember a thing," says Cadell who adds, "the consequences of having sexsomnia include a lot of guilt and shame and embarrassment, when you have a partner who doesn't want your sexual advances when they're asleep."
Jessica Zellars, a patient of Cadell's, says she started suffering from the sleeping syndrome after a traumatic breakup. Zellars says the condition affected her dating life and "I didn't know what I was doing -- zombie like, intense, get what wanted, roll over and go to sleep, no memory of it the next day."
For the past four years, Cadell has been treating Zellars with hypnosis, reinforced by audio cds. Zellars raves about it saying, "hypnosis has saved my life -- embarrassment, secret, hypnosis saved, changed for better."
Cadell says the treatment helps patients get to a healthier, more relaxed frame of mind, allowing them to sleep in peace. By opening up the subconscious mind through hypnosis, Cadell has helped sexsonmiac patients replace their nighttime sexual urges with calming and relaxing behaviors. And for that, Zellars is greatful.
