Since moving into my grandmother’s home, I’ve had a few episodes of sitting up while asleep and apparently answering a phone call. I used to only talk in my sleep. Could this have a normal explanation?
Why am I suddenly doing things in my sleep?
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Those things can happen during partial awakenings, sometimes called parasomnias. A person may sit up, speak, or seem to respond while still mostly asleep, then remember little or nothing afterward. The timing after a move or a loss can feel striking, but it doesn’t establish what caused the episodes.
Changes in sleep schedule, stress, and being short on sleep can all be worth considering. Keep an eye on whether it happens again and whether anything else changes.
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The phone incident could have been a brief, half-awake response rather than a fully remembered decision. If it’s easy to do, turn on a sleep mode or keep the phone out of reach at night. A regular sleep schedule and enough sleep may also help reduce odd episodes.
If someone witnesses another event, ask them to note roughly when it happened, how long it lasted, and what you did. That’s more useful than trying to guess at the cause from one detail.
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Because this is new and you’re also feeling unusually tired, I’d mention it to a health professional, especially if it keeps happening. They can ask about sleep quality, medicines or other substances, and whether a sleep evaluation makes sense. Until then, make the sleeping area safer and avoid anything nearby that could cause an injury during an episode.
Get prompt medical advice if an episode involves injury, unusual movements, trouble breathing, or significant confusion afterward. A short description from someone who saw it can help.
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