Crying is a perfectly normal phenomenon. People cry for a variety of reasons (for example, stress, physical pain, or challenging emotions) and in a variety of situations (like after a frustrating conversation or while watching a sad movie).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But can you cry in your sleep?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, it is possible to cry in your sleep,\u201d says Chester Wu<\/a>, MD, who is double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and acts as medical reviewer for Rise Science.\u201cThis phenomenon can be observed across age groups, from infants to adults.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But why, exactly, does crying in your sleep happen? And what can you do about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned, the answer to the question of \u201ccan you cry in your sleep” is yes.\u00a0But why? There are multiple reasons why a person might cry in their sleep\u2014and those reasons vary by age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBabies\u2026often cry if hungry, overtired, or from separation anxiety,\u201d says Valerie Cacho<\/a>, MD, integrative sleep physician and CEO of women\u2019s sleep resource Sleephoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More specifically, \u201cin infants, factors like misalignment of sleep-wake processes<\/a>, feeding problems, and parental responses to crying<\/a> can influence crying during sleep,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interestingly, a mother\u2019s mental health<\/a> may also play a role in if and how often their babies cry\u2014including in their sleep. \u201cThe emotional states of mothers<\/a>, such as anxiety<\/a> and depression<\/a>, are also found to influence infant crying behaviors, which may continue into sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adults cry in their sleep for different reasons. For adults, \u201ccrying during sleep can be caused by dreams, sleep disorders<\/a> or parasomnias, or emotional and psychological factors,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some common reasons why adults cry in their sleep include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Night terrors are a type of parasomnia (or sleep disorder) during which people look and act fearful\u2014for example, by screaming, crying, or thrashing. While a person having a night terror might have their eyes open, they\u2019re not fully awake; the terror is happening while they\u2019re still asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Night terrors are most common in children. \u201cNight terrors or sleep terrors are a fairly common<\/a> childhood phenomenon, affecting roughly half of children, and lasting typically up until age 13,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But night terrors can happen into adulthood\u2014and, if they do, they can definitely contribute to crying in your sleep. \u201cNight terrors can cause crying during sleep across different age groups,\u201d says Wu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Prone to bad dreams? Depending on the content, your nightmares<\/a> might be what\u2019s driving those sleep tears. \u201cNightmares can lead to a strong emotional reaction which can result in crying,\u201d says Cacho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most common reasons why people cry in their sleep is also one of the most common reasons why people cry in general\u2014emotions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cVarious emotional and psychological states, from stress to depression, can influence the occurrence of crying during sleep,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emotions can make you cry in your sleep in a variety of ways, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cREM behavior disorder<\/a> [also known as REM sleep behavior disorder or RBD] is a medical sleep condition where people can act out their dreams,\u201d says Cacho\u2014and while it\u2019s not super common, it could cause crying in your sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How? \u201cTypically during\u00a0REM<\/a>\u00a0your body is paralyzed,\u201d says Cacho. But with RBD, \u201cpeople don’t have this paralyzation,\u201d Cacho says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As such, people with RBD may act out their dreams in a variety of ways, including screaming, kicking, punching, or\u2014you guessed it\u2014crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you cry in your sleep\u2014and would you like to stop? Here are some tips to help you nix those nighttime tears:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSleep influences our capacity to regulate negative emotions and stress, including the management of crying,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, when you\u2019re not getting enough high-quality sleep, you\u2019re more likely to cry in the face of challenging emotions or experiences (like stress, frustration, or overwhelm), including in the middle of the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And then that sleep crying impacts your ability to get high-quality rest\u2014and you find yourself in a vicious cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you find yourself crying in your sleep, then one way to stop is to make sleep a top priority in your wellness routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEstablishing a consistent bedtime routine to create a sense of security and predictability and creating a comfortable sleep environment, free of stressors and distractions, can help you do that,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned, many people cry in their sleep because of challenging emotions and\/or mental health issues, like overwhelm, anxiety, or depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If that rings true for you, then the key to stopping those nighttime tears might be\u00a0\u201caddress[ing] any underlying emotional or psychological issues through counseling or therapy,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Working with a therapist or other mental health professional can help you better understand, manage, and process your emotions\u2014which, in turn, can then prevent those emotions from making you cry in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re prone to sleep crying, then it\u2019s also important to be mindful of what you\u2019re doing right before bed\u2014and making sure none of your pre-bedtime activities could be causing your tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cConsider what you are doing before going to bed,\u201d says Cacho. \u201cIf you are watching a sad and emotional movie or reading a book that makes you feel like crying, then these feelings may linger in your brain\u2014and could potentially lead to crying at night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to keep sleep crying to a minimum, then avoid anything that may bring up strong and\/or negative emotions before bed (for example, watching a sad movie or having a challenging conversation with your spouse).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, focus on relaxing and getting yourself into a good mood before you go to sleep (for example, by flipping on your favorite sitcom episode or doing some pre-bedtime yoga<\/a> and relaxation exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, occasionally crying in your sleep is no cause for alarm. But if it\u2019s beginning to impact your quality of life, then it may be time to seek medical help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou should seek medical attention if crying during sleep is persistent, affects your daytime functioning, or is accompanied by other symptoms of emotional or psychological distress,\u201d says Wu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should also seek medical help if you suspect your sleep crying is a symptom of a larger sleep disorder (like RBD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you share a bed, then remember\u2014you\u2019re not the only person your sleep crying affects. So, you should consider getting professional help \u201cif the sleep crying\u2026is disruptive to your bed partner,\u201d says Cacho.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crying in your sleep can mean a variety of things; for example, you could be crying in response to a nightmare or because you were feeling sad before you went to bed. In some cases, sleep crying can be a sign of a sleep disorder like REM behavior disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crying in your dreams can happen for several different reasons, like unprocessed emotions or having an upsetting dream or nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCan you cry in your sleep? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Night terrors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Nightmares<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Emotions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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REM behavior disorder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to stop crying in your sleep <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Get better sleep<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Consider therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be mindful of pre-bedtime behavior<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Seek medical help if necessary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
FAQs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What does it mean if you cry in your sleep? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What does it mean when you cry in your dreams? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n