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Excerpt from product page

Sleepsex.org
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Sexual behavior in sleep (SBS)

Sleepsex, "sleep sex" or "sexsomnia" or "SBS" is sexual behavior
that occurs during sleep. Some people seem to enjoy it and view it
with a sense of humor. However, it can be disturbing, annoying,
embarrassing and is a potentially serious problem for some couples and
individuals.

_"This week my fiance awoke me four times during the night. He put
his hands down my panties and started stroking my vagina and my
rectum. He groped my breasts. Both of these activities are things he
normally would do during sex - the nature of the touching didn't seem
out of character. I assumed he was making overtures and pushed him
away. An hour or so later, it would start again. The third time, when
I pushed him away he asked, "Am I bugging you?" The fourth time it
happened I got out of bed and went to the couch. I was furious. I felt
violated and like a piece of property. He is an intimate sleeper
always but this has never happened before. He swears he has absolutely
no recall. We have had some trust issues in the past so this is
particularly difficult for me to believe. I did a reality check with
some friends and they think it's sheer nonsense that he does not
remember anything. However, when I went to your site I started to
doubt their counsel and my own instincts. My fiance does have a
history of sleepwalking and bedwetting as a child. He told me once
that he made love to his first wife (20 years ago) and had no recall
of the experience. He has also told me in the past that sometimes he
wakes up and he is sleeping with his arm straight up in the air. I
feel like I am going crazy. I was married to a compulsive liar and am
terrified of making that mistake again. On the other hand, if he is
telling the truth I feel horrid for falsely accusing him of lying. I
am ready to end this relationship, which will be devastating for all
of us. If you have any insight into this episode, I would very much
appreciate it."__ _ "I noticed your site on the internet off of a link
from MSN.COM. Me and my fiance are experiencing a problem with sleep
sex. Most nights that she falls asleep for a few hours she starts
moaning and soon is masturbating and acting out sexual acts in her
sleep. She has spoke to her doctor and he doesn't seem to think
anything serious about it. She was put on an antipsychotic pill that
only seemed to change the pattern for a couple weeks and then she went
back to her usual sleep sex. She discontinued the pill at this point.
If you can offer any suggestions or help it would be greatly
appreciated."

_"Me and my wife have been having a very difficult time since our
marriage began four years ago. At night I become a very aggressive
person in bed only to awake to a horrified wife that knows all to well
what I have on my mind. It is only when she awakes that I realize what
is going on. I do have a very difficult time at night sleeping. I get
up every night. She has been so patient with me until recently the
unwanted sex has become more aggressive. Our marriage is on the brink
of divorce because of this obsession. She brought in an article that
explains sleep sex! I read this and to my surprise I am astonished at
what I was reading. I am looking a mirror image of what is happening
to me. Is this just a convenient excuse for men with a sex obsession?
If there is more information about sleep sex I would really like to
know. I am in desperate need of answers to the question of what is
going on."_

"We are in a very awful dilemma. My husband has sleep sex. He had
done this for years with his previous girlfriend. Anyway, his
stepdaughter from the other woman claims that when she spent the night
my husband was touching her inappropriately. When the police
questioned him yesterday he had to admit to that problem that he has
done all his life and he said he did not know if he had done anything
to the girl. He hoped to god not. My husband is the greatest man and
this thing doesn't bother me when it is between us. We will be seeing
an attorney. I know my husband and he would not do this. But he is
scared if he did."

As early as 1996, (Shapiro, Fedoroff and Trajanovic, 1996) SBS was
identified as a medical condition that may place one at risk of being
accused of sexual assault. Thus, if a person is aware of their SBS
_and_ takes it seriously, this knowledge may carry with it some
accountability for _not taking actions to prevent sexual misconduct_.

SBS is listed in the most current (revised) edition of the
International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-2), which is the
diagnostic manual used by sleep medicine practitioners to make
diagnoses. Although it is recognized as a sub-type of parasomnia,
"sexsomnia" is not included as a _particular_ type of sleep disorder
with its own diagnosis.

SBS is mentioned in the ICSD-2 and_ _recent medical research
suggests sexual behavior in sleep is a distinct form of sleep-related
behavior in the class "parasomnia" (Shapiro et al, 1996; 2003; Schenck
">Newsweek). A Web search will yield a number of information sources.
However, the community of legal and health professionals and the lay
public remain largely "in the dark" when it comes to SBS and its
clinical and forensic implcations.

In fact, when one discovers their own SBS, usually after being
informed about their behavior by a bed partner, they themselves are
unlikely to believe that could behave in such a fashion. Often this is
a source of conflict in couples as it is embarrassing to accept it as
fact. Even when one reports another's (that is, a person complains
he/she has been fondled, etc., by a person who clearly appeared to be
asleep), to a friend or health care provider in an attempt to try to
get some support and to encourage their partner to treat his/her SBS,
these persons cannot expect others to believe that they have
experienced unwanted sexual contact initiated by a sleeping
individual.

At present most people know that people walk, talk and eat in their
sleep. That sexual behavior also occurs in sleep is not, at present,
common knowledge. With increasing media and academic interest in this
phenomenon, this will likely change.

If you are experiencing problematic sexual behavior in sleep, and
speak with a qualified sleep expert.

REFERENCES

* Schenck, C.H., Mahowald, M.W. (2005). Rapid eye movement and
non-REM sleep parasomnias. Primary Psychiatry, 12(8), 67-74.
* Shapiro, C.M., Fedoroff, J.P., & Trajanovic, N.N. (1996). Sexual
behavior in sleep: A newly described parasomnia. _Sleep Research, _25,
367.
* Shapiro, C.M., Trajanovic, N.N., & Fedoroff, J.P. (2003)
Sexsomnia: A new parasomnia? _Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 48_(5),
311-317.

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Scientific research on sexsomnia (SBS) [last updated: 9-19-08]

If you have ever experienced SBS, please tell us about it! Your
story is important and will contribute to my ongoing research into
this disorder. All submissions are entirely anonymous.

1996: Shapiro, Fedoroff and Trajanovic first advanced the notion
that sexual behavior during sleep may be a new type of "." Shapiro,
C.M., Fedoroff, J.P., ">Rapid eye movement and non-REM sleep
parasomnias. _Primary Psychiatry, 12(8)_, 67-74.

2007: Paper reviews academic literature concerning sexual behavior
in sleep. Authors' conclude: "A broad range of sleep-related disorders
associated with abnormal sexual behaviors and experiences exists, with
major clinical and forensic consequences." Schenck, C.H., Arnulf, I.,
Mahowald, M.W. (2007). Sleep and Sex: What can go wrong? A review of
the literature on sleep-related disorders and abnormal sexual
behaviors and experiences. _Sleep, 30(6)_, 677-686.

2007: Paper reviews the literature on sexual behavior in sleep
comparing samples sizes of clinical versus Web-based research. The
advantages and disadvantages of Web-based research on sexsomnia are
discussed. Mangan, M., ">Sleep, sex, and the Web: Surveying the
difficult-to-reach clinical population suffering from sexsomnia.
Behavior Research Methods, 39, 233-236.

2007: Paper discusses the results of a Web-based survery of persons
with direct experience of sexual behavior in sleep. Among the findings
were that bodily contact is a commonly reported trigger for episodes.
Trajanovic, N. N.; Mangan M., Shapiro C. M. (2007). Sexual behaviour
in sleep: an Internet survey. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric
Epidemiology, 42(12):1024-31.
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IS THERE A CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS FOR SEXSOMNIA (SBS)?

Sexsomnia is not presently included in the Diagnostic and Coding
Manual/ (ICSD) as a specific sleep disorder. Nor is it in the most
recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the
American Psychiatric Association (a manual used to clinically diagnose
psychiatric conditions).

However, the ICSD, the most widely used classification of sleep
disorders, does discuss SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN SLEEP AS A VARIANT OF AN
EXISTING SLEEP DISORDER KNOWN A \"CONFUSIONAL AROUSALS.\" IT IS
RECOGNIZED BY LEADERS IN SLEEP MEDICINE AS SOMETHING THAT CAN AND DOES
OCCUR IN SOME PEOPLE.

Many people for whom sexsomnia has become problematic are too
embarrassed to seek help because they think no one will believe them.
I have received many reports from individuals who have sought the help
of physicians, counselors, and psychologists only to have their
complaints dismissed. Why? Because many professionals are uninformed
about sexsomnia. If SBS has become problematic for you, I suggest
printing copies of the research abstracts (linked above) prior to
seeking help. Bring them with you when you seek help from a physician
or other professionals (including clergy).
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SBS PUBLICATIONS

EBOOK (PDF) VERSION: US $3.00 . Upon payment, you can download your
copy. If you do not have it already, you will need to read the eBook.
ISBN:1-4010-3767-4 PAGE COUNT: 108

PRINT VERSION: US $17.84 BUY IT AT XLIBRIS.COM, AT AMAZON.COM
(KEYWORD \"SLEEPSEX\")AND AT MOST POPULAR ONLINE BOOKSTORES. SEARCH
ADDALL.COM FOR THE BEST PRICE.

In Sleepsex: Uncovered (2001), Michael Mangan, Ph.D. sheds light on
questions about sleepsex such as, "HOW MANY PEOPLE 'HAVE' SLEEPSEX?\"
\"WHAT CAUSES IT?\" \"WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT IF IT IS A PROBLEM?\"
\"WHAT ARE THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF SLEEPSEX?\" In plain language,
the author summarizes what sleep experts have written on sleepsex, and
provides a detailed and thoughtful analysis first-hand experiences of
sleepsex. Dr. Mangan's analysis reveals what direct experience with
sleepsex is like and how it affects those involved. (NOTE: AS THIS
BOOK WAS PUBLISHED IN 2001, PLEASE SEE LINKS ABOVE FOR MOST RECENT
RESEARCH.)

"_Your book will be of great value to the general public, patients,
sleep medicine professionals, and to the legal profession. Nice job."_
MARK MAHOWALD, M.D., PROF. OF NEUROLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
MEDICAL SCHOOL, DIRECTOR OF THE MINNESOTA REGIONAL SLEEP DISORDERS
CENTER.

_"Thank you so much for sending your book to me. I have used it
already in teaching our residents about the topic of parasomnias. I am
delighted to have it as a reference as this is an area on which I
frequently get consulted by defense attorneys and have already given
one such person your name and how to find a copy of the book. We have
had a few of these cases here at Rush. I must admit that on the first
one I missed cold and had no help to offer until I realized that this
was part of the same picture as the other parasomnias. The book is
certainly valuable in filling the niche for the legal profession and
for sleep medicine and for sleep clinicians to whom such patients
refer themselves for help."_ ROSALIND CARTWRIGHT PH.D., PROF. OF
PSYCHOLOGY, CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, DIRECTOR OF THE
SLEEP DISORDER SERVICE AND RESEARCH CENTER RUSH-PRESBYTERIAN-ST.
LUKE'S MEDICAL CENTER, RUSH UNIVERSITY

_Thank you for sending me a copy of your book. I think it will be
quite useful for laypersons suffering from this disorder. Thanks again
for sending me a copy. _DAVID S. ROSENFELD, M.D., NEUROLOGIST AND
SLEEP MEDICINE SPECIALIST, LOS ANGELES KAISER-PERMANENTE MEDICAL
CENTER

_"Thanks for sending me your book. I enjoyed reading it, especially
because it includes so many first-hand accounts. The use of the
Internet to collect data is original. I would interpret all of these
accounts as sleep-wake dissociations akin to sleep walking, sleep
talking, and nocturnal eating." _J. ALLAN HOBSON, M.D., PROF. OF
PSYCHIATRY, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
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LINKS

THE SLEEP MEDICINE HOMEPAGE

SLEEPNET

SLEEP-MASTURBATION.COM

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DISCLAIMER: THIS SITE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF
DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT SLEEPSEX/SEXSOMNIA. ANY INFORMATION
FOUND ON THE SITE SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS CONSTITUTING MEDICAL
ADVICE. ADVICE ABOUT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR DURING SLEEP OR ANY RELATED
PROBLEMS SHOULD BE SOUGHT FROM A PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED
MEDICAL/HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.

SITE MAINTAINED AND EDITED BY: MICHAEL MANGAN, PH.D.

CONTACT:

COPYRIGHT © 2000 SLEEPSEX.ORG. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS
ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM, OR BY ANY MEANS, ELECTRONIC, MECHANICAL,
RECORDING OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS.

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In database since 2010-01-14 and last updated on 2011-01-24
 
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