The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.

I Tell My Wife My Darkest Thoughts While Sleeping

by Liam
(New Jersey)

Lately, especially under stress, I say horrible things, that I might even feel deep down, in my sleep.


My wife and I have been considering divorce. When I wake up and she tells me I say things like "I wasted my youth on you." I also apparently yell.

Another example, "If you left right now I wouldn't care."

......I remember none of this. When awake though I am very under control, even happy (or pretending to be happy). How can I make this stop? It's very hurtful to my wife and does not lead to productive conversations. I know she is telling the truth. She also says my eyes are open and I hit my pillow while yelling. I am basically a non-violent easygoing relatively passive person.

Comments for I Tell My Wife My Darkest Thoughts While Sleeping

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 05, 2016
 i want my husband back the same one i married NEW
by: Anonymous

I know how you feel I have been married for 18 years I love my husband we have three sons in December the work was going quiet they said they might go on short time in January and Feb we had trouble with our sex life he had Dec than we went to a darts compition he had a few drinks and got behind this man called mojo and pretend to duck him mojo wife was there she was laughing about it just after that I heard my husband in is sleep saying I love you martin and he keeps saying in is sleep he hates me and woman it really hurts me he has never been like that before he and my sons are my life is sister died of cancer two and half years ago he kept saying the hospice let her suffer its making me feel ill I want my old husband back

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Sleep Talking Stories and Thoughts.



Enjoy this page? Please help us pay it forward to others who would find it valuable by Liking, Sharing, Tweeting, Stumbling, and/or Voting below.

About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?

A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:

Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.

If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.

More Questions:

Ask | Answer

The Stanford Sleep Book

Stanford Sleep Book Picture

Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for Sleep and Dreams since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.

In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.

Preface | Intro | Contents | Get A Copy

More Sleep Resources

The Zeo

Track Your Own Sleep With Zeo

A revolution in personal sleep tracking, the Zeo is a wireless headband that transmits your brainwaves in realtime to a dock (pictured here) or your smartphone. The result? You can wake up and see exactly what stages of sleep you were in during the night! Unprecedented personalized sleep knowledge.

Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

Sleep Paralysis Treatment Book

Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note:

The information found on this page and throughout this site is intended for general information purposes only. While it may prove useful and empowering, it is NOT intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgments of healthcare practitioners.

For more info, see our
Terms of Use.