The bizarre sleeping habits of Brits revealed: From sleep-walking to sleep-drawing

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anxiety, drawing, dreams, families, painting, sleep, sleep deprivation, sleep-talking, sleepwalking, somnambulists, stress, writing

The bizarre sleeping habits of Brits revealed: From sleep-walking to sleep-drawing

A new study of sleeping habits in the UK has shown Brits are a restless bunch, with over 40 per cent talking in their sleep, and more surprisingly almost 10 per cent getting creative by drawing, painting or writing while in the land of nod.

In a survey of 2,000 UK adults, overall 42 per cent spoke in their sleep, with almost half of 25 to 34-year-olds continuing to natter away. It also revealed that women are more prone to sleep-talking than men, as 46 per cent admitted to the behaviour, in comparison to 35 per cent of men.

The study also showed that one in 10 people are somnambulists, or sleep-walkers. Sleepwalking usually occurs in a period of deep sleep during the first few hours after falling asleep.

While the exact cause is unknown, it seems to run in families, according to the NHS. Sleep deprivation, stress and anxiety, and drinking too much alcohol, taking recreational are among the factors that can trigger sleep walking.

The research commissioned by Ibis Hotels also gave in an insight into the mysterious world of dreams, with some 16 per cent of adults convinced that they had dreamt something that they claim later came true. Meanwhile, a quarter of those surveyed reported having a recurring dream for six months.

The peculiarities of sleepers across the UK were also revealed, as people in the North East were more likely to have recurring dreams, while a quarter of people in the same region admitted to dream cheating on their partners. But the Scottish appear to be the most self-conscious about their behaviour, as a fifth have had a sexual dream about someone and felt embarrassed to see them the next day.

Meanwhile, Londoners were more prone to having the same dreams as their friends and families on the same night. Residents of the capital were also more likely to be able to get back into a dream after waking up.