Pre teen sleep talking

[neondragonfly]

Last night I went into say goodnight to our nearly 13 year old. He's started being pretty emotional lately, no big deal, hormones are kicking in. We had a cuddle and a chat, he downloaded his day on me which I love because he's still talking to me!! No major dramas of late.

We both nodded off but he woke me up with his sleep talking. He was sat up right talking to himself, saying this like

"I really really hate myself sometimes. I'm so dumb, the dumbest in my class. I really hate myself."

As he said it, he was punching his leg, enough to bruise himself.

It was said with real anger in his voice, as if he really meant it.

I'm not sure if this was just a bad dream, his hormones talking or if it's something I should be worried about. It was awful to watch and hear. He just lay back down and went back to sleep.

I've not mentioned it this morning. He's gone to school as normal (if you're looking at the time of this message we're 3hrs ahead of the UK)

Any ideas to what's going on?

It doesn't sound like sleep talking OP. It sounds far too deliberate for that. I think it was his way of letting you know what he is feeling. You need to speak to someone about getting him some counselling.

I agree with FortunesFave, I'm afraid. I used to sleep talk and sleep walk extensively as a kid/teen. Whenever I did something painful or jarring (e.g. walk into a wall thinking it was a door) I woke up. I would never have hit myself, I don't think it works like that. Talk to your GP and see what they recommend.

If it happens again, I would 'wake him up' and talk to him in a concerned way. It might be his way of trying to open up to you??

Oh gosh, really. We don't really have a GP to to system here like in the UK but I'm thinking I should maybe talk to school as a starting point.

I was hoping it was hormone related combined with going back to school after lockdown.

When I pop in to say goodnight tonight, I thought it would be a good time to chat to him about it then. I'm assuming he won't remember anything that happened so will try and dig about things on his mind more.

I think he will remember OP...it's like we said, he doesn't sound like he was asleep.