Sleeping disorder? Answering the phone in my sleep?

This is, apparently, not a particularly common problem. It happens to me as well, and I have done a lot of internet research but found very few websites, articles, or academic journal publications that describe what people like you and I experience. In fact, when I mentioned it to my psychiatrist she admitted that she'd never encountered someone else with that particular problem. She told me that it is probably either A) difficulty waking due to not getting enough sleep (which it's not, I do it even after I've slept a full 8 hours or after an afternoon nap), or B) a form of somniloquy, sleep talking, which is considered a sleep disorder (parasomnia). I have a personal history of sleep problems, including sleep walking and sleep talking, so it would not surprise me if this was some form of a sleep disorder.

Whatever it is, it is very bothersome to me. In fact, the other day I picked up the phone, spoke to my mother, then ten minutes later got up and opened my door to her (she had called to say she was near my house and wanted to drop off some paperwork). I let her in, talked to her for a few minutes, signed my name to several papers, then told her I was tired and wanted to go back to sleep. I have only a very vague recollection of opening a door and then later signing a piece of paper. It scares me to think that I can do so many involved tasks while essentially asleep, but I don't know how to stop it.

I will keep checking back to this answer to see if anyone else has any insights. If not, then all I can tell you is what my psychiatrist told me - perhaps you aren't getting enough sleep so waking is difficult for you, or maybe you have a sleep disorder that is causing you to partially wake during sleep without being aware of it. All you can really do is warn your friends that if you don't sound entirely awake, you probably aren't, so they shouldn't expect you to remember anything you talk about. That's what I've done, and it has helped cut back on a lot of confusion in my personal life.

Good luck!

I don't know about making calls during sleep, but if someone calls me while I sleep, on many occasions I have had long telephone conversations, and have even made arrangements to meet people, but I can never recall any of it when I wake up. The people on the phone say that there is no indication that I'm askeep and I sound fully awake and alert. It's a bit worrying as I don't remember any of it and I could be telling anyone anything personal. I even once answered the phone, said 'F*ck Off' and hung up. I wouldn't worry about it too much, just try to keep your phone away from wherever you are sleeping, do you don't end up with a big phone bill. =] Good luck and Happy New Year!

This happened to me today. I answered a phone call. But strange thing about my case is I had silenced my phone completely and I have a lot of miss calls when I do that even when I m awake! and that means I have opened my eyes, I ve looked into my phone s screen and I have answered the call !!!

I wish this will never happen again and I wish there will be some kind of cure for it. Like some yoga stuff or something :)

I had this happen a lot when I was younger and I'm surprised at how uncommon it seems to be. Recently I wrote a personal reflection paper for psychology class and mentioned that this used to happen to me and I never understood how. Normally when we raise questions or things we don't understand in our papers, the professor will write a brief explanation in the side margin, but her response to that was "Interesting!" so I guess not a lot is known about this.

I did notice however that it usually happened when I was in the habit of going to sleep late and waking up too early. Maybe making sure you're getting enough sleep can help (and letting people know not to call you when you're probably asleep.)

Will the phone fit between your mattress and the box-spring? That would muffle the ring.

Or if you don't sleep walk you could try moving the phone away from where your sleeping.

Turn the phone to vibrate or silent?

It is probably just reflex to answer the phone, your subconscious is taking over while your sleeping, it happens to sleepwalkers/ talkers all the time (well, maybe not answering a phone, but moving around and answering questions in ones sleep happens all the time, phone answering is just an extension of that probably).