Sleep is the most essential type of rest that children need. A lot of body and brain development require complete rest which is possible only through a good night sleep. However, a three-year-old girl seemingly deprives herself of sleep and her unique condition has her parents fearing for her safety.
Jessica seems normal by the day. She plays, socializes, laughs and eats just like any other kids. But when darkness breaks in, the little girl’s “different” side takes over.
Meet the “can’t sleep girl” named Jessica.
The three-year-old tends to stay up all night like she never gets tired from a whole day of energy-draining activities. What concerns her parents the most is that she exhibits bizarre and intense behavior as she refuses to sleep. Her mother Tanya explains her daughter’s condition saying:
“In the day time, she’s aware that everyone else is there and if you spoke to her she would answer you. Whereas at night, it’s like you don’t exist.”
She’s behaved but lively by day.
Source: youtube
Afraid for her daughter’s wellness, Tanya allows Jessica to go to bed with them, hoping she would finally sleep quietly, but to no avail. This has been going on for two and a half years yet doctors were still clueless s to what’s keeping Jessica from sleeping at night. The kid was even misdiagnosed with epilepsy due to her frequently erratic movement.
Doctors have been prescribing a variety of medication that they hoped would make Jessica’s situation better. They also introduced exercises into her night time routine which they hoped would improve her sleep or lack thereof. All of these solutions though proved unsuccessful.
The family then consulted with UK’s leading child sleep clinics at Evelina Children’s Hospital. Finally, they found out Jessica’s real condition as experts there revealed the child was suffering from ‘Eidetic Imagery.’
But she’s extra active by night.
Put simply, Jessica has a 3D memory from which she can create a virtual, 3D world in her mind. Her condition is said to be one of the “countless branches that exists within the convoluted realm of child brain development.” Her Eidetic Imagery basically allows her to replay all her daytime activities and images during the night.
As a result, Jessica “dreams” of playing with her friends and resuming her daytime activities far into the night. This makes her mimic her actions of eating, playing or having fun during the night.
Although Jessica does not respond to her parents’ attempt to communicate with her during her “dream,” experts reveal that the girl is actually completely aware of what she’s doing. This fact relieved Tanya’s fears that her daughter might harm herself during her “dream” like most sleepwakers. But Dr. Paul Gringras of Evelina Children’s Hospital said the kid’s insomnia could have indeed led to harmful brain development should she be checked a little later.
After a couple of tests, experts finally found her true condition called Eidetic Imagery.
Source: youtube
The diagnosis on Jessica led her parents to schedule her for meetings with child psychologists and further testing. This has led to a new and more effective nighttime routine that ensures Jessica with a full night of sleep. Dr. Gingras explains to Tanya:
“Jessica knows that once she wakes up, she’s got this play scenario she can generate and she can do that in your bed.”
Although remedies were already found for this Eidetic Imagery, Jessica still allows herself into her “dreams.” But to ensure her cognitive development goes on normally, Jessica should make a transition back to her own bed.
Take a look at what Jessica’s nights are made of.
The Kid Who Can't Sleep
Meet Jessica, the three-year-old girl whose sleeping disorder baffled doctors before turning out to be something incredibly special…Credit – Barcroft TV