Stress May Cause Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that affects millions of adults and children throughout the United States. Sleepwalking is also known as somnambulism. This is a behavior disorder that occurs when a person who is in deep sleep gets up, walks around, or engages in some form of complex action. Sleepwalking is common for children and is also more likely to occur when an individual experiences sleep deprivation.  The person may not remember what he or she did and is often difficult to awaken. Sleepwalking can also cause someone to perform other behaviors like sitting up in bed and moving around. There are even instances when a person leaves the house and drives towards a distant location as a result of sleepwalking.

Between 1% to 15% of the population may suffer from sleepwalking.  Incidence of sleepwalking is common with adults and omnambulism is not linked to any mental problem.  So what elicits sleepwalking?  There are many factors that can set off the sleep disorder. Sleep deprivation, high fever, taking of sedatives and hypnotic drugs or alcohol, narcoleptic drugs, stimulants and antihistamines can trigger a person to sleepwalk.  A high degree of stress is said to be a great factor in this sleep disorder. Genetics can also be a factor for this sleep disorder.  The environment and medical conditions is can be a reason why a person sleep walks. Contrary to some beliefs, sleepwalking is not caused by sleeping alone or with some people, anger or if one is afraid of the dark.

When a person is sleepwalking he is has incoherent speech and does not remember the episode. Sleepwalking can have many forms like walking from room to room or from going down the window in an attempt to escape.  The person’s eyes look glassy and are open. He or she stares blankly when doing the walk. Children often awaken in the middle of their sleepwalking. Identical twins show a disposition to sleepwalk most especially if there is a relative who is known to sleep walk also.  It is believed that sleepwalking is inherited.

There are many misconceptions about sleepwalking. One of these would be that a person should not be awakened when he or she is in such state. This is unfounded and not critical though the sleep walker can be disoriented when awoken.  Another belief is that a sleep walker cannot be injured. Injuries from sleepwalking are cause when the person loses balance or trips over things.  Measures to prevent injuries would be moving furniture, electrical cords and blocking the stairs.

Those who have episodes of sleepwalking should see a doctor for diagnosis especially when there might be some other illnesses involved. When this happens to children, discuss with the paediatrician factors like medication, fatigue or stress that the child may be going through.  Hypnosis is also known to help people who do sleepwalking. This can be an option especially for those who do not want to take medications. Sleepwalking is a reality and should not be taken for granted.