Sleepwalking Happens During The Early Stages Of Sleep

If you, or someone you know has ever dealt with sleepwalking, then you know just how confusing this condition can be. While sleepwalking, an individual can move about, walk and even perform everyday tasks in a sleep-like state.

In most situations, they do not remember anything. While children are more likely to sleepwalk than adults—any one at any age can deal with sleepwalking. While some people think that sleep walking is “acting out” a dream, sleepwalking has nothing to do with dreaming, it actually often happens in the early stages of sleep or partial sleep, and often has more to do with your activities while you are awake.

There is a lot that people don’t understand about sleep walking, which is why if you or someone you know sleep walks, there is some basic information you need to understand first. Take a closer look at all things sleepwalking before

What is Sleepwalking?

Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a condition where a person moves about during the night to walk, or perform everyday activities, without having any memories of engaging in those activities.

While sleep walking can vary from person-to-person, for most individuals sleep walking occurs within the first hour or two after falling asleep. Most people don’t sleepwalk every night either. In fact, less than ¼ of sleepwalkers do so every night.

It is more common to sleepwalk during periods of stress or fatigue or to sleepwalk perhaps once a week.

Unfortunately, the reason sleepwalking is so serious is because many people are violent towards others or accidentally hurt themselves or others while they sleepwalk.

Falls are very common for sleepwalkers, many of which lead to injuries. According to a study by the AASM, over half of sleepwalkers report having violent behaviors towards themselves or others while they are sleep walking. This is why understanding and treating sleep walking is so important.

Symptoms

Overall, the symptoms of sleepwalking are fairly obvious, even to the untrained eye. Of course, getting up and “walking about” while in a sleep state, is the most clear indicator that someone is sleep walking. However, this isn’t the only “type” of sleepwalking.

Here are a few more signs of sleepwalking to be on the lookout for:

Sleepwalking Happens During The Early Stages Of Sleep

Sitting straight up in bed and staring off in to the distance.
Getting up in bed and repeating the same movement over and over.
Having a dazed look in the eyes in the middle of the night—the eyes will look different than when the person is completely awake.
Talking in your sleep, either out loud or having what seems like a coherent conversation with someone, while asleep.
Appearing to be awake, but not responding when spoken to.
Getting up and urinating in places other than the toilet in the middle of the night.
Difficulty waking up, even when another person is attempting to get you to wake.

These are all indications that you or someone you know may be suffering from sleep walking, even if they aren’t just getting up and walking around. In fact, most people who “sleepwalk” do much more than sleep.

Most activities are repetitive and are common practices. Some people may get up and start their morning routine, others may repeatedly do the same behavior, such as rubbing their eyes. There have even been reports of people getting in their vehicles and driving their commute route, all while sleep walking.

With this in mind, it is important to remember that the myth that sleepwalkers shouldn’t be wakened, is just that—a myth. There are some sleepwalkers who will react violently to being woken up—so the individual waking them up should be cautious.

It is always best to intervene if someone’s safety is on the line. While many sleepwalkers will be understandably startled or confused when they are awoken in a state of activity, it is often best for their safety if they are woken up, especially if they are attempting to do something like driving while in a sleep state.

Causes

There are many people today who deal with sleepwalking—but what actually causes this to happen? For many people, sleepwalking is hereditary, and there isn’t much they can do if this condition runs in their family.

There are some actual causes that may be to blame for sleepwalking behavior. The most common reason someone will sleepwalk is because they are sleep deprived. Other causes of sleep walking include:

Interrupted sleep, or poor quality sleep—often linked to conditions like sleep apnea that disrupt sleep in the middle of the night.
Stress or anxiety that can cause restlessness or poor quality sleep.
Certain illnesses.
Being under the influence of a sedative, such as sleep medication or even alcohol.
Health conditions such as febrile illnesses.
Children who experience bedwetting.
Medications.
Intense physical activity the night before.
Poor sleep hygiene or uncomfortable sleep conditions.
High fevers.
Drug use.
Strong positive emotions.
Poor sleep environment—including a new sleep environment.
Going to bed with a full bladder.

Many times, both children and adults who struggle with sleep terrors, also deal with sleep walking. The two conditions are not only both hereditary but they often go hand-in-hand.

Expected Duration

The expected duration of a sleep walking episode can vary from person to person. On average, most people who sleepwalk only do so for about 5 to 15 minutes at a time—and many people have no recollection of their activities during this period.

While the periods of sleep “activity” are relatively short, it doesn’t mean that sleepwalkers can’t hurt themselves or others by accident during these spells. The good news is, sleep walking typically doesn’t last forever.

Fortunately, for children who suffer with sleep walking, many times they ultimately outgrow the condition with age—even when they regularly sleepwalk most nights.

For many adults who struggle with sleep walking—their nighttime activity only occurs when they are in states of extreme stress or fatigue. In these cases, resolving issues with stress, anxiety or lack of sleep will ultimately cause the sleep walking periods to subside.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for sleep walking and there are no treatments available specifically for this condition. In most situations, people find that time, improving their sleep schedule or fixing sleep hygiene issues can ultimately help their sleep walking resolve itself.

There are some treatments that may be available to help lessen the likelihood of sleep walking, particularly in those sleepwalkers who are a danger to themselves or to others.

Many times, doctors will prescribe something to help with overall sleep quality—as fatigue is one of the most common stressors to cause sleep walking.

A doctor may also be able to prescribe medication to help or determine if other illnesses or medications are to blame for sleep walking episodes. Adults who are newly struggling with sleep walking, or who have been sleepwalkers their entire life, can also try antidepressants, therapy or even hypnosis to help them overcome their sleep walking—all have been shown to help with this condition.

There are other things that you can do at home to help lessen the frequency of your sleep walking issues and the severity of this condition. This includes:

Avoiding alcohol or recreational drugs before bed.
Making sure you are clean and comfortable before sleeping and maintaining better sleep hygiene.
Getting in a sleep routine, by doing the same relaxing activity (such as a bubble bath) before bed every night.
Putting yourself on a strict sleep schedule every day so you are getting up and going to sleep at the same time every night.

If you do have a sleepwalker in your home and are working on finding the right treatment, in the mean time you should try to make sure that the home is safe and well-equipped for a sleep walker.

This means making sure that the bedroom is safe, sharp objects are put away and fall hazards are out of the way. If children sleep in bunk beds, it may also mean moving them to a standard bed until their sleep walking phase is over.

Sleepwalking Is Often Signs Of Fatigue and Lack Of Sleep

While sleepwalking may seem comical in television or movies, this condition is no laughing matter. Sleep walking can be very serious and people who get up and do activities in this state are at risk for accidentally hurting themselves or others if they aren’t careful. This is why it is so important for those who sleepwalk, or who have children who sleepwalk to understand what the causes, symptoms and potential treatments for this condition are.

Remember, the most common cause of sleep walking is extreme fatigue, so if you are continuing to sleepwalk and aren’t getting between 7-9 hours of sleep per night—then it may be time to change up your sleep habits. If you are continuing to struggle with sleepwalking and worried that you may endanger yourself or others in the process—then make sure that you consult your doctor for more information on what you can do.

Shana Thompson is a full time professional writer and editor. Shana has worked extensively in the fields of content marketing, on-page and off-page SEO (guest posts, backlink acquisition), and creative writing. As an experienced pro content writer, Shana has worked on several magazines, publishing companies and marketing agencies. Many recent projects have included everything from nutrition and health services, where a lot of research and citations were needed, to writing about health, sustainable, eco-friendly products.

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