Sleepwalking And Somnambulism

Sleepwalking or somnambulism is the subject of a lot of science, science fiction, and conjecture. There are two common myths connected to sleepwalking. The first is that sleepwalkers are acting out their dreams. This was first theorized in the 1950s and has since been dismissed. The sleep state that coincides with dreams is not the sleep stage that coincides with sleepwalking. The second myth is that it’s dangerous to wake a person who is sleepwalking. Sleepwalkers are rarely dangerous or aggressive upon waking.

Sleepwalkers are typically confused and disoriented. If there’s an additional issue going on such as a person with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) who is dealing with night terrors, then there might be some concerns with waking them. Still, it’s best to wake a sleepwalker as the most dangerous aspect of sleepwalking is the risk of accidental self-injury. Although there have been cases where violent crimes were committed while the person was sleepwalking.

If those are the myths about sleepwalking, what are the truths? There isn’t much agreement in regards to the statistics around sleepwalking. Estimates range from 1% to 15% of the population sleepwalks. Children are the most common sleepwalkers with peak activity occurring between the ages of 4-8. Children usually grow out of it with little to no ill effects. Sleepwalking in adults is another matter.

The term “sleepwalking” is an umbrella term for several different activities. Sleepwalkers will do more than walk. Some will get dressed or undressed, attempt to drive, do normal daily activities and even initiate love-making with their partner all while asleep. (Making love while you’re asleep is a complicated matter, but due to the family-friendly nature of this blog, we won’t be focusing on that. However, it is fascinating.)

There is correlation between sleepwalking and night terrors. (I can HEAR my college professors in my head “correlation is not causation”. It was a mantra. Someone tell Dr. Healey to get off my back so I can focus on this. Thank you.) Adult sleepwalkers are 50% more likely to suffer from night terrors. This can be especially distressing when a sleepwalker also suffers from PTSD even though the person isn’t “dreaming” at the time they’re sleepwalking.

The causes of sleepwalking vary. Somnambulism is typically a symptom of another problem. Stress, anxiety, some psychological disorders, medical ailments, and medications can increase the chance or prevalence of sleepwalking. In the elderly, sleepwalking is sometimes associated with organic brain syndrome (OBS). OBS is not a psychological disorder. It’s an umbrella term that is associated with a whole host of other physical mental issues. It can be connected to everything from a vitamin deficiency to fatal diseases.

Generally speaking sleepwalking does not indicate a major disorder or disease. It’s typically associated with stress. Once the stress in the person’s life is eliminated, then the sleepwalking fades.

Sleepwalking is often a bigger deal to the friends and family of the sleepwalker than the sleepwalker themselves. Certain precautions need to be taken to help protect the sleepwalker. Stairs can be blocked off with gates. Electrical cords and anything else that can trip or injure the sleepwalker can be hidden or put away. Car keys can be kept in a difficult to get to spot or a lock box of some kind.

A few years back, a friend of mine would sleepwalk. He’d get out of bed for his early work shift, shower, dress, go down stairs, and then get in his car as if he was heading to work. He only got as far as starting the car, but after that we would put his keys in a “puzzle box” and use the chain lock and other locks on the front door. Several times we’d wake up and see him wandering around the living room muttering to himself as if we were his co-workers. The sleepwalking stopped when he changed jobs.

If you or someone you know suffers from sleepwalking, talk to a doctor and then take a long look at your life.

Why is this on a clock site? Because, darn it, we care about our readers and we think that sleep-related stuff like this is interesting.

We hope you do, too.

Tags: alarm clock blog, night terrors, organic brain syndrome, Sleep, sleep disorder, sleep disorders, sleepwalker, sleepwalkers, sleepwalking, somnambulism

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