Do you walk while sleeping?
Many people suffer from the problem of sleepwalking also known as Somnambulism. Sleepwalking usually happens in the first few hours of sleep in the stage called slow-wave or deep sleep. It is a kind of sleep disorder that is initiated during slow wave sleep which outcome in walking during sleep. Not all sleepwalkers actually walk. Some simply sit up or stand in bed or act like they're awake. Sleepwalkers' eyes are open, but they don't see the same way they do when they're awake. Occasional sleepwalking isn't a big deal, just you need to take precautions so that you don't fall down, run into something, or walk out the front door while sleepwalking. However frequent sleepwalking is serious and you must see doctor for proper treatment.
Causes include:
- Lack of sleep
- Genetic factor
- Anxiety
- Mental disorders
- Reactions to drugs and alcohol
- Pregnancy and menstruation are known to increase the frequency of sleepwalking.
- Medical conditions like nighttime asthma
- Arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
- A cause of sleepwalking among children is unknown and in elders sleep walking may be a symptom of an organic brain syndrome or REM behavior disorders.
Symptoms:
- Walking during sleep
- Eyes open during sleep
- May have blank facial expression
- Tiredness
- No recall of the event upon awaking
- May sit up and appear awake during sleep
- Other detailed activity during sleep, any sort
- Confusion, disorientation on awakening
- Sleep talking is incomprehensible and non-purposeful
How you can help yourself:
-
Relax at bedtime by listening
to soft music or relaxation tapes.
- Have a regular sleep schedule and stick to it.
- Avoid the use of alcohol or central nervous system depressants if you sleep walk.
- Try to minimize stress, anxiety, and conflict, which can worsen the condition.
- Keep noise and lights to a minimum while you're trying to sleep.
- Remove anything from the bedroom that could be hazardous or harmful.
- Meditate or do relaxation exercises before sleeping.
- Avoid getting too tired and try to prevent insomnia, because this can trigger a sleep walking episode.
(Sources: medicinenet.com, kidshealth.org, nlm.nih.gov)
(Image Sources: kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/sleepwalking.html, babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2009/01/02/man-is-aquitted-of-sex-assault-charges-his-excuse.aspx)
