Are you looking for more information about sleepwalking? You can find what you are looking for here.

Overview

Sleepwalking is a type of a sleep disorder that is characterized by series of motor activities, such rising, walking, sitting, and among others, while the person is asleep. The affected person is not conscious during the event of sleepwalking and it may just go unnoticed.

Episodes of sleepwalking occur before the stage of rapid eye movement and are common early in the night. These episodes can last a few seconds and can go as long as 30 minutes or more.

Other terms for sleepwalking are somnambulism and noctambulism. It can affect people of any age but are more common in children 4-8 years old.

Causes

The common causes of sleepwalking are psychological factors such as stress and anxiety. It is hereditary in nature. It can also be caused by lack of sleep, fatigue, or adverse effects to some drugs and alcohol. Mental and neurologic disorders that can cause sleepwalking are seizures, REM behavior disorders, and organic brain syndrome.

Symptoms

The symptoms of sleepwalking may include the following:

* Episodes of rising from a sleep but is still asleep, which usually happens early in the night.

* The person may not respond if communicated, but he may utter words that don’t make any sense. The person’s eyes are open, the pupils are dilated, and there will only be blank stares. The person is very difficult to awaken.

* If the person is not awakened during the incident, he will just return to bed or sleep in another place.

* The person will not remember anything from the event.

* All brain functions return to normal once the person wakes up. If the person wakes up during a sleepwalking episode, then most likely he will have a short period of confusion.

When to get help

If the following occur, it is necessary to visit a doctor:

* If the episodes of sleepwalking become more frequent

* If dangerous activities are being performed while sleepwalking

* If the episodes of sleepwalking are accompanied by other symptoms aside from what is being outlined above

Treatment

Treatment may be unnecessary for sleepwalking as it will cease with time. You need to put away harmful objects in the house or in the person’s room to insure safety.

Lifestyle changes may be necessary such as avoiding the use of alcohol or any of the central nervous system depressants, preventing insomnia, and avoiding stress, anxiety, conflicts, and fatigue.

Short acting tranquilizers may be prescribed in some cases to help reduce episodes of sleepwalking.

Some physicians may recommend the use of polysomnography. It is a type of test that is used to study a person’s sleep cycle and to determine the type of treatment necessary. Stress management, relaxation techniques, hypnosis, psychotherapy, and biofeedback training are some alternatives used to treat sleepwalking.

If the condition still persists, the physician may prescribe medications such as anti-anxiety drugs like the diazepam and alprazolam.

Prognosis

The prognosis for sleepwalking is usually good. Most of the cases just subside over time. Children who experience sleepwalking may stop experiencing it by age 15 without any treatments.

Great Video all about sleepwalking and how it is most common in children and usually does not carry into adulthood. Talks about how sleepwalkers usually have goals such as “cleaning” of all things. Sleep cleaning, very interesting heh. Also goes into how to deal with someone sleepwalking which is very helpful to me.

Brydon