Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking is a strange sleep disorder that affects quite a number of people. Also going by the name, somnambulism, sleepwalking is one of the sleep disorders labeled parasomnias. The sufferer behaves like a fully awake person; only thing is, he/she is asleep at the same time. It is most prone to happen during Stage 3 and 4 of the sleep phase (slow wave sleep).
Sleepwalking affects children (age 4-12) more than adults, because children generally have a longer period of slow wave sleep than adults, but it can happen at any age. Somnambulism occurs during deep non REM sleep, which is the Stage 3 and 4 period. The more extreme cases of sleepwalking include having sleep sex, driving, and even murder. That’s what makes sleepwalking one of the most hazardous sleep disorders around in my opinion.
While some sources say that most children will at some point experience sleepwalking, I doubt it. I do not believe I have ever sleepwalked in my entire life. Boys are more prone to experience sleepwalking than girls, but almost everyone outgrows it after their teens. Among the causes that may bring about a recurrence of somnambulism during adulthood are heightened stress, drugs, and alcoholism dependency. Chronic cases of sleepwalking appear to run in families, and these often continue to suffer from it even in adulthood.
In some cases of sleepwalking, the use of the sleep drug zolpidem (or Ambien) has been implicated. Zolpidem must NEVER be taken by those with a history of alcoholism or drug dependence. So, this is another reason why you should only use sleep drugs with great caution and get medical approval in the first place. There are many natural sleep aids that can be used in the first place.
In genuine cases of sleepwalking, the person has no recollection of what they were doing after they wake up. But this “sleepwalking defense” has been used in some criminal cases, and often NOT successfully. Because sleepwalkers are such a hazard to themselves and others, if you know you have a sleep walking problem, it’s really important you seek medical attention for it.
The typical treatments for sleepwalking vary depending on the patient, but often include psychological treatment and relaxation techniques. To me, it doesn’t seem that everyone gets cured of it; although a sustained combination of drug therapy and medical supervision have proven successful for the majority of cases. It’s also important to kick whatever addictions you may be having; alcoholism being a major trigger for somnambulism.
Sleepwalking appears to be a dysfunction in the boundary between slow and fast brain waves while sleeping; there’s slow and fast brain waves running at the same time. Many sleepwalkers are difficult to rouse and often act aggressive when attempts are made to rouse them. If you ever encounter someone sleepwalking, the best thing you can do is guide them back to bed gently, or rouse them (if they are not aggressive). If you’re living with someone who sleepwalks, it’s a good idea to get the person’s agreement to hide the door and car keys on a frequent basis, to prevent any untoward incidents from happening.
