Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that causes people to get up and walk during their sleep. They are unaware of what they are doing and it can be very dangerous for them as well as for other people around them. Although sleepwalkers are not generally violent they do act out their dreams and it is possible.

The level of sleep walking that you have depends on how often it happens and what you do while you are sleepwalking. Some sleepwalkers just simply sit up in the sleep and others actually walk around and go outside and even have been known to drive a car, go jogging, cooking, bathing, dressing themselves, dancing etc. So needless to say it can be a serious problem.

The direct cause of why some people sleep walk is not determined yet but may be linked to the following ~

Night Terrors ~ having bad dreams and acting them out
Fever
Certain illnesses
Sleep deprivation
Stress (both physical or emotional stress)
Hormonal changes
Alcohol
Personality disorders
Drugs

The frequency of your sleepwalking episodes should determine whether or not you should seek help from a professional. Most of the time it only happens once in awhile so the main concern is safety for yourself and others. It is mostly for themselves though since they could trip over something and they are not aware of what they are doing.

If you have sleepwalking problems then you should see your doctor and get an evaluation from them. They will do blood test on you to rule out any medical problems as to why you sleep walk. Your doctor may also ask you to get a psychological evaluation to see if stress or anxiety is the cause of your sleepwalking.

Sleepwalking normally occurs when one is in a deep sleep typically stages 3 or 4. It seems to affect children aged 6 to 12 years old but can affect younger children as well as adults. It is also known to run in families.

There are treatments available for those who suffer regularly from sleepwalking. So if you suffer from it talk to your doctor and explore your options. There are some things that you can do naturally without seeing your doctor.

Get plenty of rest, sleepwalking often happens when you are overtired.

Relax before going to sleep. Develop a relaxing routine before bedtime. Stress often causes sleepwalking so easing yourself into a peaceful sleep can help.

Try and make sure your bedroom is on the first floor of your house if you are prone to sleepwalking. you do not want to fall down stairs or open a window and fall out.

If you suffer on a regular basis from sleep walking you really should talk to a doctor about what you can do. Hypnosis has been known to help with sleepwalking as well, in both children and adults.

There is help for sleepwalking and if you are worried about wither yourself or a loved one then seek help!

Learn more about this author, N. A. Hernandez.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Sleepwalking causes?
We want to hear your view. Write now!