Sleepwalking – The Quiescent Form of Execution

Sleepwalking or somnambulism is a syndrome typified by intricate actions that result in walking in sleep. Would you accept it as truth, if I were to tell you that people have driven cars, committed murders and even performed sexual acts while sleep walking? And the startling part is that they don’t commit anything to memory the next morning. Nevertheless, somnambulism is not a funny anecdote but an ailment that can’t be overlooked.

A normal sleep cycle fluctuates between light drowsiness to deep sleep. Sleepwalking usually happens in the first few hours of sleep in the stage called slow wave or deep sleep or non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep.

A common fallacy is that a sleepwalker enacts a dream, but this is not true because we generally dream while in REM sleep and instances of sleepwalking are less common during this phase of sleep.

Sleepwalking by and large affects children between the ages of 4-8 and is genetic in nature. Sleepwalkers engage in their activities with their eyes open so they can find their way and their arms are not outstretched as often caricatured in cartoons. The symptoms a sleepwalker displays are:

• Wide open eyes
• Blank facial look
• May sit up and appear wakeful
• Walking during sleep
• Performing any other detailed activity during sleep
• No rememberance of the event on awaking
• Bewilderment and perplexity on wakening up
• Incoherent talking

The factors that cause sleepwalking could be classified as genetic, environmental and physiological. Identical twins exhibit this malady quite frequently. Sleepwalking runs in families.

Fever, stress, sleep denial, hectic sleep schedules, mineral deficiencies (magnesium) and use of alcohol and some drugs (sedatives/hypnotics/ antihistamines) are all causes of somnambulism. Sleepwalking is quite common in pregnancy and menstruation.

Check ups and investigations are not necessary for somnambulism. However, a psychotic analysis could be carried out to determine causes like anxiety and stress.

If the occurrence of sleepwalking is due to underlying causes like seizures, gastro esophageal reflux or restless leg syndrome then these need to be treated.

Medications namely Benzodiazepines, antidepressants and sedatives have proved quite useful in this problem. CAM techniques of relaxation, mental imagery and anticipatory awakening are also long term solutions to treating people with this disorder.

Some do’s and don’ts if followed could drastically reduce the incidence of sleepwalking.

• Sleep sufficiently and follow strict sleep routines.
• Keep your sleeping environment secure.
• Use a ground floor bedroom.
• Keep the exit points of the house locked.
• Always keep the curtains drawn.
• Meditate and do relaxation exercises.
• Get a security system installed on the main door.
• Avoid any AV stimuli before sleeping.
• Avoid alcohol before bedtime.
• Go to bed on an empty bladderdefine.
• Relax before sleeping and avoid stress.

The optimum way to handle a sleepwalker safely is to lead him or her back to the bed. Sleepwalking is not a serious disorder, nor is it a stumbling block but, because of its safety concerns, it is enough to terrify people and fade away their sleep.