| SLEEPWALKING DEFINED | | | | history of sleepwalking somewhere in the family |
| Sleepwalking is a sleeping disorder characterized | | | | of frequent and persistent sleepwalkers, and the |
| by behavior usually performed in a wakeful state. | | | | number of sleepwalking adults is less than the |
| Examples of wakeful behavior are sitting up, | | | | number of sleepwalking children. |
| walking, and sometimes even talking to others. | | | | WHAT CAUSES SLEEPWALKING |
| Also known as noctambulism or somnambulism, | | | | Anything that affects the nervous system can be |
| sleepwalking is listed in the DSM-IV-TR and | | | | blamed for sleepwalking, and that includes |
| identified as a disorder by the American | | | | consumption anti-depressants or sleeping pills, a |
| Psychiatric Association. Although incidents of | | | | severe illness, and the experience of extreme |
| sleepwalking are used by professionals to | | | | emotional stress such as a death or a frightening |
| determine a mental disorder, it is not classified or | | | | event. Hormones may contribute to sleepwalking |
| identified as an emotional problem. It is instead | | | | episodes as well so events that cause drastic |
| defined as a brain disorder. | | | | hormonal changes (adolescence, menstruation, |
| During an episode, the sleepwalker behaves | | | | pregnancy, menopause, etc.) could play a role in |
| according to whatever he or she is dreaming | | | | triggering sleepwalking episodes too. There are no |
| about. Eyes may be open, but they do not | | | | known foods that trigger sleepwalking. |
| acknowledge events, people, or objects around | | | | HOW TO CURE SLEEPWAKING |
| them. This phenomenon typically begins as a | | | | Unless sleepwalking is a regular occurrence and it |
| sleepwalker experiences stage four sleep | | | | places its victims in danger, there's no need to |
| (slow-wave sleep). Yet upon waking, they may | | | | seek medical attention. When sleepwalking |
| remember a little of the event, or none at all with | | | | happens repeatedly or puts the sleepwalker in |
| the entire episode lasting for only a few minutes | | | | harm, a physician may prescribe benzodiazepines |
| or more. Despite myths and warnings, there is no | | | | to keep the patient in bed. Benzodiazepines are |
| harm in waking a sleepwalker. Awakened | | | | lipophilic amines and they're used as tranquilizers, |
| sleepwalkers will appear a little disoriented and | | | | sedatives, hypnotics, or musclerelaxants. Some |
| confused about where they are, how they got | | | | well known brands are Ativan, Halcion, Libritabs, |
| there, and why - but they can return to bed | | | | Librium, ProSom, Restoril, Valium, Versed, or |
| easily with little to no fuss. | | | | Xanax, |
| SLEEPWALKING STATISTICS | | | | SLEEPWALKING DANGERS |
| Sleepwalking rarely occurs in individuals who don't | | | | The physical dangers of sleepwalking are pretty |
| already suffer from some other psychiatric | | | | obvious, however besides risking bodily harm or |
| disorder or problem. But when it does occur, it | | | | even death, sleepwalking individuals actually lose a |
| occurs in more males than females, and only in 1 - | | | | lot of sleep since a portion of their sleeping time is |
| 5% of children. By the time sleepwalking children | | | | spent in activity. As a result, they may |
| reach the teen years, sleepwalking usually stops | | | | experience fatigue during the daytime and will |
| on it own without medication, diet change, or | | | | more than likely experience insomnia during the |
| behavior modification. Chances are that there is a | | | | nights that they slept during the day. |