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5 Steps for Stopping
a Sleepwalker
Sleepwalking may seem amusing, but it
can be harmful to your health.
By Michael J. Breus, PhD
WebMD the Magazine -- Feature
Janice used to think her husband's sleepwalking was
funny.
He
fumbled through the dark, often muttered
incoherently, and occasionally walked into walls.
But she stopped laughing when he made his way to the
garage one night and started the car.
Experts estimate that sleepwalking afflicts between
1% and 15% of the general population.
It's
more common in children -- especially those between
the ages of 3 and 7 -- than in adults.
According to the National Sleep Foundation's 2004
Sleep in America Poll, 1% of preschool children and
2% of school-age children walk in their sleep at
least a few nights a week. The persistence of
sleepwalking into adulthood is common. Overall, it
is more likely to happen in sleep-deprived people.
Fortunately, sleepwalking is not usually associated
with underlying psychiatric or psychological
problems. It's simply a sleep disorder that usually
happens when a person is in the deep-sleep phase,
which should be the most restful, recuperative
phase.
Instead, sleepwalkers begin to do activities typical
of wakefulness, such as talking, sitting up and
looking around the room, getting out of bed and
roaming the house, or even picking up car keys and
going for a drive -- all while remaining in deep
sleep.
Not
only are sleepwalkers difficult to awaken, they
usually recall little or nothing about their
nighttime adventures. Worse, they may even attack
anyone trying to wake them up.
Sleep deprivation is a common cause of this
disorder. Other triggers include sedative agents,
such as alcohol; illnesses accompanied by fever; and
certain medications.
There is no specific treatment for sleepwalking.
Improving sleep hygiene is step one in alleviating
the problem. Some adults find hypnosis helpful,
while others have tried antidepressants (such as
those in the SSRI class or tricyclic
(antidepressants) or other prescription medicines
(such as a benzodiazepine, like Klonopin) with
success.
Waking someone who is sleepwalking can be dangerous,
but allowing a sleepwalker to roam about a room
filled with sharp objects or to jump into the
driver's seat of a vehicle is what's really
hazardous.
The
lesson: Stop sleepwalkers and get them back to bed.
How? Gently turn them around and make sure they
return to the bedroom safely. If they resist, stay
with them and help them avoid perilous objects and
situations. If you must awaken them, do so with loud
noises rather than by shaking or touching them
roughly.
How to Stop Sleepwalking
If
you (or your partner or child) sleepwalk, here are
some steps to take:
Start by focusing on your sleep habits and creating
a routine for going to bed and getting up at about
the same time each day.
Make
sure to have a "power-down hour" before hitting the
pillow. Find ways to unwind from the day.
Try
a warm bath and light reading.
Create a safe environment, especially for
sleepwalking children. Remove sharp objects, lock
doors and windows, and install gates on stairways.
A
door alarm can often be helpful.
Ask
your doctor about other options if the problem
persists.
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Fast fact:
Experts estimate that sleepwalking afflicts
between 1% and 15% of the general population.
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