What to Know About Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking is a kind of parasomnia, or abnormal sleep behavior.
Symptoms
Sleepwalking looks different for different people and can vary from one episode to another.
Contrary to popular belief, sleepwalking doesnt even always include walking!
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Here are some things that may occur during an episode of sleepwalking:
Importantly, sleepwalking can be dangerous.
For example, a study published inSleepfound that 57.9% of adult sleepwalkers exhibited violent behavior while sleepwalking.
What Causes Sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking usually has multiple causes, and the causes of sleepwalking can differ from one individual to another.
Some of the most common causes of sleepwalking include:
How Does Mental Health Affect Sleepwalking?
One main trigger of sleepwalking is experiencing heightened or chronic stress.
Other research has found that people who sleepwalk have difficulty managing their feelings of aggression.
Experiencing unresolved conflicts during the day, and living with unprocessed trauma may also be contributing factors for sleepwalking.
Sleepwalking can impact your health and wellbeing, and it can cause physical harm to yourself or others.
The first thing you should do is make an appointment with your healthcare provider or a sleep specialist.
Additionally, your healthcare provider will consider any medications you take that may be contributing.
Treatment plans for sleepwalking also need to include ways of decreasing the risk of injury.
So, you should ensure that any sharp objects are locked away and out of reach.
Windows and doors should be securely locked.
Some people set up alarms that go off if they get out of bed and begin to wander.
It can also help you manage the stress that the sleepwalking itself may be causing you.
You didnt do anything wrong, and the behavior is something that is largely out of your control.
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