Sleepwalking Causes and Concerns

By Raveendranath menon

Sleepwalkingis a behavior disorder that roots during deep sleep hours. It leads to performing complex behaviors while unconscious, the most obvious of which is walking. This syndrome is given the technical term or is technically known as ‘SOMNABULISM’. Since the sleepwalker remains in a state of unconsciouness throughout the episode, he or she is usually difficult to awaken. The person generally does not remember any detail of his unconscious routine. Sleepwalking is more common in children than in adults. Usually chidren outgrow sleepwalking in a few years. If symptoms persist through adolescence, a doctor needs to be immediately consulted.
Symptoms:
These include:
• simply sitting up in the bed and aimlessly looking around
• walking or strutting around the room or house
• Muttering bizarre words in sleep
• leaving the house
• driving long distances away from the house
Slleepwalking usually originates from a lack or deprival of sleep.A common misconception that prevails in many households is the belief that a sleepwalker must not be awakened. The sleepwalker, infact must be alerted as soon as possible to ward off all dangers that might either surround him or the people in the vicinity. Between 1-15 % of the general population is affected by this disorder. Children aged between three to seven are more prone to attacks of sleepwalking.The cause of this is attributed to sleep apnea.
SYMPTOMS:
The commencement of sleepwalking generally takes place either during deep sleep, that is REM periods or lighter sleep stages or NREM.Common symptoms other than sleepwalking include:
• Difficulty in alerting the sleepwalker during one of his or her episodes.
• Sleeptalking under the breath
• Partially or totally deleted and deadlocked memory with no recollection of the event having occured.
• Screaming, bawling and twitching
• Violent resistance towards the person who tries to arouse the sleepwalker
• Bed-wetting. This is usually a common symptom among children. Bedwetting beyond the age of five needs a must doctor’s visit




TREATMENT:
Although there is no defenite form of treatment for sleepwalking common forms of treatment that are generally suggested or prescribed by practitioners include:
• Simply rejuvenating in the patient the art of proper and regular sleep. This also includes increasing the sleeping period as most sleep disorders are usually the result of sleep deprivation.
• Undergoing hypnosis and hypnotism techniques by a certified practitioner may also improve the conditions in some cases.
• Pharmacological therapies like antidepressants and sedative-hypnotics
• By consulting a doctor and discussing with him all forms of medicatiomn, stress, fatigue or depression that you may feel important
Elevating the sleep period, establishing a regular routine for relaxation prior to bedtime and depriving the patient any form of alcohol or alcoholic medications that may be stated as the cause of sleepwalking may prove beneficial.
Creating safe and sound environments is the need of the hour to prevent any sorts of accidents that are bound to happen. According to a poll based on sleepwalking in America in 2004, pre-school children amounting to 1% and school aged children ammounting to 2% walk in their sleep for at least a few nights every week.