Sleepwalking is a difficult-to-treat nervous disorder. But still, there are several life hacks that can stop walking in a dream.
Someone enjoys sweet dreams at night, while others are engaged in various activities. Paradoxically, some people can not only talk and walk in their sleep, but even commit crimes! We examined the nature of the unusual phenomenon of sleepwalking together with the President of the Ukrainian Association of Sleep Medicine, the chief physician of the UkrTeleMed Sleep Laboratory, cardiologist, somnologist, Ph.D. Yuri Pogoretsky.
Who are the somnambulists
Walking in a dream, called in one word "sleepwalking", in medicine is called somnambulism, and in the common people - sleepwalking. In ancient times, this phenomenon was directly associated with madness, demoniacal possession and witchcraft, so lunatics were burned at the stake. With the development of medicine, the connection between sleepwalking and black magic was refuted, and scientists have proved that somnambulism is a nervous disorder. Sleepwalking occurs when the body is not fully awakened, when the brain is in a state of half-sleep-half-wakefulness. Statistics say that about 2.5% of the world's population suffers from it.
Children and adolescents are especially prone to disorder, but for most, the habit of walking in their sleep wears off with age. For some people, however, sleepwalking becomes a lifelong companion.
The sleepwalker can get out of bed and start walking, sitting or standing, avoiding obstacles and answering simple questions. At the same time, his eyes are open, pupils are constricted, and his gaze is glassy.
Attacks of sleepwalking are usually short-lived: they last no more than half an hour per night. Most often, the sleepwalker himself returns to bed, and the next morning he does not remember about the night excursions.
Sleepwalking is inherited / istockphoto.com
Why sleepwalking
It used to be thought that sleepwalking was associated with the activity of the moon (hence the name). But scientists have not proven the exact connection between this phenomenon and the night star. But they found out other reasons for somnambulism. In children, the disorder can be triggered by common childhood fears and anxieties: as a rule, seizures appear when the child is worried or frightened of something. Sleepwalking also has a hereditary nature: if both parents are susceptible to somnambulism, the child will also walk in a dream.
In adults, the causes of sleepwalking can be diseases such as:
- sleep apnea
- epilepsy,
- movable legs syndrome,
- arrhythmia,
- asthma.
Sleep walking can manifest itself under the influence of fever and heat, alcohol and drugs, severe stress and anxiety. The reason may be taking medications: sedatives, sleeping pills, neuroleptics (for the treatment of psychosis), stimulants and anti-allergic drugs.
Is it possible to recover from sleepwalking
If sleepwalking is of an accidental nature (attacks are rare and harmless), do not be scared and immediately run to the doctor. Medical intervention is only necessary if a medical condition (eg, sleep apnea, epilepsy, movable legs syndrome) is the cause of sleepwalking.
To confirm whether a person has "pure" sleepwalking or there is another reason for sleepwalking, doctors recommend polysomnography (study of night sleep, price - from 2500 UAH). If sleepwalking is not associated with any disease, it will not be possible to completely get rid of it. Your doctor may prescribe medications (such as antidepressants) to help control and minimize episodes of somnambulism. Methods of hypnotherapy are also used. There are also a number of tips for creating a good sleep environment that can help reduce seizures.
First of all, these are general rules:
compliance with the daily regimen, good rest and proper nutrition. Before going to bed, you need to relax and think about something pleasant, you can listen to soothing music, light an aroma lamp (the smells of geranium, chamomile, lemon balm, sandalwood and ylang-ylang are beneficial) or take a warm bath with aromatic oils. Small bags of hops can be sewn into the pillow, the smell of which interferes with the appearance of dreams. After dinner, it is better not to drink drinks that excite the nervous system - coffee and strong tea.
Avoid coffee and tea before bed. The best option is herbal tea / istockphoto.com
How to save a sleepwalker
To protect yourself from possible injury, the sleepwalker needs to take precautions:
- make a fence in front of the stairs leading down (if it is a private house),
- put bars or special locks on the windows, or at least carefully lock them,
- do not leave electric wires and glass items on the floor;
- remove breakable, cutting, stabbing, flammable
- and sharp objects;
- make sure that the sleepwalker cannot open the front door and leave the house.
- In severe forms of sleepwalking, a person is even tied to a bed.
You can put a basin of water in front of the sleepwalker's bed: after standing in it, he will immediately wake up. Instead of a basin, you can put a wet rag.
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Sleepwalking in children - what are the reasons and what to do for parents
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