What are the symptoms of sleepwalking?Anyone who’s ever had a conversation with someone who is half asleep (or downright hammered) might appreciate the bizarre behavior of an individual who is sleepwalking. Common symptoms include:
- eyes open with a glassy, staring appearance;
- blank expression on sleepwalker's face;
- slow to respond when questioned, and responses may not make sense;
- may be oblivious to people or things around them;
- may sit up and appear awake during sleep;
- may walk around or perform other detailed activities of almost any type during sleep;
- confused and disoriented upon awakening;
- may have no recollection of sleepwalking event upon awakening.
How is sleepwalking treated?Before treatment, sleepwalking must first be identified and this is usually done by a family member or friend who happens to witness an individual sleepwalking or by the individual themselves if injured or otherwise alerted during the nocturnal act. Once at the doctor’s office, there are really no valid diagnostic tests or examinations that a physician can perform to confirm sleepwalking; however, doctors may run tests to rule out any underlying conditions that might be causing the sleepwalking.
In most cases of sleepwalking, no treatment is necessary as the disorder is most often caused by lack of sleep, emotional problems, stress or anxiety. As these conditions resolve, sleepwalking should disappear over time. A psychological evaluation can identify those mental issues that might be causing the sleepwalking.
It's when an individual experiences frequent bouts of sleepwalking during which they become injured or destructive that a sleep specialist or behavioral therapist should be contacted, but there is little in the way of treatment. What’s important is reducing an individual’s stress and instituting proper safety measures to prevent injury. Ensuring adequate rest, performing relaxation exercises or mental imagery techniques, limiting alcohol, and reducing any stimuli prior to bedtime may prove beneficial to the sleepwalker in preventing future bouts. Sometimes, sleep-promoting medications such as the benzodiazepines, diazepam and clonazepam are used.
To ensure personal safety, the following measures can be implemented:
- lock doors and windows;
- remove obstacles in the bedroom;
- place a bell or motion-detector on the bedroom door;
- place heavy drapes over windows;
- sleep on the ground floor.