Sleepwalking
“I don’t know,” he said. “I just feel like I have to do something.”
“Do what?”
“I don’t know. That’s what’s wrong. Or part of what’s wrong. I feel like I’m sleepwalking.”
― Rainbow Rowell, Attachments
What do you mean by sleepwalking disorder?
Sleepwalking is also named as somnambulism and it is a type of disorder in which a person originates deep sleep during and in results starts walking or does any complex task. It is most common in children than in adults. This may seem like a small problem but just imagine walking to the stairs and falling down! Some people also go out of their homes during sleep walking and therefore they are at risk of facing injuries and accidents that can prove to be fatal.
Well-known Causes
Some people do sleep walking once in a while and therefore are at lower risk of accidents as compared to the ones who do it often. Following are the most widely recognized reasons for sleepwalking issue:
- Sleep deprivation
- Fever
- Stress
- Disturbance in sleep schedule
- Travel
- Sleep apnea
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Other sleep disorders
- Some medications
- Some neurological conditions
- Restless leg syndrome
- Gastro esophageal reflux disease
Common Symptoms of Sleepwalking Disorder
There can be different reasons behind the sleepwalking behavior that might vary from patient to patient. Following are the most common symptoms of sleepwalking disorder:
- It occurs at one to two hours after sleeping
- A person gets up from the bed and starts walking
- Sit and open his eyes
- Not respond if someone calls them
- Have a glazed
- Difficult to awake during this episode
- Not remember about it in the morning
- Have sleep terrors
- Discomfort
- Stressful life
- Mental and physical fatigue
- A person also does their works during this episode dress up, eating etc.
Common Complications
The other health concerns that come along with sleepwalking cause the disorder to become even more problematic. Following are the most common complication you may face if you have a sleepwalking disorder:
- Lifestyle is disturbing
- Personal relationships disturb due to this behavior
- Depression due to this behavior
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Mental and physical health problems
- Disturbs other sleep
- Hurt themselves
- Hurt others
Diagnoses
Sleepwalking disorder is very easy to diagnose due to its clearly visible symptoms. Following are the methodologies and techniques used by the doctors or psychiatrists:
- Physical examination
- Psychiatric evaluation
- Asking about the symptoms you have experience
- Medical interview
- Behavioral therapy
- Polysomnogram
- Sleep history
- Medical history
How doctors treat sleepwalking disorders?
Doctors can treat this type of psychological problems by the following methods and techniques:
- Medical treatment
Doctors will prescribe you an appropriate medication to overcome the symptoms and the disease.
- Behavioural treatment
Doctors can also do your behavioral treatment and treat you by the help of cogitative behavioral therapy