Who are sleepwalkers?

For many years it was believed that somnambulism, also known as sleepwalking, was associated with hysteria. Fortunately, many years of research have produced a new theory that classifies sleepwalking as a typical sleep disorder. While unconscious during the night, we can perform a number of complex motor activities, such as walking, eating, and even having complicated conversations with other people. However, after waking up, we do not remember any of these activities and begin to wonder if we should see a specialist. Do sleepwalkers have reason to worry?

The mystery of sleepwalking
Somnambulism is a disorder that occurs in 15% of children and 3% of adults. The clinical symptoms are uncontrolled activities without full awakening during sleep. Typical sleepwalking episodes occur about one hour after going to sleep, as we then enter a deep sleep phase. Where does this come from? This is when our sleep is most effective and deepest. At this time, growth hormones are released and we recover most effectively. Episodes of sleepwalking are mostly observed before puberty. After the age of 10, they begin to disappear. Interestingly, somnambulism is still detected in 24% of about 13-year-olds if they had these episodes in their early childhood. There are hardly more sleepwalkers among boys than girls. With episodes of somnambulism, mixed states of consciousness with low sensitivity to the environment, a mask-like facial expression, unclear speech, and sometimes mumbling occur. The movements are often chaotic and inaccurate. There is a temporary state of disorientation after waking. Sounds and pain sensations are probably not present, as sleepwalkers apparently neither hear words addressed to them nor feel pain.

What is the cause?
A study by Professors Wills and Garcia from 2002 shows that the symptoms of somnambulism are the result of a faulty awakening from deep sleep to NREM sleep. There is also much evidence that there is a genetic predisposition leading to such disorders. Studies conducted on twins showed that somnambulism occurs five times more often in identical twins than in fraternal twins. In addition, 80% of the sleepwalkers studied reported that similar episodes occur in their families.

Somnambulism in children could result from the immaturity of the nervous system. In adults, however, the reasons are completely different. Lack of sleep is seen as the main cause. If there is a strong stimulus, such as the urge to go to the toilet, part of the nervous system tries to continue sleeping, while the risk of incomplete awakening increases. Chronic stress and discomfort, which can result from various illnesses, also have consequences. It happens that people with diabetes wake up when blood sugar levels drop rapidly. Our body can also react this way to common nighttime discomforts, such as a poorly padded pillow, inappropriate temperature, or uncomfortable sheet.

Medicine for sleepwalkers
Do not panic if you notice such symptoms in yourself or your child. First, we must pay attention to the reactions and the body and consider possible causes. They may turn out to be completely harmless. Among many children and adults, the disorder can occur as a result of sensory problems. Long-lasting problems and difficulties with sleep could sometimes be solved with a weighted blanket. A variety of positive signals are sent to our brain, which make us feel calm, safe, and secure. If our brain is not distracted by fear and stress at night, we have a chance for a perfect and effective sleep without sleepwalking. A blanket with a special heavier filling (custom-made) stimulates the proprioceptive system, which is responsible for the deep feeling. If therapeutic counseling is necessary, the first step will be shallow sleep. The shallower the sleep, the lower the risk of getting up and walking uncontrollably. A 20-minute nap during the day could also be a good solution, as it guarantees an identical effect to pharmacological treatments.