We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Mental

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Sleepwalking?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 42,564
Share

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder in which people walk or engage in other tasks while they are asleep. While the stereotypical image of a sleepwalker involves someone staggering down a hallway with his or her arms outstretched in the depths of the night, sleepwalkers usually move with their eyes open so they can see, and they are conscious of their actions, but not on a level which will cause them to remember what happened when they wake up. Because people don't remember the episodes, it may take some time for a person to realize that he or she is, in fact, a sleepwalker.

There are a number of potential causes for sleepwalking, including genetics, stress, and a variety of physiological factors. The phenomenon appears to occur during slow wave sleep, and it is more common in children, with the elderly being least likely to sleepwalk. During an episode, someone may engage in a variety of activities from walking around the house to driving a car.

This condition can be very dangerous, because sleepwalkers are not fully alert, and they can injure themselves while performing routine tasks. Driving while in slow wave sleep, for example, can result in an accident, and a sleepwalker may also eat or drink something inappropriate, or become injured with a knife or another tool.

It is usually easy to tell when someone is sleepwalking. Sleepwalkers often have eyes with a slightly glazed appearance, and they are slow to respond when asked questions. They may also behave erratically or nonsensically, and some sleepwalkers have been known to act violent during an episode. A sleepwalker will also not have any memory of the incident the next morning.

Contrary to popular belief, it is perfectly safe to wake sleepwalkers up, and in fact it is often advised, to reduce the risk of incurring injuries. Sometimes strenuous effort may be required to wake a sleepwalker, and the person may be disorientated, confused, or upset when they wake up because they have no memories of their activities. After being awakened, a sleepwalker can be put back to bed.

Repeated episodes can indicate the need for a trip to a doctor or sleep lab. A doctor can discuss the patient's history to determine why he or she is sleepwalking, and make recommendations which may reduce the frequency of episodes, or bring it to a stop altogether. In cases where the condition is caused by stress, for example, addressing the stress will usually resolve the sleep disturbance.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a The Health Board researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-sleepwalking.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.