Sleepwalking - What to do?

What exactly happens during sleepwalking?

What is sleepwalking?

The Mister Sandman guide on the topic of mattresses deals in this lexicon entry with the phenomenon of sleepwalking. Sleepwalking, referred to in medicine as somnambulism, is a sleep disorder that belongs to the subgroup of parasomnias. Parasomnias are disturbances of sleep with undesired unusual behaviors occurring. In sleepwalking, those affected perform unconsciously at night, sometimes complex activities. Sleepwalkers are in a kind of twilight state. Characteristic of sleepwalking is that those affected do not remember their sleepwalking afterwards.

Sleepwalking - What are sleepwalkers capable of?

In general, it can be said that sleepwalkers are capable of doing anything they can do while awake. This can range from simply sitting up in bed on the mattress, to wandering around the bedroom, opening doors and cabinets, to complex activities like cooking or even driving. These are activities that the affected sleepwalker also routinely masters while awake. During sleepwalking, the sleepwalker is in a kind of twilight state. They perform activities as if they are awake, are even responsive, but the brain is in the deep sleep phase. Although sleepwalkers react to their environment, their reactions are slowed and their coordination is impaired. Movements of sleepwalkers while sleepwalking appear unsteady and mechanical. Sleepwalkers often stumble while sleepwalking, and falls can even occur. It is also not uncommon for a sleepwalker to confuse a door with a window or to walk straight ahead stubbornly, even though the path ends. The risk of injury while sleepwalking is therefore very high. Most sleepwalkers typically sleepwalk for only a few minutes, rarely longer than half an hour. Often, sleepwalkers find their way back to bed after their nightly excursions onto the mattress.

Symptoms of sleepwalking

The duration of sleepwalking and the type of actions performed in deep sleep during the night vary greatly from one sleepwalker to another. However, each sleepwalker exhibits a very specific symptomatology during sleepwalking:

change in state of consciousness (decreased awareness)
reduced reaction ability
reduced dexterity
no memory of sleepwalking after waking up
expressionless, rigid face, eyes staring straight ahead (gaze into emptiness)
frequent hunger while sleepwalking
aggressive behavior (very rare, often as a first reaction to being awakened)
targeted and directed, partly complex actions

Is sleepwalking dangerous?

Sleepwalking is one of the mysterious topics in sleep medicine. The causes and triggers are largely unknown and the knowledge is limited, as sleepwalking is difficult to observe under conditions in a sleep lab. Sleepwalkers are usually prevented from their nightly rounds by the artificial and unfamiliar environment in the sleep lab. Thus, sleep researchers can very rarely observe the phenomenon of sleepwalking live. Devices and cables in the sleep lab also hinder the sleepwalker from their nightly excursions. According to current knowledge, however, sleepwalking is not considered dangerous in itself. In most cases, there are no underlying organic or psychological disorders. Nevertheless, the topic of sleepwalking should still be taken seriously, as sleepwalkers are exposed to an increased risk of injury at night.

Sleepwalking - Causes

The causes of sleepwalking are still unknown today. It is clear that it is not a mental illness. It is assumed that sleepwalking requires a genetic predisposition. In most cases, it can be proven that in the family of a sleepwalker, at least one other person can report cases of somnambulism. Furthermore, it is believed that somnambulism is related to the development of the central nervous system in the brain. This would explain why children sleepwalk relatively often, while adults are affected extremely rarely. In contrast to the actual causes of somnambulism, it is clear that many sleepwalkers react to certain triggers with sleepwalking. These triggers can simply be a full bladder or a loud noise during the night, which triggers the nocturnal activity.

Sleepwalking - Frequency and Distribution

The frequency of sleepwalking can only be speculated upon. Since sleepwalkers usually do not remember their nocturnal behavior, only the partner or possibly family members can report on sleepwalking. The number of unreported cases regarding sleepwalking is therefore estimated to be very high.

Children as Sleepwalkers

It is certain that sleepwalking is relatively common for children. It is assumed that sleepwalking is triggered by the not fully developed central nervous system. About 30 percent of children have been proven to sleepwalk at least a few times. However, only 3 to 4 percent of these affected children are regular sleepwalkers. Often, sleepwalking disappears at the latest with puberty. It can therefore be assumed that children sleepwalk because the areas in the brain that control sleep sometimes work uncoordinatedly. As development progresses, this symptomatology disappears. If children's sleepwalking occurs no more than once a week and does not lead to any problems, such as injuries, there is no further reason for concern.

Adults as sleepwalkers

In adults, somnambulism occurs very rarely. According to estimates, only about one to two percent are chronic sleepwalkers. Of these, most were already predisposed to sleepwalking as children. In the past, it was believed that sleepwalking was triggered by a full moon or other light sources, which has now been scientifically disproven. Nevertheless, in the presence of a tendency to sleepwalk, external influences can promote sleepwalking.

Sleepwalking - When to see a doctor?

Treatment with medication for sleepwalking is rarely necessary. If sleepwalking occurs infrequently and does not lead to serious problems or accidents, targeted treatment is usually not required. Rather, certain measures should be taken for the safety of sleepwalkers during their nighttime sleep. Concerning is somnambulism especially in cases where sleepwalking occurs for the first time in adulthood. In these cases, the sleepwalker should consult a doctor for safety and may need to have the sleepwalking examined in a sleep lab to rule out nerve damage or disturbances in the brain. In some cases, newly occurring sleepwalking in adulthood can be a harbinger of diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s.

Sleepwalking - Therapy and Treatment

Children who occasionally and briefly sleepwalk usually do not require special therapy. Sleepwalking often disappears with puberty and is, aside from the risk of injury, not a dangerous condition with health implications. However, adult sleepwalkers should consider a visit to a doctor or a sleep lab. Especially if sleepwalking occurs for the first time in adulthood, caution is advised. A therapy for sleepwalking with medication is usually unnecessary and inappropriate. On the contrary, there are some medications that are suspected of promoting sleepwalking. In rare, particularly severe cases, a sleepwalker may be prescribed certain sleep medications that reduce deep sleep. A more sensible approach is therapy and treatment of sleepwalking through targeted psychotherapy. Especially in adults, it is more likely that psychological disorders rather than a biological cause are the reason for sleepwalking. The psychosocial consequences of sleepwalking can also be enormous, especially for adults, as nighttime actions can lead to embarrassing situations. Information about somnambulism and psychotherapy can help develop a healthy approach to the problem.

Sleepwalking - Tips for sleepwalkers

Nighttime sleepwalking has no effects on health, but it does carry an increased risk of injury for the sleepwalker. Therapy and treatment are often unnecessary and ineffective in many cases. Therefore, it is more important to create safety for the sleepwalker. Here are some tips and advice on how sleepwalkers can safely get through the night:

lock and secure doors and windows
remove possible obstacles (e.g. in front of the mattress)
leave a (small) night light on
Cushion corners and clear away fragile objects
Especially in unfamiliar surroundings (for example, on vacation), you should lock doors and windows at night and remove obstacles.
Sleepwalking usually occurs at the same time during the night. If you consciously interrupt sleep shortly before this time by waking them, sleepwalking can be prevented. However, waking from sleep often loses its restorative effect.
Sleepwalkers should never be abruptly awakened during their nighttime activity. Waking up in an unfamiliar situation can lead to great confusion, fear, and even aggression. If you encounter a sleepwalker at night outside of their bed , you should try to gently guide the sleepwalker back to their bed. Once back in bed, sleepwalkers continue to sleep peacefully and remember nothing about their nighttime activity the next morning.

But which mattress is suitable for falling asleep particularly well for a restful night without disturbance? This is shown to you by the individual consultation through the mattress finder.