Sleepwalking: are these late-night excursions dangerous?

Sleepwalking is a well-known phenomenon that's shrouded in myth. In the past people believed that sleepwalkers were moonstruck or possessed because they walked creepily in the direction of the moon and moved as if by magic without being conscious. Today we know that sleepwalkers are neither moonstruck nor possessed and that it has to do with a common sleep disorder.

What are the causes of these late-night excursions?

Unlike the mind, the brain never sleeps - at least not all parts. Certain regions of the brain are also active at night and control vital functions such as breathing. Other parts, however, remain "switched off". It can happen that communication between the active and inactive parts of the brain is disturbed, for example by a loud noise or a strong urge or urinate. Those affected then find themselves in a strange state where they're neither asleep nor awake. In this state, the part of the brain that controls motor activity is usually active, which is why sleepwalkers begin to move. Sleepwalking is more common in children and young adults because their brain and nervous system are not yet fully developed, and this often results in miscommunication between the different regions of the brain. This usually happens in the first third of the night. Sleepwalking usually stops by itself either during or after puberty. People can also be genetically predisposed to sleepwalking: if both parents are affected, their children have a 60% risk of sleepwalking.

When does sleepwalking become dangerous?

In most cases, sleepwalking is limited to sitting up in bed or increased movement of the legs. It becomes dangerous when the person leaves the bed and starts to walk around. When a person is sleepwalking their responsiveness and balance are extremely restricted, and as a result furniture can turn into trip hazards and stairs or windows can become a danger to life. It's not possible to predict when and how a person might sleepwalk. Therefore, those affected could benefit from discussing their sleeping habits with an expert. 

Do not disturb

If you come across someone who is sleepwalking, do not wake them up. Even if these late-night excursions are a little spooky for fellow human beings and you have the desire to "free" the person affected, waking them up is not going to do you any favours. Sleepwalkers may respond aggressively, because they're disoriented and confused when they wake up from deep sleep. The best thing to do is to gently take the person by the hand and guide them back to bed.

Tips for sleepwalkers

Certain factors may cause you to sleepwalk more than others. These include, for example:

• sleep deprivation (stress, fever, alcohol consumption, infant sleep-related breathing disorders)
• intake of sleeping pills, antihistamines, stimulants, neuroleptics, benzodiazepines.
• pregnancy/menstruation

Those affected can directly influence some of these factors by avoiding alcohol consumption prior to going to bed, by getting more sleep and establishing a regular sleep pattern in their everyday routine and by trying relaxation exercises in the evenings for example, to help relieve stress before going to bed. In addition, these tips might help minimise the extent of potential sleeping walking:

• Move potential trip hazards in the room out of the way
• Lock the bedroom door
• Keep sharp/dangerous objects out of reach

Sleep programme

Individuals that sleepwalk or generally struggle to settle down at night can get help from SWICA in the form of personal coaching calls, online courses or tips for improved sleep. We would like to help you feel fully recovered after a good night's sleep. More information on the SWICA sleep programme can be found here.

29.03.2023