Why do people sleepwalk, what causes somnambulism, can you stop it and just how common is it?

By Sophie Roberts

15th March 2018, 8:35 am

Updated: 15th March 2019, 9:39 am

SLEEPWALKING is far more common than many people think, affecting at least 20 per cent of children.

But what makes people stand up and move around during the night, is there a cure and should you wake a sleepwalker up?

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Typically, sleepwalking affects children. Symptoms tend to disappear once they have hit puberty.

What is sleepwalking?

Sleepwalking, medically known as somnambulism, is the term used to describe someone carrying out activities while they are not fully conscious.

This includes walking around and completing tasks when you’re not awake.

Typically, somnambulism occurs for around ten minutes when you’re in a state of deep sleep.

This is usually in the first few hours after you first doze off.

Sleepwalking tends to affect children more than adults, impacting 20 per cent of kids at some point in their lives.

In the majority of cases, people will stop experiencing somnambulism when they reach puberty.

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There are triggers for sleepwalking, although a specific cause is yet to be identified

What causes somnambulism?

Medical experts are yet to identify the specific cause of sleepwalking.

Despite this, they believe that you’re likely to experience somnambulism if other members of your family have shown similar behaviours.

outlines other sleepwalking triggers:

not getting enough sleep
stress and anxiety
infection with a fever (especially in children)
drinking too much alcohol
taking recreational drugs
certain types of medication, such as some sedatives
being startled by a sudden noise or touch, causing abrupt waking from a deep sleep
waking up suddenly from a deep sleep because you need to go to the toilet
experiencing restless legs syndrome
suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea

What should I do if I see someone sleepwalking?

While it may be your gut instinct to abruptly awaken a sleepwalker, this isn’t always advisable.

Someone who is semi-conscious may lash out if they are startled during these episodes.

Instead, talking or gently guiding the sleepwalker back to bed is recommended.

If they are putting themselves in danger, try to awaken them softly.

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Does this scenario seem a bit far-fetched? Some sleepwalkers have actually gone shopping while semi-conscious

Is there a cure for sleepwalking?

Often, sleepwalking is not dangerous and doesn’t have a huge impact on people’s lives.

But on World Sleep Day 2019 (March 15), the World Sleep Society explained a lack of continuous, deep and long sleep can lead to significant health risks.

If you put yourself in danger while in this semi-conscious state, it’s also advisable to visit your local GP.

You may then be referred to a specialist sleep expert, who will go through your symptoms in more detail.

The NHS recommends more ways to prevent somnambulism:

try to go to bed at a similar time each night
make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet when you go to sleep
limit drinks before bedtime, particularly those containing caffeine, and go to the toilet before going to sleep
find ways to relax before going to bed, such as having a warm bath, reading or deep breathing