Do You Sleep Walk?

Sleepwalking is rare and takes places usually due to some medical condition. The condition is found common in identical twins. Sleep walking is often an inherited condition.

If the parents or any immediate relative has this condition, it is most likely than the children may develop it during any time of their life.

Causes of Sleepwalking

Genes are majorly responsible for sleep walking. Other factors include disturbed sleep schedules, physiological factors and medical conditions.

Psychiatric disorders like multiple personality disorder, panic attack and post traumatic stress disorder may lead to frequent sleep walking. Sleeping walking can also be seen in patients of obstructive sleep apnea. This is a condition in which breathing of the person stops temporarily while the person is sleeping.

Patients of gastro esophageal reflux, a condition in which the food may come back into the esophagus from stomach, have been observed to sleep walk. High fevers, night time asthma, convulsions and cardiovascular diseases like arrhythmia may also lead to sleep walking.

In women, tendency to sleep walk increases due to magnesium deficiency, during menstruation and period of pregnancy.

Stress and alcohol intoxication (as in case of consumption of methanol) may possibly cause sleep walking. Drugs used to treat psychiatric disorders (narcoleptics), stimulants, antihistamine, tranquilizers and sedatives may trigger sleep walking.

Medical Treatment

Hypnosis is commonly practiced by psychologists to treat such patients. Self hypnosis, taught by an expert, is also helpful in treating sleep walking.

The cause of sleep walking is necessary to discover to completely cure sleep walking. Anticipated awakening is a remedy in which the person is awakened about 15 minutes before the time they usually sleep-walk. The person is kept awake during the phase. This is practiced for a month or as found necessary by the expert.

Self Care

Sleep walkers must maintain a proper sleeping schedule and follow it strictly. Mediate and practice deep breathing exercises to relax your mind and body for a deep sleep.

Keep sharp instruments locked in cupboards. Keep all windows and doors locked. Try sleeping on ground.

Whatever be the remedy, it must only be followed only after consultation with a medical professional.