He somnambulism It is a sleep problem that involves the person getting up and walking or performing a specific action while they are asleep. In general, this is a disorder that is more common in childhood and is usually overcome before the age of 10, but it can also remain and be observed in adults and even emerge when one has advanced in age due to some factors such as psychological disorders. , illnesses, consumption of alcohol, drugs or medications, etc. When sleepwalking occurs in adulthood, it is important to find out the exact cause and start treatment that helps solve the situation and improve the quality of rest of the affected person. Most times it is enough to adopt some prevention measures and modify lifestyle habits. In the following Psychology-Online article, we explain in detail what they are. The causes, symptoms and treatment of sleepwalking in adults.
What is sleepwalking
He somnambulism it’s a Sleep disorder in which people who suffer from it, despite being in a dream situation at the brain level, get out of bed, walk and carry out complex activities or actions without being aware of it and without remembering said activities the next morning when they wake up. During a sleepwalking episode, the person’s brain is partially, but not completely awake.
This disorder usually occurs in the first half of the night, specifically, in the Non-REM phase N3, one of the phases of sleep in which brain activity is slower. Typically, the sleepwalker gets out of bed and walks around carrying out complex motor behaviors during deep sleep. While she is asleep, she can get up, sit in bed, walk, rub her eyes, touch objects, get dressed, go outside, etc.
Although sleepwalking is more common in children than in adults, it has been reported that this disorder affects up to 4% of adults and that in this case it is more difficult to distinguish with respect to other sleep disorders and can be more dangerous because, in many cases, it is associated with violent behaviors during sleep that can harm the affected person and/or the people who have it. nearby at that time.
Causes of sleepwalking in adults
The causes of sleepwalking are not entirely clear, but the occurrence of these episodes during sleep has been related to factors such as the following:
- Family history of sleepwalking: suffering from this disorder has an important hereditary component, since around 80% of children who suffer from it have a direct family member who has this problem.
- Immature brain development.
- Conditions that disrupt sleep continuity, such as sleep apnea or snoring.
- Lack of sleep or disrupting your usual sleep schedule.
- Fever and taking some medications: both high fever and the consumption of some medications can make the deep phases of sleep even deeper and increase the chances of suffering an episode of sleepwalking.
Furthermore, in the case of Adultsother possible causes of sleepwalking as:
- Consumption of alcohol or narcotic substances.
- Stress, fatigue, and anxiety: These conditions can increase both the frequency and severity of sleepwalking episodes.
- Mental disorders.
- Consumption of some medications or drugs such as, for example, sedatives, hypnotics or those intended for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
- Conditions such as epilepsy, seizures, restless legs syndrome, etc.
- Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia.
- In elderly patients, sleepwalking may be a consequence of neurocognitive disorder, in which mental function decreases due to suffering from an illness.
Sleepwalking in adults: symptoms
The duration of sleepwalking episodes varies from one person to another, as there are cases in which they only last a few seconds or minutes, while others last up to 30 minutes or more. On average, they usually last approximately 10 minutes.
The main symptoms of sleepwalking They are the ones we list below:
- Get up and get out of bed.
- Sitting upright in bed and opening your eyes as if you are awake when you are actually asleep.
- Walking while asleep.
- Carry out a specific activity during sleep, such as going to the bathroom, dressing, undressing, moving objects, eating, etc.
- Absent facial expression and/or lost look.
- Talking while asleep and saying nonsense.
- Confusion and disorientation upon awakening.
- Not remembering the sleepwalking episode or what happened during it the next day.
- Do not respond or talk to other people during the episode.
- If someone wakes you up during the sleepwalking episode, you may become aggressive.
- The next day, you may feel more tired and have difficulty performing your daily tasks due to sleep disturbances.
Treatment for sleepwalking in adults
There is no specific treatment for sleepwalking in adults, since when it is occasional it usually resolves on its own or disappears when the factor that may be causing its appearance is addressed and corrected. However, when it is necessary or indicated by a medical specialist, Sleepwalking treatment may include:
- Treatment of the disease or condition that is causing sleepwalking, since, as we have mentioned previously, this could be a consequence of some mental disorder or underlying illness.
- Taking short-term tranquilizing medications, which can help reduce sleepwalking episodes.
- If you suspect that this disorder is due to taking a specific drug, you should consult with your doctor about the possibility of replacing it with another or adjusting the dose.
- Psychotherapy: Appropriate psychological therapy can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep, overcome stress and learn to relax properly.
In addition to the above, in the case of being a sleepwalker, there are a series of preventive measures that should be adopted to reduce the frequency of these nocturnal episodes and improve the quality of life of the affected person. The most important ones are:
- Maintain good sleep hygiene: try to sleep between 7 and 8 hours a day, set a time to go to sleep at the same time every day, rest in a quiet and relaxed environment, avoid noise when sleeping, avoid doing activities that activate the mind before going to sleep, etc. .
- Reduce anxiety and stress on a daily basis: for this, practicing yoga or Pilates, doing physical exercise or learning can be very good options to relax and promote a night’s rest. In the event that anxiety or stress cannot be reduced by oneself, it will be advisable to go to a professional psychologist to start appropriate therapy.
- Avoid alcohol and drug consumption.
- It is also important to take some security measures in the environment, especially if the affected person has already suffered some type of physical damage or has caused injuries to someone close. Some of these measures are closing windows and exterior doors, blocking stairs or installing security doors, hiding cables and objects that could cause trips, bumps or falls, preventing the affected person from sleeping in a very high bed, etc.
When to see a specialist for sleepwalking
Typically, sleepwalking is not a cause for concern and the episodes usually resolve and disappear on their own spontaneously. However, it is important that consult with a medical specialist if any of the following circumstances occur:
- These episodes are recurrent and appear two or more times a week or several times in a single night.
- They are associated with aggressive or violent behaviors causing injuries or damage to people who are nearby at that moment.
- Consequently, significant sleep disturbances are suffered or significant disturbances are caused in the sleep of the people who live in the home.
- Sleepwalking excessively affects the daily performance of the affected person, that is, there are problems fulfilling daily obligations or carrying out different daily activities.
- The next day, you have excessive sleepiness.
- Sleepwalking has started in adulthood.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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