How to Handle Sleepwalking

Somnambulism, or sleepwalking, involves walking or performing other tasks in a state of deep sleep, with little or no memory of the event after awakening. Causes include fatigue, medications or stress, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Sleepwalking is especially common in children, but can affect people of any age. While sleepwalking itself is not harmful, it may lead to falls or other injuries. There are no specific treatments for sleepwalking, but there are ways to reduce the likelihood of sleepwalking events.

Instructions

• 1

  Make your environment safe for sleepwalking by locking windows and doors before going to bed and moving electrical cords and other objects that may cause you to trip or fall. You may also want to use gates to block stairways and place bells or alarms on interior doors. Avoid the use of bunk beds for children who sleepwalk.

• 2

  Manage stress, anxiety and insomnia, which often worsen sleepwalking, with a relaxing nighttime routine. Choose your favorite calming activities, such as reading, meditating or taking a warm bath.

• 3

  Make your bedroom conducive to sleep by keeping it cool, dark and quiet. Improved sleep hygiene may reduce sleepwalking episodes by improving the quality of your sleep.

• 4

  Get adequate sleep each night. It may be helpful to establish a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and getting up around the same time each day. Sleep deprivation and fatigue often trigger sleepwalking.

• 5

  Talk to your doctor if frequent sleepwalking episodes lead to excessive daytime sleepiness or risk of injury. He may prescribe medication, such as a sedative or antidepressant to reduce sleepwalking episodes. Your doctor can also determine whether sleepwalking is related to other factors, such as an existing medication or an underlying sleep disorder like sleep apnea.