Effective Remedies For Sleepwalking
How would it feel if you went to sleep in your warm and cozy bed at night only to wake up in the living room in the morning? Or worst, to wake up and hear of how you walked out of the house to the streets at night! This is the life story of many sleepwalkers. Sleepwalking is a fairly normal condition for children. It also occurs to adults especially those who have been sleep-deprived or suffering from other sleep disorders. Sleepwalking involves a series of complex behaviors the affected individual carries out while asleep. The most obvious of these behaviors is walking. Sleepwalking includes other activities such as sitting up in bed while in a deep sleep and looking around, leaving the house and walking for long distances, and walking around the house.
Most individuals believe a sleepwalker should never be awakened while they sleepwalk. On the contrary, it can be quite unsafe not to awaken a sleepwalker. Sleepwalking may result from many environmental, genetic, medical, and psychological factors, which make it a bit difficult to treat effectively. Therefore, addressing sleepwalking may require a combination of both medical and non-medical treatment options.
Anticipatory Awakening
Most of the sleepwalking episodes especially in children and some adults last for a short time, and therefore, they may not require medical intervention. However, if sleepwalking keeps re-occurring and puts the individual in danger, individuals may consider anticipatory awakening to keep the patient safe. Anticipatory awakening usually involves waking the affected individual a few minutes before their usual sleepwalking time. If individuals are dealing with a sleepwalking child, keep them awake throughout the time during which the sleepwalking episodes occur. This should be repeated until they fully recover from this condition.
Sleepwalkers may find it difficult to get back to sleep. However, they will cope with it over time and probably recover completely from sleepwalking. If sleepwalking becomes frequent, prolonged, and probably dangerous, then you may need to incorporate additional interventions.
Attend Therapy Regularly
Some patients may experience brief episodes of sleepwalking (for instance, when they are stressed), but if sleepwalking becomes a regular occurrence, individuals should ask for professional help. The best place to seek help for a sleepwalking problem is from a therapist who specializes in sleep disorders. If the therapist has an extensive background in sleep disorders, they will guide patients in the next steps, which may include assessment and further testing.
Sleep therapists may start by giving patients detailed information and resources that will help them overcome sleepwalking. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the best tools used by sleep specialists to treat sleepwalking and other disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy incorporates a host of behavioral changes that will help patients achieve better sleep. Individuals who sleepwalk can attend therapy regularly alone or with a group of individuals with similar sleeping problems. The period it takes to complete therapy session depends on the severity of the sleeping disorder.
Treat Any Underlying Condition
As highlighted earlier, sleepwalking can be caused by a variety of factors. Doctors and therapists will focus on identifying the cause before recommending any treatment option. In children, sleepwalking is often caused by a change in routine. Some of the underlying causes in children include not getting enough sleep, feeling overtired, living in a noisy environment, illness or fever, stress, going to sleep with a full bladder, and taking certain medications. Addressing these factors can help in dealing with sleepwalking in children.
The same factors often lead to sleepwalking in adults too. However, sleepwalking in adults can also be caused by other underlying factors such as migraines, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, head injuries, hyperthyroidism, gastroesophageal reflux disease, travel, and stroke. Each of these has particular treatment methods, and prompt treatment of the underlying condition can greatly alleviate sleepwalking.
Adjust Medication As Appropriate
Certain medications are known to interfere with an individual's sleeping pattern, and in turn, this may lead to sleepwalking. Examples of such medicines include cold and flu medications, antidepressants, certain pain relievers, corticosteroids, diuretics, medications for hypertension, and thyroid hormone medications.
If individuals are already taking any of these medications and sleepwalking is becoming an issue, they may need to talk to their doctor to adjust the medication as appropriate. Besides medications, patients may also need to limit their intake of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, since they are known to mess with sleep. Excessive consumption of these substances may lead to sleep deprivation, which may later result in sleepwalking.
Practice Stress Relief Techniques
Some studies have linked stress with sleepwalking in both children adults. So, if stress could be the cause of a patient's sleepwalking, they may need to practice stress relief techniques to divert their mind. Getting more exercise is an effective stress relieving technique that can help control sleepwalking. Numerous studies have shown getting more exercise can help individuals sleep better at night, thus curbing the symptoms of most sleep disorders. Other techniques that can help in managing stress and anxiety include meditation, yoga, and talking to a professional or even a friend. Some report aromatherapy is also helpful, along with listening to music or even reading a book.