Today we talk about somnambulism. Who hasn’t heard about people who walk, talk or sit alone when they are sleeping? Stories and anecdotes are frequently told about one or more members of the family circle who have walked around the house alone wanting to open doors or windows, or who while they slept spoke or “called” acquaintances.
Furthermore, after these episodes, when the next morning what happened is told to the person who was the protagonist of the event, it is rare for them to remember anything. The truth is that the somnambulismalso known as noctambulismit is so strange that it has been enveloped in a haze of rumors and myths (such as the belief that it is advisable not to lift a sleepwalker). This brief article aims to clarify doubts about this phenomenon.
For Navarro and Tortajada (1994) “sleepwalking is a generally benign sleep disorder that is characterized by brief episodes of wandering that appear during slow wave sleep (fourth phase), almost in the first third of the night.” These episodes, which usually last from 40 seconds to 40 minutes, can include almost any type of behavior or express incoherent or very clear words or phrases.
Regarding the symptoms, Navarro and Tortajada They give us the following characteristics about the behavior of the sleepwalker:
Occurrence of sleepwalking
Sleepwalking is, therefore, a sleep disorder, since it represents an alteration of normal behavior during this phase of daily life and can harm the well-being of the individual. But, beyond its basic effects, sleepwalking can begin to manifest itself in different ways.
It is known that this sleep disorder tends to occur in childhood with a prevalence of 20% and its onset usually occurs between the ages of 4 to 8 years. Although many scientists affirm that this disorder is rare in adulthood, there is data that corroborates its existence in adults, perhaps not in a high percentage, but in a significant degree of 1 to 3%. In people who experience it during adulthood, it should be noted that both in its symptoms and etiology it differs from sleepwalking typical of childhood.
In a study done by Dr. Guiezzepi Plazzi from the University of Bologna and published in the journal Neurological Science It is stated that in children between 4 and 6 years old it usually occurs more frequently. It also concludes that in some people there is an impulse to have sexual relations during a sleepwalking event (this is called sleepwalking sexual behavior, or sexsomnia).
Causes of sleepwalking
To date, there is no unified theory based on solid evidence that explains the causes of sleepwalking. What apparently is confirmed is that it is hereditary: it has been concluded that Between 70 and 80% of sleepwalkers have family members who have had some sleep disorder throughout their lives..
Some mental health professionals indicate that sleepwalking in children would be associated with fatigue and anxiety. Regarding the adult stage, this could be associated with the consumption of some type of drugs.
Nightwalking treatment
To date, there is no specific treatment for this sleep disorder. What does exist are preventive measures, which are aimed at children who suffer from it and their parents, who must be alert so that when an episode occurs the subject does not put his or her life in danger.
If these episodes have occurred both in adolescence and adulthood, professionals recommend relaxation techniques, and alternative techniques such as hypnosis, yoga, etc. (as long as it serves as a complement to a psychological intervention). A pharmacological treatment may be recommended if the sufferer is an adult and if so indicated by a psychiatrist and according to his or her instructions.
To this day, science continues working to find the origin of sleepwalking. Meanwhile, we will continue to be intrigued by the behavior of a person who, while asleep, can act like an awake person.
