Night walks

Sleep is a state familiar to all of us, when the body rests and the brain processes the information received during the day. It would seem that the process is as simple as possible, but in fact, complex processes occur during sleep, which are divided into two main periods - the slow and fast phase. Any deviation from the norm is called parasomnia; the most interesting sleep disorder to study is sleepwalking or somnambulism. What is the nature of sleepwalking and how to treat it?

Signs of sleepwalking

People suffering somnambulism, during sleep they behave atypically, this can be expressed in walking or talking, all actions are unconscious, although from the outside they may seem quite purposeful. Many people do not even realize that they are susceptible to this disease, and meanwhile statistics say that about 50% of the globe is somehow related to sleepwalking.

The main symptom of somnambulism is night walking, when a person suddenly wakes up, gets up and performs some actions for a few seconds to half an hour, in rare cases this lasts about an hour. Sometimes the condition manifests itself not by walking, but by sitting; a child or adult wakes up, but does not get out of bed, and then lies down again. The eyes may be closed or open, the gaze and facial expression express absolutely nothing. The skin is not sensitive to pinches or other types of impact. If you stroke or slap a sleepwalker's hand, he won't even notice it. It’s impossible to wake a person up, and it’s not worth it; in the morning he won’t even remember about his travels and will be sincerely surprised when you tell him about it.

Other signs of sleepwalking:

• bruxism or teeth grinding some experts also consider it a sign of somnambulism;
• twitching of arms and legs, smacking, etc.;
• screaming during sleep, incoherent conversations, dialogues with oneself, indistinct muttering;
• repetitive movements, such as opening and closing doors;
• involuntary urination - in children.

Cause of sleepwalking

Often, young children and adolescents (especially boys) are susceptible to sleepwalking; this fact is explained by the immaturity and vulnerability of the nervous system, when the slightest stress has a powerful effect on the psyche. In adulthood, the phenomenon of somnambulism is much less common; the cause is mainly stress and chronic fatigue, but sometimes it signals serious pathologies. Consultation with a specialist is necessary if sleepwalking provokes a certain disease; in other cases it is harmless. However, while walking in a dream, a person, especially a small child, can accidentally injure himself or others; sometimes such a disorder creates a real threat to life and health; there are cases where murders were committed while walking, or falls from roofs occurred, even resulting in death.

Doctors cannot point out with complete certainty certain phenomena that cause somnambulism. There is an opinion that sleepwalking most often affects people who are impressionable, emotional, and have a high degree of anxiety.

Other factors influencing the occurrence of parasomnia:

• overwork, chronic fatigue, physical and mental stress;
• life shocks or threats to life;
• use of certain medications, including sedatives;
• an unusual, new environment for a person, vivid impressions;
• diseases associated with the nervous system, physical pathologies - head injuries, epilepsy, fever attacks, severe headaches, panic attacks, as well as abuse of psychotropic and narcotic substances, alcohol, energy drinks;
• genetic predisposition.

Treatment of sleepwalking

The study and treatment of all kinds of sleep-related disorders falls within the competence of a somnologist. The diagnosis is made on the basis of stories and complaints from relatives, and only then a comprehensive psychological and physical examination is carried out, which includes:

• EEG, its results will determine the presence or absence of epileptic foci.
• Polysomnography, during the study, sensors are attached to the patient and they find out how the nervous system behaves during sleep.
• An ultrasound of the brain and blood vessels will determine the level of blood flow.
• MRI will detect tumors, if any.
• The complex uses the awakening method, when the sleepwalker is observed over several nights in order to determine the period and time of somnambulism. A few minutes before the intended sleepwalking session, the person is woken up, this allows you to control his behavior and reboot the existing sleep cycle.
• Consultations with specialized specialists to identify diseases that provoke the appearance of sleepwalking.

Treatment of sleepwalking, First of all, it is to determine the causes and eliminate stress factors. If the phenomenon is permanent, the patient will be helped by sedatives and antidepressants; in the case of episodic somnambulism sessions, consultation with a psychologist or psychotherapist is necessary.

To protect your child from sleepwalking, establish a sleep-wake schedule, walk more in the fresh air, do not create stressful situations for him, do not overload him with intellectual and physical work, do not turn on the TV or computer. Before bed, a light massage, a bath with lavender oil, a good fairy tale and herbal infusions of chamomile, St. John's wort and mint will help you relax.