Why Do People Sleep Walk?
Why do people sleep walk? Has this question ever crossed your mind? Let’s delve deeper on the causes of sleep walking.
So, why do people sleep walk? There must have been some sleepwalking experiences or cases you have heard. Sleep walking, also known as somnambulism is a type of sleep disorder that occurs from the slow wave sleep stage or deep sleep stage, wherein the person is in a state of low consciousness.
A person who sleepwalks is able to carry out typical activities, such as opening a refrigerator, sweeping the floor, going to the bathroom, walking down a staircase, or even as dangerous as driving a car or having sex with a total stranger.
In a study conducted by Dr. Christina Gurnett, sleepwalking could be an acquired autosomal dominant disease. Most experts hypothesize that sleepwalking is a result of the delay in the maturation of the central nervous system. This sleep disorder occurs during the slow wave non-rapid eye movement or NREM sleep stage.
Cases of sleepwalking are fascinating because sleepwalkers are often left with little or no memory of the incident. They may look fully awake and could be doing ordinary errands or activities, but they are not actually in the state of full consciousness.
Another answer to the question “Why do people sleep walk?” is sleep deprivation, extreme fatigue, or fever. All of these may trigger and hasten sleepwalking. Sleepwalking may also be an indication of someone having a psychological disorder. In fact, a lot of sleepwalking cases have been documented in patients who are schizophrenic. Patients with Tourette Syndrome are also prone to sleepwalking.
The topic on “Why do people sleepwalk?” is very intriguing and interesting. It has not ceased to pique one’s attention. What if a heinous crime is committed while someone is sleepwalking? Sleepwalking is an uncontrollable behavior, thus legal courts examine these cases very carefully. The person committing the crime could be accused of insane automatism or non-insane automatism (temporary insanity). Insane automatism could result in a court order, demanding the accused to attend a mental institution whereas non-insane automatism can result in the acquittal of the accused.
What are the remedies for sleepwalking? A lot of experts would recommend keeping hazardous objects, such as knives or guns to reduce the risk of any detrimental activity. Sleepwalkers are also encouraged to develop a healthy sleeping habit to avoid further sleepwalking incidents. Sleepwalkers may also be prescribed with low doses of clonazepam, tricyclic antidepressants, and benzodiazepine.
