5 Myths About Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that causes the patient to get out of bed, walk, and even talk. The person acts as if they are awake. His family members are therefore often afraid that something will happen to him. For example, let her open the door of the house and go out into the street, at the risk of being run over.
Despite what we know about this disorder, today we will discover some myths about sleepwalking. Some of them are indeed very widespread and we have accepted them as absolute truths. Many of the myths about sleepwalking, however, are only the result of beliefs that we have not been able to challenge or verify to be true.
1. It is dangerous to wake a sleepwalker
Several myths about sleepwalking that are circulating deal with one main theme: waking up a sleepwalking person is very dangerous. Some say it could lead to a heart attack and death. Others point out that the sleepwalker can go crazy. All of this is not entirely true.
What happens when we wake up confused? Sometimes we dream so intensely that we don’t know where we are when we wake up. Something similar happens to a sleepwalker when they wake up in a different place from where they fell asleep.
Even if the person suffers from the heart, a heart attack nonetheless remains unlikely. The person will wake up confused, disoriented and may show some irritation. It will then be advisable to reassure her, to calm her down and to explain to her what happened. She will probably be aware of her condition and go back to bed.
2. They don’t hurt themselves if they hit something
Here is another myth about sleepwalking. It refers to the inability for people with this disorder to feel pain or hurt themselves. This is why people who accompany a sleepwalker to bed often do not worry if the sleepwalker trips or hits something.
A sleepwalker does not lose sensitivity. He does not suddenly become immune to the stimuli. He continues to hurt himself. So we have to be very careful when helping him get back to bed. If the blow is very strong, it can even wake him up.
3. They always keep their eyes closed
We’ve all seen horror movies where sleepwalkers appear as a shadow, with closed eyes and a sinister demeanor. However, this only happens in the movies. The reality is quite different.
Sleepwalkers do not come forward with their eyes completely closed. How does a sleepwalker open a door? How does he know he has to climb stairs? He can do this because he has his eyes open and can see his surroundings even though his brain is in a dream state.
4. They have sleepwalking episodes every day
Yet another common myth about sleepwalking. There is a tendency to believe that a sleepwalker suffers from this characteristic on a daily basis. In other words, we have to be vigilant every day because he is likely to get up. This is wrong.
Sleepwalkers don’t always get up. This usually happens when they are going through a period of intense stress. It is stress that determines whether a person suffers from sleepwalking for a whole week, a month, or just a few sporadic days. Treating it is therefore highly important.
5. They must be locked up
The family’s concern for the well-being of the person who suffers from sleepwalking may lead them to lock them up. This is not very positive, however. This is because confining a sleepwalker to a relatively small space where their mobility is limited will put them at greater risk of injuring themselves with something.
The ideal is to take measures such as closing the house door and windows. Having shutters is even better because the noise will wake us up if the sleepwalker tries to open it. It is also important not to leave any sharp or injurious object within reach. A sharp knife or lighters, for example.
Safety measures will be different for each person suffering from sleepwalking. Indeed, some try to leave the house, others tend to go to the kitchen to eat or even cook. It is therefore recommended to keep all items that endanger your health out of reach.
No specific treatment for sleepwalking currently exists. It is simply recommended to have good sleep hygiene. The recommendations here would be not to eat abundantly, to go to bed at the same time every day, to get enough sleep and even to undergo therapy to deal with stress.
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