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Step 1
Let’s look at some of the contributing factors for sleepwalking. Stress is a key factor. Stress stimulates brain activity even when you are asleep which is why it can cause you to have insomnia or inconsistent sleep. Any way you can remove stress from your life is likely to reduce sleepwalking tendencies. In addition insomnia treatments such as sleep aids and stimulants, can actually contribute to your sleepwalking even though they are intended to treat the insomnia. Similarly, it is important to avoid excessive fatigue which can cause stress, in turn affecting your likelihood of sleepwalking.
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Step 2
Avoid use of alcohol or other depressants. Use of these chemicals effect your central nervous system and will increase your bodies stress response which could be sleepwalking.
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Step 3
Sleepwalking may reduce with time if proper preparation is made. This is not always true however, especially when it is linked to another disorder such as epilepsy.
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Step 4
In general sleepwalking does not warrant medical treatment unless it is accompanied by signs of a more serious disorder. You can prevent sleepwalking by creating a safe environment so that the sleepwalker does not become injured in the process. It may be necessary to contact a doctor to discuss chemical treatment of sleepwalking if there are other symptoms of other disorders present, if the sleepwalking is aggressive and/or persistent or if dangerous activities take place such as driving or any other activity that warrants leaving the home.
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Step 5
It is a common misconception that you should not wake a sleepwalker. That is not necessarily true and in fact should be done if they are putting themselves into a dangerous situation. If it becomes necessary to wake a sleepwalker, do so gently as if they were asleep in bed. Know that they will be disoriented and help that back to bed.
Comments
byllz said
on 5/15/2008 Neat article, I hope I never have to use these tips.....