How to Cope With a Sleepwalking Spouse

Sleepwalking is a disorder that results in walking during sleep and typically occurs during deep sleep. A sleepwalker may get up from bed and walk around the room or he may go out and drive the car. The sleepwalker usually has his eyes wide open. This person is unable to respond during a sleepwalking event, does not remember anything and will sometimes speak incoherently. Sleepwalking can be unsettling, frightening and dangerous.

Instructions

1. Do not wake your spouse abruptly. If you wake a sleepwalker abruptly, you can startle him and may find yourself with a black eye.

2. Protect your spouse while he is sleepwalking. You should not intervene with a sleepwalker but be sure to take measures to protect him from injury. The sleepwalker has no idea of what they are doing therefore sleepwalking can be very dangerous.

3. Lock all doors, put gates on stairs, bolt all windows and keep sharp objects out of the way to prevent harm to your spouse while sleepwalking.

4. Encourage your spouse to get enough sleep. Sleepwalking can result from being overtired or not getting enough sleep.

5. Determine if your spouse has sleep or night terrors. Night terrors can cause or lead people to sleepwalking.

6. Exercise with you spouse on a regular basis causing the body to relax resulting in deeper sleep. Experts state that anxiety and stress often triggers sleepwalking.

7. Notice your spouse may sleepwalk and wander around the house and eventually return to his own bed or sleep somewhere else in the house such as on the couch or in a chair for the night.