sleeping can be the enemy (Sleepwalking)

Member Name: sparky111

Product:	Sleepwalking
Date:	28/11/08 (157 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: n/a

Disadvantages: unsafe

When I was young child aged about 5 or 6 I used to sleep walk most nights, I dont really remember much about it, only what I have been told by my mother and sister.

I had a very unsettled childhood as my parents had split and I missed my father terribly, I wasn't very close to my mother and life generally was not good for me at that time, I know sleepwalking can be caused by stress, anxiety or psycological factors as I have since looked into it so I think this was a main factor in my case.

Sleep walking or parasomnia as its medically called starts at the early stages of sleep and then the actions are recalled if awoken through an episode.

As a child I would get up and do things that I would normally do whilst awake. I would come downstairs and play with my toys or just sit on the sofa as though watching tv.

There was also a frightening side to my sleepwalking....

There was a lovely lady called barbara who lived next door to me, she lived with her daughter who cared for her as she was crippled with arthritus and bed ridden, she was a really talented artist and I would sit for hours just watching her draw, I was fascinated with her and could never understand how she held her pencil so precisely what with her hands being so squashed together from the arthritis, I was very close to her and very happy in her company. You will understand why I have mentioned this shortly.

One night I went to bed as normal, although I never went straight to sleep, I remember having this sort of ocd thing going on and would have to make sure my curtains were shut a certain way, the cupboard doors and draws were shut properly and there was nothing under my bed!! Which was odd as I was only about 5 or 6 but I suppose it shows where my head was at that time.

I eventually fell asleep, but then started to do my nightly routine, only it was a little different this time. I walked down the stairs and unlocked the front door and went outside. I went to my neighbours and started knocking on the door, luckily for me eventually the door was answered, they knew about my sleeping disorder and saw my eyes were open and glazed with what they called an empty look about them so assumed it was the sleep walking and they alerted my mother to what had happened. I was woken up by my mother and very confused as to why I was outside.

I think in hind sight I must of been trying to go to my neighbours where I felt happy and safe.

My sleep walking carried on for a few years but in time I grew out of it, my mother had to make sure she took the keys out of the doors at night and try to make sure sharp objects were out of reach of me and to be more safety conscious.

Although sleep walking can be harmless and short lived, the safety aspects need to be considered. People have been known to drive, cook, eat and even have sex while in the sleep walking state.

Things could of been a lot worse for me, I could of walked near a road and got run over and I think anyone who suffers with this or has a child that suffers with this condition has to be carefull and think about the risks that are involved with it and try to get to the bottom of why it is happening in the first place.

Thank you for reading.

I hope it helps.

Summary: normally a harmless condition but can be more serious.