Last Updated on August 14, 2021 by
There are very few cases of people walking in their sleep. But while sleepwalking is a peculiar form of behavior, there is nothing mysterious about it. To understand it, let us start with sleep itself. We need to sleep so that our tired organs and tissues of the body will rest and be restored. We still do not have an exact scientific explanation of how and why we sleep, but it is believed that there is a “sleep center” in the brain which regulates the sleeping and waking of the body.
What Regulates This Sleep Centre?
The blood. The activity of our body all day releases certain substances into the blood. One of these is calcium. It passes into the blood and stimulates the sleep center. And the sleep center has been “sensitized” before by special substances so that it will react to the calcium.
When the sleep center goes to work. it does two things. The first is it blocks off part of the brain so that we no longer have the will to tie anything, and we no longer have consciousness. We might call this “brain sleep”. The second thing it does is block off certain nerves in the brain stem so that internal organs and our limbs fall asleep. Let us call this “body sleep”.
And normally these two reactions or kinds of Sleep, are connected. But under certain conditions, they may be separated! The brain may sleep while the body is awake. This might happen to a person whose nervous system does not react normally. So such people might get out of bed while their brain is asleep and walkabout! The brain and body sleep have become disassociated, and they are sleepwalkers.
How Do You Stop Sleepwalking?
1. Make the environment safe.
2. Gently lead the person sleepwalking to bed.
3. Get adequate sleep.
4. Establish a regular, relaxing routine before bedtime.
5. Put stress in its place.
6. Look for a pattern.
What happens when you walk in your sleep?
Answer- It usually happens when you’re going from a deep stage of sleep to a lighter stage or coming awake. You can’t respond while you’re sleepwalking and usually don’t remember it.
When people walk in their sleep?
Short Answer- Sleepwalking — also known as somnambulism — involves getting up and walking around while in a state of sleep.
Is sleepwalking a mental illness?
Short Answer- Both sleepwalking and sleep talking can happen for many reasons. Sometimes they are symptoms of a mental health condition, and both may cause psychological distress and interfere with relationships, work, and even overall life satisfaction.
Can Sleepwalkers unlock doors?
Answer- Some sleepwalkers accomplish complex tasks such as making food, putting on music and even opening locked doors.
