Sleep walking, or somnambulism, is the act of getting up an moving around while in the midst of sleep. The condition is fairly harmless and usually affects children between the ages of eight and twelve. Sleep walking is considered harmless because the disorder itself does not pose any physiological threat. However, the act of sleep walking can be dangerous because the sleeper can wander into dangerous situations.
Causes
Sleep walking is often random and is not a sign of a mental health issue. However, frequent sleep walking may signal an underlying physical problem such as seizure disorders, restless leg syndrome, head injuries and sleep disordered breathing.
Sleep deprivation, stress, and anxiety can all contribute to the disorder. As can sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings and some medications -- including some sleeping pills.
Sleep walking also appears to run in families and is more common in families where one or both parents has a history. Sleepwalking usually isn’t serious but if the episodes become more frequent or intense, seek medical attention.
Treatments
There are not many treatments for sleep walking. Some adults may respond well to hypnosis and, in some cases, certain antidepressants may stop frequent episodes. If an underlying medical condition is the cause then the doctor will target treatment toward that condition.
Home Remedies
Sleepwalk-proof the environment. Close and lock all windows and exterior doors. Place alarms and bells on the doors, which may awaken the sleep walker or alert other people in the house. Remove obstacles that the sleep walker may trip over. Hide car keys and sharp objects.
Practice stress management and try to get more sleep -- both fatigue and stress contribute to sleepwalking.
Keep a diary to determine any patterns.
Be patient. Sleepwalking usually goes away on its own.