Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that can result in strange behavior, such as urinating in unauthorized locations or breaking things. It can also be dangerous for the sleepwalking individual if they perform dangerous acts while asleep. Although sleepwalking is most common in pre-teen children, it can occur at any age and is often associated with fatigue, stress, anxiety or certain sleep aid drugs. Consult a physician if your sleepwalking occurs when you have been taking a sleep aid, such as Ambien.
Create a Satisfying Sleep Routine
One of the main causes of sleepwalking is fatigue. If you aren't getting enough sleep at night and sleepwalking is the result, it's important to adjust your sleep schedule so that you're getting ample amounts every night. This is one of the easiest ways to correct your sleep disorder. It also helps to go to bed earlier and try to establish a consistent sleep schedule, according to the Mayo Clinic. Prior to bedtime, allow your body and mind to wind down with relaxing activities like reading, bathing or other activities that don't involve a glowing monitor or elevate your heart rate. Relaxation exercises may also improve your quality of sleep and alleviate episodes of sleepwalking.
Manage Stress
When stress is causing episodes of sleepwalking, the best approach is to identify stressors and try to address or eliminate them. The Mayo Clinic recommends brainstorming possible ways to remedy or handle stress in your life, such as allocating times to worry and not worry. You may also seek out therapy for the stress, which can end occurrences of sleepwalking. If your child is sleepwalking, discuss what's creating stress in their life and help make the circumstances more manageable.
Seek Out Treatment
According to the Mayo Clinic, treatment is usually unnecessary for sleepwalking---simple home remedies often do the trick. But there are several things you can do when you struggle to solve your sleeping problems. Hypnosis is a method that may prove effective, and your doctor may suggest a medication to treat the problems causing you to sleepwalk. Conversely, some medications can cause episodes of sleepwalking and may need to be changed.
