Learn how to safely manage sleepwalking and night terrors with proven strategies like scheduled awakenings, sleep extension, and environmental safety. Most cases resolve with simple, non-medical steps.
Sleepwalking: Causes, Risks, and What to Do When It Happens
When someone sleepwalking, a type of parasomnia where a person performs complex behaviors while still asleep. Also known as noctambulism, it’s not just wandering around—it’s your brain partially awake while your body moves, often without memory of it later. This isn’t rare. About 1 in 5 children and 1 in 25 adults experience it at least once. Most outgrow it, but for others, it becomes a recurring issue that puts them at risk—falling down stairs, walking outside, even driving. It’s not a choice. It’s a neurological glitch.
Parasomnia, a category of sleep disorders involving abnormal movements, behaviors, emotions, or perceptions during sleep includes more than just sleepwalking. Think night terrors, sudden episodes of screaming, flailing, and intense fear during deep sleep, often mistaken for nightmares, or sleep talking. These often happen together. Stress, sleep deprivation, fever, and certain medications like sedatives or antidepressants can trigger them. Genetics play a big role—if a parent sleepwalked, their kids are more likely to. But it’s not just inherited. A disrupted sleep cycle from shift work, jet lag, or untreated sleep apnea can turn occasional episodes into a nightly problem.
Safety is the biggest concern. People sleepwalking don’t react to danger. They might open windows, try to leave the house, or grab sharp objects. Bedrooms should be locked, stairs blocked, and keys hidden. Alarms on doors can alert family members. If someone you live with sleepwalks, don’t try to wake them—gently guide them back to bed. Sudden awakening can cause confusion or aggression. Keep a sleep diary: note when episodes happen, what they did, and what was going on that day. That info helps doctors spot patterns.
Most kids outgrow sleepwalking by puberty. Adults who start sleepwalking need medical attention. It could point to sleep apnea, restless legs, PTSD, or even neurological conditions. Treatment isn’t always pills. Often, it’s fixing sleep habits—consistent bedtime, reducing screen time before bed, avoiding alcohol. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe low-dose benzodiazepines or suggest cognitive behavioral therapy. But the real win? Prevention. A calm, predictable routine cuts episodes more than any drug.
Below, you’ll find real advice from people who’ve dealt with this—how to protect your home, what medications might trigger it, and when to ask for help. No fluff. Just what works.