Updated: Dec. 9, 2020
Originally Published: November 4, 2019
It’s 4 a.m., and the whole house is in a deep slumber, yet here I am, wide awake but not quite where I remember falling asleep. Instead of my cozy bed, I find myself slumped on the couch, remnants of two popsicles sticking to my skin, while the third one has melted into a gooey mess on my lap. I’m sitting there without a top or a bra, the TV droning on with some random show I wouldn’t normally choose in my waking hours. The worst part? I have no recollection of how I ended up here. Clearly, I’ve been sleepwalking… again.
As a child, my sleepwalking episodes were frequent. My mother would tuck me in and then turn on her favorite TV shows, only to later find me aimlessly wandering around the house like a lost soul. I’d fiddle with the front door, rummage through the fridge, or simply stand there staring blankly into space. Sometimes, the creepiest moments were when I would pace around, mumbling nonsensical phrases. Thankfully, my mom always managed to guide me back to bed without waking me up fully; a gentle nudge and a reminder would usually suffice.
While many believe sleepwalking is just a childhood phase, that’s a misconception. It’s most prevalent among adolescents, yet up to 25% of children with recurring episodes may continue to sleepwalk into adulthood, resulting in over 8.4 million adults in the U.S. wandering around at night.
Having been a lifelong sleepwalker, I’ve noticed that my episodes often coincide with periods of significant stress in my life. Various factors can contribute to sleepwalking, including sleep deprivation, alcohol use, medication side effects, and even psychiatric issues like PTSD or panic attacks. Despite its prevalence, the reasons why some adults continue to sleepwalk while others don’t remain poorly understood. Recent studies indicate that sleepwalking can have serious implications for one’s safety and overall quality of life.
In a recent study, lead author Dr. Yves Dauvilliers noted, “We found a higher frequency of daytime sleepiness, fatigue, insomnia, depressive and anxiety symptoms and altered quality of life in patients with sleepwalking compared to the control group.” This suggests that what might be perceived as a benign condition can actually have significant consequences.
In the last few years, I’ve experienced a few alarming awakenings outside. I’ve found myself seated on the chilly concrete steps of our back porch or waking up with a stiff neck after dozing against the wall. There was one particularly memorable occasion when I strolled outside, sat on the front porch swing, and munched on Fruit Loops completely nude, though luckily my sleep state had the foresight to wrap me in a fuzzy blanket beforehand.
I’ve been known to initiate intimate moments with my partner while still sound asleep, scribble incoherent notes on my phone, and even take baths—often waking up to the shock of icy water or an overflowing tub. Clearly, this isn’t how anyone would define a restful night’s sleep.
When I start to regain consciousness during one of these episodes, I often feel disoriented and bewildered. Thoughts race through my mind, such as, “What on earth am I doing?” and “Why am I here?” During sleepwalking, the brain is partially awake, allowing for complex behaviors without full awareness. Sleepwalkers are often advised against being abruptly awakened, for good reason.
Given that my sleepwalking often places me in potentially hazardous situations, it’s not uncommon to wake up feeling a surge of panic. If I’m jolted awake too suddenly—whether from bumping into furniture or being startled by a loud noise—I can feel more terrified and confused than usual until I piece together what happened. Dr. Dauvilliers emphasizes the need for better recognition and de-stigmatization of sleepwalking, as it is beyond the control of the individual.
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Summary:
Sleepwalking can lead to bizarre and potentially dangerous scenarios, as illustrated by my own experiences of waking up in unexpected places, sometimes without clothes. It’s often triggered by stress and can continue into adulthood for some, with serious implications for well-being. More awareness and understanding are needed around this condition, which is often misunderstood and stigmatized.
Keyphrase: sleepwalking experiences
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