If you're sleepwalking you will:
- appear to wake up, and sit up or get out of bed
- usually have your eyes open but your face may look blank
- not be able to respond normally to what's around you
You may do routine things, like getting dressed or walking around the house. Less commonly, you may do more complex things like eating, sexual activities or leaving the house.
Sleepwalking usually happens in the first part of the night.
It usually lasts a few minutes. You may go back to bed on your own, or wake up feeling confused. You will not remember sleepwalking when you wake up.
Sleepwalking happens when you partly wake from deep sleep in a way that means you can move but your brain is not fully awake.
It's not known exactly why this happens, but it can be linked to things such as:
- not getting enough sleep
- other conditions that affect your sleep, such as sleep apnoea or restless legs syndrome
- being unwell with a high temperature
- taking certain medicines, such as sleeping pills
- stress
- drinking alcohol
Sleepwalking is more common in children, and if you have other family members who also sleepwalk.
There are things you can do to help prevent sleepwalking and reduce the risk of accidents.
Do
keep doors and windows closed, and use stair gates to keep children safe
keep floors clear and remove anything that someone could trip on
lock away sharp objects like knives and tools
fit door alarms if there's a risk of leaving the house
try to get enough sleep – relax before bed, avoid naps during the day, and go to bed and get up at the same times each day
try to manage stress
try keeping a sleep diary, recording whether you sleepwalked and things like what time you went to bed, how well you slept, whether you had caffeine or alcohol and whether you were feeling tired or stressed – this can help you identify anything that might make you more likely to sleepwalk
Don't
do not drink caffeine or alcohol in the evening
do not let your child sleep in the top of a bunk bed if they sleepwalk
If someone's sleepwalking, try to gently guide them back to bed.
If you need to wake them up, try to wake them gently. If they're woken suddenly they'll be confused and will not know what's happening. They may be scared, angry or upset.
Find more advice on sleeping well from the Royal College of Psychiatrists
See a GP if:
You or your child sleepwalk and:
- it's disrupting your sleep
- you're worried about accidents or injuries
- you have other symptoms such as feeling very tired during the day or your breathing stopping and starting while you sleep
Sleepwalking does not usually need treatment. Most children grow out of it without treatment by the time they're teenagers.
If it's linked to another condition, or to taking certain medicines, treating the condition or changing the medicine should help. But do not stop taking medicines without talking to a GP.
A GP might refer you to a sleep clinic for tests and treatment if sleepwalking is putting you at risk of accidents or severely affecting your sleep, or if they think it could be linked to a condition such as sleep apnoea.
Treatment from a sleep clinic may include:
- psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy or hypnotherapy
- medicines such as clonazepam or antidepressants, if other things have not worked
