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Waking Sleepwalkers

Reviewed by on Dec 27, 2006
Rating: 1 Star Rating

Sleepwalking is very common. In fact, you might be a sleepwalker and not even know it. Sleep walking is often triggered by disruption regular sleeping patterns or fever.

Sleepwalking is very common. In fact, you might be a sleepwalker and not even know it. It's more common with children, usually between five and 12 years old. Sleepwalking usually happens about an hour or so after a kid has gone to bed. He or she will sit right up, eyes wide open and will even mumble a response if you ask them a question. A sleepwalker can get dressed, turn on lights, wander around the house and open the fridge. Kinda freaky if you're sharing a room with them.

The question that most people want to know is, should you wake a sleepwalker? Lots of people think it's dangerous to wake someone who's sleepwalking. It's more for your safety than for theirs. Bruce A. Epstein, M.D., has some advice for anyone who has to deal with a sleepwalker. Bruce says the sleepwalker should be taken by the elbow and gently led back to bed. It's usually hard to wake up a sleepwalker. This doesn't mean you can get your sister to make you a peanut butter and banana sandwich or put your brother through a makeover.

The main reason you shouldn't wake a sleepwalker is because of their reaction to being woken up. Some of them become really frightened and disoriented. If that's the case, you shouldn't touch them or lead them back to bed. According to Dr. Richard Ferber, Director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital in Boston, some upset sleepwalkers will "flail out violently" if they're touched. So save yourself some bruises, lock up sharp objects and don't wake a sleepwalker. You can, however, tell them all about it the next day. Don't worry about exaggerating a few points - they won't remember a thing about their sleepwalking in the morning.

Check out the side story about some real life stories some sleepwalkers have done in their sleep. These stories may seem funny but people with sleep disorders do suffer. In extreme cases, people have been seriously injured and even killed because of sleepwalking.

1 I walked all the way to my Aunt's which is a road over!

Kidz Submit by:

Nickname: Lanetta
Age: 13

1 One time I was very sick and I went to bed and got up and my sister was still awake and I said "I have to kill myself." Then I took a knife and then woke up. Thank God!

Kidz Submit by:

Nickname: sxy lil man
Age: 15

1 I sleepwalk a lot and sometimes even pee in the refridgerator or in trash cans!

Kidz Submit by:

Nickname: pitarga
Age: 13

Do you sleepwalk? Have any embarrassing, funny or even scary stories you want to share with us? to send them our way.

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