Night walks: sleepwalking in children

In ancient times, sleepwalking (scientifically somnambulistic) scared people. The reason for the night walk of sleepwalkers was the influence of the moon on them, and even attributed this phenomenon to impure force.

Sleepwalking in children is a fairly common phenomenon (especially in boys from 6 to 12 years old), which occurs in almost 15% of children and adolescents. Attacks last usually from several minutes to about half an hour. It manifests itself in many ways: from simple movements to complex actions. A sleepwalker can get out of bed, sit down, speak individual words or whole phrases, walk around the house or go out. Eyes can be open or closed, but with closed ones it walks without bumping into objects. The body of the somnambulist is relaxed, the movements are smooth, slow. In moments of conflict, people do not experience feelings of fear or anxiety and are able to exhibit unusual in ordinary situations, strength and dexterity. The conscious part of the psyche is turned off at such moments. That's why lunatics can safely walk along the edge of the roof or the window ledge, and the next morning, absolutely nothing to remember.

Sleepwalking in children can be triggered by severe stress, high fever, some forms of epilepsy, or chronic lack of sleep. In addition, science has proven that it can be hereditary in nature. If the mother or father wander in a dream, in 60% of cases their children will also be lunatics. In itself, sleepwalking in children is not dangerous, but it is better for the child to ensure maximum safety, namely: to install grilles on windows, to remove all thermo-dangerous objects, to lock doors, to block access to stairs. Glass doors are especially dangerous. Before the bed on the floor you can put a wet rag, stepping on which, the child will wake up.

Sleepwalking in adolescents, if he did not disappear by the time of conscription, becomes the reason why they are not taken into the army.

To guard parents should be a period of time during which the child for no reason, mechanically, rubs his hands, smacks, swallows and at the same time twitches, can suddenly and abruptly rise and fall as suddenly. This behavior may indicate signs of seizures, epilepsy, or paroxysmal sleep disorders. In such cases it is necessary to urgently address to the neuropathologist and to pass or take place inspection which should obligatory include the encephalogram.

With age, sleepwalking in children and adolescents in most cases passes. Only 1% of people who went to sleep in childhood, continue to do it in adulthood.

Sleepwalking in adults is usually a sign of brain damage, incl. Such a disease as epilepsy. Suffer somnambulism only very impressionable, but outwardly it does not manifest, people. Provoke it can also stress, high fever, chronic lack of sleep, drugs and alcohol.

25% of sleepwalkers during the course of a crash can injure themselves or harm others. Sometimes people fall out of the windows, confusing them with the door, walking the streets or worse, on the roofs. There are cases when somnambulists have committed acts unusual for their nature: various offenses and even grave crimes.

It should be specially noted that you should not awaken the sleepwalker during his demotions, even if he is in a dangerous situation. This can cause severe fright, which in turn can lead to nervous breakdown. The situation should be waited, and then, taking the person by the hand, calmly and carefully led to bed.

Experts recommend such people before going to sleep to darken the windows, relax, listen to pleasant music, drink a mild sedative or hypnotic.

Sleepwalking in healthy people is temporary and does not require, as a rule, special therapy. But if it is associated with neuroses, nervous system disorders, anxiety or epilepsy, these causative diseases should first of all be treated.