Monday, October 29, 2012

SLEEPWALKING


One day, while I was staying at my aunt’s house, she told me how I would mumble in my sleep and that it wasn’t the first time. She said I was so weird that I would even start scratching my face that same way as if I was awake. Hearing things like that make me wonder, If my aunt caught me doing silly acts like that when I’m asleep, then what do I do when I’m at home? What I’m more curious about is if I ever sleepwalk?

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that causes people to get up and walk while sleeping.  It usually occurs when a person is in the deep stages of sleep (stage 3 or 4). The sleepwalker is unable to respond during the event and doesn’t even remember any of it. The causes of sleepwalking are not well understood, but it is more common when people are sleep deprived or under unusual stress. Sleepwalking occurs most commonly in childhood but can last into adulthood.  Evidently, parts of the brain are awake and other parts are asleep.  

Episodes of sleepwalking can go from quiet walking around the room to practically running or attempts to “escape.” Take this dog for example, her name is Bizkit, they call her The Sleepwalking Dog because they always seem to catch her in the act. Most of the time she starts off running in place; then sometimes she’ll stand up and start barking out of nowhere with her eyes glazy until she wakes herself up.

Several different factors may be involved in the development of sleepwalking like genetics, environmental, and medical conditions. Incidentally contrary to common sayings, it is not dangerous to awaken a sleepwalker, but it is not particularly helpful either.

It makes you wonder, do you do anything while you’re asleep?

4 comments:

  1. Apparently we can eat, walk, talk and even kill in our sleep, while unconscious! My sister sleep talks and I can even have conversations with her. But when I ask about it the next day, she doesn't remember doing anything. I never caught her sleep walking but my dad has caught her standing on the bed and when he asked what she was doing she replied, "I'm trying to get that balloon. Help me catch it". haha I use to think it was creepy but I am so used to it by now it doesn't bother me. However, sleep-walking still scares me a bit since I haven't seen it happen personally, but it is quite fascinating.

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  2. aww poor Bizkit! The poor thing ran into the wall. Great blog Rubi I really enjoyed it. You asked if we do anything weird in our sleep. Well, I have actually been told my mom that I tend to talk in my sleep at times but mostly I sing. I know it's a little creepy. I don't believe I sing in my sleep because my roommates haven't said anything. I do have a theory to why sing in my sleep. I am thinking it is because I fall asleep to the music on the radio.

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  3. I will say that I have laughed at a cousin of mine so much for sleep walking and making him do silly things(at home and no nothing crazy or bad). But I do come to realize that maybe I should wake him up and not let him continue. I was reading the article and I see that it happens mainly in childhood and can be carried on to adulthood, but does it ever stop?
    It's also interesting that it happens with animals and poor dog, the horrible pain it may feel after banging so many times into the wall.

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  4. that is a funny thing because my brother would talk in his sleep and would make remarks on things that he would say during the day. i would tell him and he would have no recollection of what he had said in his sleep it is crazy on things that people can do or say while in your sleep and have no idea what was done.

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