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Last Updated May 6, 2026
It’s a strange feeling when someone tells you that you got out of bed, moved around, maybe even had a conversation, and you don’t remember a thing. That’s what makes sleepwalking so unsettling for a lot of people. It happens during the deepest stages of sleep, when the body can move even though awareness hasn’t fully kicked in. This article is about helping you make sense of it, whether you experience it yourself or are trying to support someone who does.
Key Takeaways:
Sleepwalking, medically known as somnambulism, is a sleep disorder where a person gets up and moves around while still asleep.
It falls under a group of conditions called parasomnias. These involve unusual behaviors during sleep, such as talking, eating, or, in rare cases, more complex actions.
Sleepwalking usually happens during deep sleep, specifically in the third stage of Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep cycle. This is when the body is at its most restful state and hardest to wake from. It’s much more common in children (ages 4 to 12), though adults can experience it too.
Research shows that about 6-7% of people will sleepwalk at some point in their lives. It can begin as early as toddler years and becomes less frequent with age, which is why most cases are seen in children rather than adults.
Did You Know?
Sleepwalking is like the brain being split in two states at once. The part that controls movement switches on,
while the part that handles awareness stays asleep. That’s why someone can get up, walk around, and even
interact with their environment with no memory of it later.
Sleepwalking can show up in different ways, and it’s not limited to simply walking around. Episodes can involve a mix of behaviors, from small movements to more involved actions. They may last a few seconds or continue for up to 30 minutes. In many cases, the person returns to bed on their own and/or wakes up feeling confused.
A typical sleepwalking episode has a few recognizable patterns. The person is only partially awake,
which means they’re active without being fully conscious. Their eyes may be open, but they often have a
blank expression and don’t respond much to their surroundings. Movements can appear clumsy, and
any speech may sound unclear.
Common signs of sleepwalking include:
Some behaviors can be a bit more unusual:
While most people can’t carry out complex tasks, there are exceptions. In rare situations, someone might try to leave the house and even drive, particularly if they’re very sleep-deprived.
Sleepwalking can have multiple causes. It usually happens because of how the brain shifts between different stages of sleep.
When you’re in deep sleep, your body is supposed to stay still while your brain fully rests. With sleepwalking, that system doesn’t work right. Part of the brain wakes up enough to move your body, but the part that keeps you aware is still asleep. So you can sit up, walk, and do simple tasks without actually knowing it.
Here are a few things that make this more likely to happen:
When you don’t get enough sleep, the body tries to compensate by pushing into deeper sleep the next night. While that may seem helpful, it can make sleep less stable overall. These sleep interruptions can increase the likelihood of your brain slipping into a partial arousal state, which is where sleepwalking is more likely to happen. Over time, this can also lead to daytime sleepiness, making it harder for the body to maintain a steady sleep cycle.
If your mind is stressed or anxious, your sleep often reflects that. You might fall asleep, but your brain doesn’t fully settle. This can increase the chances of unusual behaviors during the night, including sleepwalking.
Sleepwalking tends to run in families, and research shows a clear pattern here. About 22% of children with no family history will experience sleepwalking at some point. That number jumps to around 47% if one parent has a history of it, and up to 61% if both parents have a history of it. This suggests that some people are naturally more prone to sleepwalking and other NREM parasomnias because of their genetic makeup.
Kids sometimes sleepwalk when they’re sick. A fever can affect how the brain functions during sleep, which can trigger episodes. This is one reason sleepwalking shows up more often in children.
Some medications can interfere with normal sleep patterns and trigger sleepwalking. Research has linked a few drugs to higher chances of sleepwalking episodes, including Zolpidem (Ambien®), Quetiapine (Seroquel®), and Metoprolol (Lopressor®). If you suspect that a medication might be contributing to sleepwalking, it’s worth speaking to your doctor.
Drinking alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, but it disrupts sleep later in the night. That uneven sleep can lead to more awakenings, which increases the chance of sleepwalking.
Conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Restless Legs Syndrome can keep interrupting your sleep without you fully realizing it. These repeated disturbances make it easier for your brain to enter that in-between state where sleepwalking can occur.
Sleepwalking is often harmless, but it can become risky because the person isn’t fully aware of what they’re doing. Reduced coordination and poor awareness can lead to injuries from everyday objects.
In some cases, people may wander outside the house, which increases the risk of accidents. There’s also a chance of handling sharp items or attempting tasks like cooking without proper control.
Episodes can disturb others in the home, and if someone tries to wake up the person suddenly, it may lead to confusing, unintentional reactions. Over time, frequent episodes can also affect sleep quality, leading to daytime tiredness and reduced focus.
In most cases, sleepwalking is diagnosed based on what others notice. Since people hardly remember their own episodes, doctors rely on descriptions from friends and family. Even small details can help paint a clear picture.
Helpful information for diagnosis includes:
If possible, recordings from a phone (or home camera) can be useful. Sleepwalking doesn’t happen every night, so having a real example can make things clearer for a doctor.
A sleep study, known as Polysomnography, is the most reliable way to confirm sleepwalking, but it isn’t always required. It’s usually recommended in specific situations, such as:
Doctors may also suggest a few extra tests to rule out other possible causes. These might include Electroencephalography (to monitor brain activity) or Electromyography (to check how the muscles are functioning during sleep).
Did You Know?
Most sleepwalking episodes happen within the first 1-2 hours after falling asleep, during the deepest sleep
stage. This predictable pattern is what makes scheduled awakenings an effective management
approach.
Treatment for sleepwalking depends on how often it happens, how severe the episodes are, and whether there’s any risk of injury. For many people, especially children, treatment isn’t always necessary. Occasional episodes that don’t cause harm just need to be monitored and tend to lessen with age.
However, when sleepwalking is frequently disruptive and potentially dangerous, it’s important to take steps to manage it.
Let's take a closer look at the most effective approaches:
Safety is the first priority. Since people are not aware of what they’re doing during an episode, even simple movements can lead to injury.
Some practical steps include:
These steps significantly help reduce the chances of harm.
Sleepwalking is quite often linked to other issues that disturb sleep. Conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can repeatedly interrupt breathing during sleep, while Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) causes an urge to move the legs, disrupting rest.
When these conditions are treated, sleep becomes more stable, and sleepwalking episodes may reduce or stop altogether.
Medications can also play a role. If a drug is affecting sleep patterns, a doctor may change it accordingly.
Sleepwalking follows a pattern and tends to happen at a similar time each night. Scheduled awakenings involve gently waking the person about 15 to 30 minutes before an episode is likely to occur.
This breaks the sleep cycle just enough to prevent the partial awakening that leads to sleepwalking. It’s pretty effective in children and is often used as a short-term strategy until episodes become less frequent.
Poor sleep habits can make sleep more fragmented, which increases the chances of sleepwalking. Improving daily sleep routines can help stabilize the sleep cycle.
This includes:
When sleep becomes deeper and more consistent, the brain is less likely to enter that half-awake state.
Suggested Read: Sleep Hygiene
For people whose sleepwalking is linked to stress or anxiety, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be helpful. This approach focuses on identifying thought patterns that interfere with sleep.
It includes relaxation techniques, stress management strategies, and changes in how a person thinks about sleep. Over time, this can reduce triggers that lead to sleepwalking episodes.
Medication is usually not the first step, but it may be considered when episodes are severe.
Doctors may prescribe:
There is also some early evidence that Melatonin may help regulate sleep patterns and reduce episodes, though more research is still needed.
You should consider a doctor if sleepwalking occurs frequently. Look out for any risk of injury. Unusually complex, out-of-character behavior is also a cause for concern. It's worth getting checked if sleepwalking starts suddenly in adulthood.
In these situations, your doctor may evaluate whether sleepwalking occurs alongside other sleep disorders, like Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A sleep study may sometimes be recommended to identify the underlying cause and guide proper treatment.
Sleepwalking can feel confusing, but it’s manageable once you understand what’s behind it. More often than not, it’s simply the result of how the brain handles deep sleep, and for children, it fades with time.
The key is to recognize the patterns, reduce triggers like poor sleep or stress, and make the sleeping environment as safe as possible.
If episodes are frequent (or start suddenly in adulthood), visit a doctor. Small changes in sleep habits can make a big difference, and, most importantly, addressing any underlying issue is all it takes to bring things under control.
Disclaimer: What is said in this article has been referenced from multiple sources and is intended only for educational and informational purposes. Please note that no content in this article is a substitute for professional advice from a qualified doctor or healthcare provider. Always consult an experienced doctor with any concerns you may have regarding a health condition or treatment, and never disregard any medical suggestions or delay in seeking treatment because of something you read here.
