Sleepwalking Disorder - Anxiety May Be The Cause

If you were a doctor, you would probably refer to a sleepwalking disorder episode as noctambulation, noctambulism, somnambulism, somnambulating, or somnambulation. But if you're a layman like the rest of us are, "somnambulism" is simply sleepwalking and it affects millions of us nation wide. Characterized as walking (or talking) at night while sleep, a sleepwalking episode is thought to be brought about by anxiety.

And this particular disorder can strike anyone at any age. In fact, there isn't a specific age group or class, gender or race that is exempt from sleepwalking. Somnambulism is as common as any other sleep disorder, and like others, is dependent upon anxiety and/or a disruptive brain behavior or disruptive sleep cycle.

But don't make the mistake of assuming a sleepwalking episode is normal simply because it's common. Sleepwalking, as common as it is across the age spectrum is certainly not normal - nor will it ever be normal. First and most important, sleepwalking is dangerous. Those who rise from bed and walk during sleep are doing so under a state of anxiety and are unaware of what they're doing. This means that they own the potential of injuring themselves or someone else.