Had an accident while sleepwalking

conehead433

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2002
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Fell off the top of the stairs going to my Home Theater room last night apparently while I was sleepwalking. Only about a 3 foot fall but I hurt my right knee in the process. I never sleepwalked as a child and now at 50 I have started sleepwalking recently. I first became aware of it after several nights where I was hugging the walls trying to find my way to a doorway. Last night I remember not knowing where I was when I fell. I either don't open my eyes when I sleepwalk or I wouldn't be able to see anything anyway because I have the room I sleep in completely dark. I currently don't have any physical or psychological problems that could be an underlying cause of this behavior. Being aware that you actually sleepwalk doesn't seem to help in avoiding doing it. From my limited research on the subject there are a couple of drugs available that will help stop you from sleepwalking, but I would prefer not to use any. Up until actually hurting myself I hadn't considered it to be much of a problem, more of a minor and possibly amusing inconvenience. Anyone here have any experience with sleepwalking? Could use some help here.
 

DaveSimmons

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Aug 12, 2001
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I currently don't have any physical or psychological problems that could be an underlying cause of this behavior.
Self-diagnosed or a professional's opinion?

After watching House M.D. on disc I can confidently state it is either termites, leprosy or a brain tumor.
 

conehead433

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Dec 4, 2002
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Bumping this thread in hopes that someone out there has actually had some experience with this problem and can post something other than a stupid comment. Thanks.
 

Xonoahbin

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Aug 16, 2005
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Sleepwalked when I was about six. I got over it mighty quick after a traumatizing experience being locked out of the house on the street at 2 A.M. Give it say a week, then talk to a doctor. It could very well go away. Anything traumatizing in your life, or stressful as of late?
 

myusername

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Jun 8, 2003
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Originally posted by: conehead433
Bumping this thread in hopes that someone out there has actually had some experience with this problem and can post something other than a stupid comment. Thanks.
Mine was serious. I don't have experience (save for decades ago) or medical knowledge, but the ability of sleepwalkers to navigate suggests that they are open-eyed and aware (if not conscious) of their surroundings. While adequate lighting will not prevent you from sleepwalking, it will keep you from breaking a hip between now and when you consult a physician.
 

AsianriceX

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Dec 30, 2001
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I think I remember seeing a video on one guy that would sleep walk and eat stuff out of his refridgerator. Somehow, the solution was to drink a beer or two right before going to bed. No joke.
 

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
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Well, I used to sleepwalk heavily when I was younger. It slowly died down. I think my last episode was Junior year in college (about 2 years ago). I don't know how to stop it really, and I never hurt myself. Maybe you can tie one hand to a bedpost at night so that when you try to walk away you might wake yourself up? I always considered doing this but never got around to it so I don't know if it would work.
 

Sixtyfour

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Jun 15, 2005
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Originally posted by: AsianriceX
I think I remember seeing a video on one guy that would sleep walk and eat stuff out of his refridgerator. Somehow, the solution was to drink a beer or two right before going to bed. No joke.

If few is not enough, then drink so many that it's impossible to walk.. :D

Btw, do you exercise?

Perhaps evening walk and a glass of milk after it might help.
 

dawnbug

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Oct 29, 2002
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I've had some friends who were sleepwalkers... I think they ended up just growing out of it. I agree with the poster who said you should talk to a doc if it happens for more than a week.

On a side note, last year in the dorms, a girl had her boyfriend sleep over, and he sleepwalked into the RA's room (which was unlocked into the middle of the night for some reason) and peed on her floor. He had no memory of it in the morning, and his girlfriend almost got kicked out of the dorms. It was kinda funny. :p
 

cerebusPu

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May 27, 2000
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Originally posted by: LadyBuggy
I've had some friends who were sleepwalkers... I think they ended up just growing out of it. I agree with the poster who said you should talk to a doc if it happens for more than a week.

On a side note, last year in the dorms, a girl had her boyfriend sleep over, and he sleepwalked into the RA's room (which was unlocked into the middle of the night for some reason) and peed on her floor. He had no memory of it in the morning, and his girlfriend almost got kicked out of the dorms. It was kinda funny. :p

how would they know it was her bf if the RA didnt wake up?
 

dawnbug

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Oct 29, 2002
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Originally posted by: cerebusPu
Originally posted by: LadyBuggy
I've had some friends who were sleepwalkers... I think they ended up just growing out of it. I agree with the poster who said you should talk to a doc if it happens for more than a week.

On a side note, last year in the dorms, a girl had her boyfriend sleep over, and he sleepwalked into the RA's room (which was unlocked into the middle of the night for some reason) and peed on her floor. He had no memory of it in the morning, and his girlfriend almost got kicked out of the dorms. It was kinda funny. :p

how would they know it was her bf if the RA didnt wake up?

Oh, she woke up, and she started yelling at the guy to get out of her room, and I guess he just walked back into his gf's room and went back to bed.
 

conehead433

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2002
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Originally posted by: LadyBuggy
Originally posted by: cerebusPu
Originally posted by: LadyBuggy
I've had some friends who were sleepwalkers... I think they ended up just growing out of it. I agree with the poster who said you should talk to a doc if it happens for more than a week.

On a side note, last year in the dorms, a girl had her boyfriend sleep over, and he sleepwalked into the RA's room (which was unlocked into the middle of the night for some reason) and peed on her floor. He had no memory of it in the morning, and his girlfriend almost got kicked out of the dorms. It was kinda funny. :p

how would they know it was her bf if the RA didnt wake up?

Oh, she woke up, and she started yelling at the guy to get out of her room, and I guess he just walked back into his gf's room and went back to bed.

Wonder if a sleepwalker ever tried to give a SO the business while they were sleepwalking. A very interesting disorder if you could call it that.

 

conehead433

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2002
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Originally posted by: randal
Do sleepwalkers open doors and such? If not, just close and lock your door.

Some supposedly even get in their cars and drive. Surely they are aware of how to open or unlock doors.

 

virtueixi

Platinum Member
Jun 28, 2003
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Damn, that sounds like fun. Normally I get woken up by my stupid alarm. Imagine getting your morning started rolling down the stairs, falling out of a window or down the street.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
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Originally posted by: conehead433
Originally posted by: randal
Do sleepwalkers open doors and such? If not, just close and lock your door.

Some supposedly even get in their cars and drive. Surely they are aware of how to open or unlock doors.

Theres a comedian that comes on Bob and Tom a lot, and he has to sleep in a sleeping bag with gloves on, even when he stays in hotels. I guess otherwise he gets up and does crazy things while sleep walking.

He once jumped through a pane glass window of his 2nd story hotel room while dreaming that the hotel was being attacked by a missle.
 

Sixtyfour

Banned
Jun 15, 2005
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Even homicides have been commited while sleepwalking, but it's not a valid excuse for killing a person.

Or is it some urban legend?
 

igowerf

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2000
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Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I currently don't have any physical or psychological problems that could be an underlying cause of this behavior.
Self-diagnosed or a professional's opinion?

After watching House M.D. on disc I can confidently state it is either termites, leprosy or a brain tumor.

Or necrosis.