It’s 2 a.m., and as you wake, you see someone in the house quietly walking with their eyes wide open in a trance-like state. As you stare in bewilderment, you ask yourself: Should I wake up the sleepwalker?

When it comes to sleepwalking, a popular myth is that waking up a sleepwalker could put them to sleep for life, but the truth is the chances of killing a sleepwalker due to sudden awakening is the same as someone dying from a dream about dying. However, it’s best to not wake the sleepwalker and carefully guide them back to sleep in their bed to help them and yourself for several reasons.

Sleepwalking, a parasomnia formally known as somnambulism, occurs in as many as 17 percent of children and four percent of adults, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Sleepwalking is more common when one parent has a history of the disorder, but it is much more common if both parents were sleepwalkers. It can also occur in people who have other parasomnias, such as sleep terrors or REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).

Feet walking
Some sleepwalkers are known to conduct activities like driving and preparing meals in their sleep. Photo courtesy of

This parasomnia happens during stage 3 non-rapid eye movement sleep, also known as slow wave sleep. Someone who is walking during this stage of sleep can leave a person in a state of cognitive impairment for 30 minutes. The brain produces delta waves and theta waves, highlighting that the brain is in a twilight state.

This is why sleep experts say you should be careful when bringing a person out of a deep sleep, which can cause them to become startled, confused, or agitated. The sleepwalker can even lash out at you because of their state of mind. Moreover, some sleepwalkers are known to conduct activities like driving and preparing meals in their sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

It’s best to create a safe sleep environment to prevent injury during sleepwalking episodes. Remove any sharp or breakable objects from the area near the bed and lock the doors and windows to your home.

Otherwise, gently guide the sleepwalker back to their bed for slumber.