Sleep Walking - Sleep Disorders Message Board

Sara B · 01-26-2001, 05:32 AM

I was wondering if anyone else is or knows a sleep walker. I know that a lot of kids are, but usually they grow out of it. I actually come from a family of sleep walkers. Well, most of the women just had night terrors when they were little. The thing that curious about it is the personality they take on while sleep walking. My Dad is a very active sleep walker. Normally, he's the calmest, sweetest, and most gentle man. But when he's asleep he gets very rude and frantic. Some of his cousins have done such things as kick in walls or threaten their wives. And these are all perfectly harmless and "normal" guys when they're awake. As for myself, I never had night terrors, but I do tend to sleep walk when I'm under stress. But as far as I know, I'm harmless. All I usually do anymore is freak out about the time. Apparently my ability to read a clock gets taken away when I'm asleep. I have never heard of anyone else that has this in the family, but I know they must exist. I'm curious to hear what others have to say on the topic.

Thanks -- Sara

KT · 01-26-2001, 10:39 PM

I was a sleep walker for years and finally out grew it at about the age of 17. I would usually turn the enviornment around me into the scenerio that was being played out in my dream. I never took on any personality traits other than my own while walking, however I have heard of this. As a matter of fact I saw a true story made into a movie about a very even tempered, sweet guy who would sleep walk and on one occassion he actually drove his car to his in-laws and killed his mother-in-law and attemted to do the same with her husband. He didn't remember a thing.
I never had any unpleasant walking experiences, mine were always very mystical and alot of the time I preferred being in them. I have to admit that I miss walking greatly.
As far as the night terrors, I would have to assume that you would be referring to thinking that you are awake and seeing some pretty frightening things happening around you. I have had a couple of experiences with this as well, pretty scary stuff. Both episodes happened when I was about 12 years of age.
I am still a talker, but I don't really do it very often anymore, it dosen't nearly feel as dramatic as walking.

Lori · 01-27-2001, 02:55 AM

Hi!

Well, my older brother used to be a sleep walker. He grew out of that in his teens though he now talks in his sleep. I also talk in my sleep but I dont (and never have) sleep walk. You should hear some of the things my fiance says I say in my sleep! *laugh* But you are right, when someone sleep walks it seems they are someone totally different.
Take care,
Lori

KT · 01-28-2001, 10:38 PM

Have you ever noticed that you always know, somehow, that you talked the night before. I mean before anyone has told you, it's like you just have a strange feeling when you wake up. Then sometime during the course of the day your husbands says "what in the world were to talking about last night"

When I talk I really talk, I'll sit right up and just chatter away. Sometimes I'll even get out bed talking but as soon as I stand up I wake up and look around like "what...?". Then my husband will wake up and be like "what are doing".... then I get embarrassed, climb back into bed and go right back to sleep.

It's great isn't it?