Cause 2: Sleep Deprivation
Sleep is as essential to our well-being as food and water. Depriving our bodies of this vital restorative process can lead to a host of issues, sleepwalking being one of them. A chronically tired brain can muddle the boundaries between sleep stages, inadvertently propelling individuals into a sleepwalking state.
Continuous sleep deprivation confuses our brain. When deprived, our brain can struggle to distinguish between sleep stages, sometimes leading to increased activity during restorative sleep. This heightened activity is often a precursor to sleepwalking episodes.
A string of restless nights doesn’t just culminate in sleepwalking. Chronic sleep deprivation weakens our immune system, impairs cognitive functions, and can even lead to mood swings or disorders. It’s a cascading effect, with sleepwalking being one piece of the puzzle.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep is a deep sleep stage, during which most dreams occur. Individuals deprived of sleep often experience disruptions in REM sleep. Since sleepwalking typically happens during these deeper sleep stages, constant interruptions can increase the likelihood of noctambulism. (2)
