Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. Sleepwalkers arise from the slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness. These activities can be as benign as sitting up in bed, walking to the bathroom, and cleaning, or as hazardous as cooking, driving, extremely violent gestures, grabbing at hallucinated objects, or even homicide.
Although generally sleepwalking cases consist of simple, repeated behaviours, there are occasionally reports of people performing complex behaviours while asleep, although their legitimacy is often disputed. In 2004, sleep medicine experts in Australia claimed to have successfully treated a woman who claimed to have sex with strangers in her sleep. In December 2008, reports were published of a woman who sent semi-coherent emails while sleepwalking, including one inviting a friend around for dinner and drinks. Sleepwalkers often have little or no memory of the incident, as they are not truly conscious. Although their eyes are open, their expression is dim and glazed over. Sleepwalking may last as little as 30 seconds or as long as 30 minutes.
Sleepwalker
I accept you. You're
the one who walks with magic
through the walls of time,
through the halls beyond
the dry daytime ways we walk,
and there you seldom
have true company.
I also know you here, sitting
draped across the knot
you fashion, your life
as a daytime creature, raw,
bleeding a little
when not caught in joy,
in the grand play of your heart.
I know you, jewel
from the loving flame,
with just a small spot or two -
creature of your dream.
Written February 8, 2009 12:07 PM
First Posted, August 23, 2009
Beautiful Christopher. I have actually experienced sleewalking a couple of times. It happens wham I am under extreme stress. The first time I was young and awaiting travel from my dads back to my moms( not such a safe place) Dad was witness to the event and I remember portions of it as a dream although it was reality. The second while in a highly abusive marriage I apparently got up and made tuna fish, I diced onions and diced hard boiled eggs and even diced pickles mixed it all up and placed it in the fridge, imagine my surprise when I got up to make that very same thing to feed the kids and I had already done it with absolutely no recollection. Very strange feeling indeed, similar to a black out I would say.
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