Lucid Dreaming/Sleep Walking/Sleep Talking

As a child/teen/young adult I sleep walked a lot. My mom was very worried that I would get out of the house so she had to put a lock high up on the outside door. I wasn't sure if that had anything to do with my lucid dreaming. I remember when we moved to a new location at 3 years old I was so worried about getting to the potty. In my sleep I walked through the living room and went past my parents who were watching tv and stumbled around looking for the potty in my old home. They woke me up when they were hysterical laughing at me when I pulled down my pants thinking I was there. Then when I went into my parents room at 4 and showed them the great pumpkin floating outside their window. I still remember seeing it haha. They woke me up and I was disappointed. To me at that age my dreams felt so real. I found sleep walking was usually when I was under stress. I woke up several times as a teen got a shower my mom would knock on the door and it woke me up. I realized it was 3 am. Then even as an adult I was learning a computer system years ago and had to remember a bunch of codes. I was sitting on the edge of my bed punching keys and talking. My husband woke me up. I mean the list goes on. I haven't done this for a while but I thought about it because I again slept very little last night. Maybe 3 hours. I think because I wanted to do the TOTM and pull something out of my pockets. It took me 3 hours to fall asleep! Got up twice with dogs and once to potty. I felt I was finally in my dream, swinging my granddaughter on the swing, knowing I had to pull something out of my pocket when I hear my husband asking me if I want him to make coffee. I was in my dream and told him shhh I have to do something. I put my hand in my pocket and my dog jumped on me wanting to eat. Ugh. So close! Grrrr. That is frustrating.

Sleepwalking always occurs during NREM sleep. So, in order to dream while sleep walking, that dream must me a NREM dream. NREM dreams differ from REM dreams in that NREM dreams contain much less visual imagery and other sensations than REM dreams. Since most dreams occur during REM sleep, sleepwalking and dreaming are usually very separate activities. Its neat you had both happen at the same time! That's pretty rare.

I would have to guess stress or extreme excitement caused mine. I sleep walked quite often under extreme stress but the great pumpkin I can still see to this day. It was vivid regardless of what is suppose to happen I saw it clearly after walking all the way to my parents room and getting on their bed and whispering to them to look at it. Unfortunately when they told me to show it to them again after I was awake it was gone and I was soooooo soooo confused. I guess that is why I remembered it for 48 years haha. I am thankful I have not sleepwalked in years! That could be scary!

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Originally Posted by dolphin

Sleepwalking always occurs during NREM sleep.

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I remember reading somewhere that a small number of people lose their REM atonia (during REM of course) and so act out their dreams including sleepwalking - so not always nREM ;-)

Totally agree that it's probably rare.

So jealous of you Serene; only just started to look at the TOTM and already nearly there! I'm still just trying to get to the basiscs of being able to LD more than once every few months - now that is real frustration!!

Goldenspark you are doing awesome! I noticed for me trying too hard won't get me very far with control. I will see what happens if I am just aware about the pockets and then wait for a LD scenario to try it out in. I rarely sleep now but in 10 years I will be retired with plenty of time to practice ;-). Now that is thinking positive haha. I wish I had researched this when I was a teen!

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Originally Posted by Goldenspark

I remember reading somewhere that a small number of people lose their REM atonia (during REM of course) and so act out their dreams including sleepwalking - so not always nREM ;-)

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Technically, that is called REM behavior disorder, not sleepwalking. Episodes of REM behavior disorder rarely include walking around. They include more shouting, flailing, kicking, punching, jumping, ect. Their actions are related to their dream rather than their actual surroundings.

Oh, OK dolphin. Thanks for that correction.
Did you remember good visuals during your sleepwalking episodes Serene?

The most vividly colorful one was the great pumpkin but that was because I was so excited that we had visited the pumpkin patch. I am convinced now that my wires are severely screwed up. I mean sleepwalking for me was very common. I assumed everyone did that as well as LD. I spent the night at my friends house next door and somehow walked home in the middle of the night at 7 years old and got into my bed. Several times I leaped out of bed in my dreams, and also would see bugs in my bed and be trying to get them off, moving my pillow and swooshing them, I saw them very clearly, yet my husband turned on the light and nothing was there. The reason I was posting about sleep walking was I was curious if people who were prone to sleep walking were the ones who had LD as children. Good to know I am a freak haha. Yikes!

Oh and on that note....I don't think I will try the TOTM walking on my head hehe!