Need help with strange and disturbing behavior during sleepwalking.?

Question

I am uneducated on behaviors relating to sleepwalking and I believe my roommate of three years does have a sleepwalking problem. About a year and a half ago he started doing it and I wasn't sure what it was at first. There have been several incidents usually with similar behavior but he seems to be getting more violent each time and I would like to try to help him kick this. Usually, he sleepwalks about once every other month or so but sometimes it is more frequent than that. I will try to outline some of these incidents and I have several questions I would like answers to regarding these incidents:

#1. He got up, came into the living room and opened up the closet door and urinated in the closet then went back to bed.

#2. He got up, came into the living room and lifted up the dvd player as if it were a toilet seat and nearly urinated on the cable box but I was able to direct him to the bathroom.

#3. He got up and barged into the bathroom where I was showering, lifted up the toilet seat but urinated on the floor next to the toilet.

#4. He went into the kitchen, opened up the fridge and urinated inside of the fridge. (I was in a state of disbelief and I accidentally woke him while I was trying to get him to stop and as a result of this he hit me and kicked me and only appeared to be somewhat conscious but not completely asleep)

#5. He got up and used to restroom successfully but then walked into the kitchen and thinking the kitchen counter was his bed, he proceeded to clear everything on the counter off to one side as if it were his pillow. My cat happend to be laying on the counter in his way so he hit the cat multiple times very hard and when I directed him into his bedroom he tried hitting me and kicking my dog.

Now during all of these incidents, his eyes were completely closed and he mumbled gibberish. He has also hit my dog while sleeping on several different occasions (sometimes my dog sleeps on the bed next to him) but I chalked it up to him dreaming about something. Now, I can handle the abuse and the unfortunate cleaning tasks but my pets don't deserve this and I draw the line there. Either he goes and gets treated somehow, moves out, or the pets, unfortunately, will have to go which is a really hard thing for me to do. Now, I have several questions regarding this:

#1. Should I be concerned that his behavior seems to be escalating? Like most households, there are some large kitchen knives, etc. Should I be worried that he might use them? I also own a firearm strictly for home protection and he knows where it is kept. Should I be concerned about that as well?

#2. We live on the 3rd floor of our building. Is it possible that he could walk out on the balcony or fall out of a window because of this? He appears to know where everything in the house is when he does this.

#3. How is something like this treated? Is there some sort of medication or therapy that could stop this?

#4. What type of doctor should he see about this? I'm trying to figure out whether he should seek help from a neurologist or a psychologist or should he just start off with his regular physician? Is there someone who specializes in sleepwalking issues?

#5. If he were to be woken up during these incidents, does it cause permanent braing damage or is that just a rumor?

#6. Is it true that people "outgrow" sleepwalking?

#7. What is causing this? Stress? Environmental factors?

Now I think I have been pretty accepting of this problem where as most roommates would have kicked him out long ago but like I said before, I draw the line at the pets being affected by this. My roommate is 21 years old and works the average nine to five everyday so its hard for me to understand why a seemingly ordinary person with a structured daily schedule and stable home life would have a problem like this and why they wouldn't outgrow it. I really appreciate any help I can get with this and hopefully we can find a solution. Thanks.

Answer 1

Hey hun, well first off I'm glad you are so concerned about your friend, but is he as concerned as well? If not, this might not work, sometimes sleepwalkers don't believe this is really going on. He definitely needs help & keep your pets close to you, you are endangering them and yourself in the process. Seek help immediately. and Yes this sleepwalker disease goes away but he needs help through this, lots & lots of therapy & patience but it'll work but first get some help ok? Take care & hope it works out for you. Sometimes the reasons behind this are purely psychological, they will have to break into his head & analyze to get to the root of the problem. The subconcious is such a mystery. Take care ! -Latina

Answer 2

You can only fix yourself and what you want out of life. Your husband seems to have some deep emotional issues and problems coping with adult relationship. An emotionally and physically absent Father and upset Mommy will negatively influence your child. There is something going on with Husb that is not normal well adjusted adult behavior. Your husband needs counseling and in the least you might too to figure out what you want and need. Children need good parents, blood related or not. So pick the best life and parenting for your child. I am a little worried why you decided to make a baby with a man that is not affectionate and seems to lack communication and maturity. Marriage and babies don't make men grow into better Hubbys and better Daddies if they are incapable of it in the first place.

Answer 3

There are sleep therapist doctors. Your regular doctor can also do tests on him and prescribe medications for this... not to mention, refer him to a sleep specialists. Meanwhile, you can limit his liquids a few hours before bedtime and loosely tie one of his ankles to his bed or bed post at night with a soft rope or something. If he is asleep, and there are a lot of knots in the rope, hopefully he'll be awake by the time he gets ALL the knots undone.

Answer 4

lol ur funny, i just think he should drink water. i think its something the matter to do with peeing.