Seepwalking is a type of sleep disorder where the sleeper performs activities and actions which are usually done while awake, but the person is asleep or in a state resembling sleep.  It is one of a larger group of sleep disorders known as parasomnias.  Parasomnias are characterized by partial arousals during sleep or in the transition between wakefulness and sleep.

Sleepwalking is found in every age.  It usually occurs when a person is suddenly roused from the Deep Sleep Stage.  Children spend more of their total sleep time in this stage, so sleepwalking is more often found during childhood than in later years.  Geriatrics generally do not suffer from sleepwalking.

About 16 percent of juveniles engage in sleepwalking and approximately 18 percent of the world's population has episodes of sleepwalking.  It may not necessarily consist of walking around.  Technically when a person is suddenly roused from deep sleep or Short Wave Sleep, sits up, talks or gets up to use the bathroom without awakening, it is classified as sleepwalking.  The person's eyes will be open, they may respond with answers to simple questions, they will often make motions associated with a particular activity, or they may actually perform the activity.  Sleepwalkers have been known to walk, eat, drive a car, clean, bathe, whistle or have sex while still asleep.  They will not remember the activity. They respond to the questions, but the answers may not make any sense to the questioner. 

In dealing with a sleepwalker, the most danger is that they don't hurt themself.  It is said that sleepwalkers won't engage in an activity which they would not ordinarily pursue, but if they are attempting to use and knife, gun or some other dangerous tool, you might be better off to remove the tools and gently encourage them to return to bed. 

Getting the sleepwalker to return to bed make have to be repeated until they have finished the task which they are trying to resolve.  You can help by engaging them in short conversation and try to determine what it is they are attempting to do.  If, for example, they are trying to clean a room, you can let them know it's cleaned so they can be back the their bed once again.

Engaging the sleepwalker in conversation may be interesting, but it may also make little or no sense.  The sleepwalker may not always speak.  If the sleepwalker repeated engages in behavior which is inappropriate or would be embarrassing were he or she awake, it would be an act of kindness to let them know that this is going on. Since they are unaware of their current surrounding, they may do such things as urinate in public places or remove clothing in public places.

The good news is that sleepwalking is a condition which disappears with maturity.  Until that happens, try to make sure the person doesn't injure themselves or other persons accidentally.  You can make sure doors are securely locked and that windows are secured in such a way as the sleepwalker cannot fall or step through a window.