Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a phenomenon where a person gets up and performs activities while still asleep. It occurs during the slow-wave sleep phase when consciousness is low. In this state, individuals may perform actions typically done by a fully awake person. A sleepwalker might talk, sit up, walk to the bathroom, eat, clean, or even engage in risky behaviors like cooking, driving, or violence, with no memory of it afterward.
Here are ten of the most peculiar and disturbing things people have done while sleepwalking.
10 Mow the Lawn Naked
In 2005, a London woman named Rebecca Armstrong discovered her husband, Ian, mowing the lawn naked at 2 a.m.! Awakened by the strange noise, she found him nearly finished with the task. Believing it dangerous to wake a sleepwalker, she simply turned off the mower and returned to bed. The next morning, Ian didn’t believe her until she pointed out his dirty feet.
9 Fatal Fall from Hotel Window
Tragedy struck when 27-year-old Rob Williams, a lifelong sleepwalker, fell 13 feet from a hotel window, succumbing to fatal brain injuries and hypothermia. His friends recalled his sleepwalking antics as a source of laughter, never imagining such a tragic end. However, some individuals have survived similar falls, like the 17-year-old in Germany who fell 32 feet from a fourth-floor window and sustained only minor injuries.
8 Fun in the Bedroom
Sexsomnia, or sleep sex, is a parasomnia often met with embarrassment but can be psychologically damaging. As described in “Sleepsex: Uncovered,” one woman recounted her husband’s aggressive and playful sexual behavior while asleep, which he had no recollection of the next day. This condition can lead to emotional distress and even potential physical abuse.
7 Throwing a Pool Party
TikTok user Celina Myers, a long-time sleepwalker, documents her nocturnal adventures. In one clip, she’s seen throwing drinks onto her snow-covered lawn in her pajamas, believing it was a pool party and her lawn was a Jell-O-filled pool. Fortunately, her husband keeps a watchful eye to ensure she stays safe.
6 Going for a Joyride
Sleep-driving takes sleepwalking to a dangerous level. Jackie, 47, recounted her moonlit motorcycle rides on BBC’s “On Mysteries of Sleep,” with no memory of them. After neighbors mentioned her nightly activities, she handed her keys to her landlady to prevent further incidents. As a child, she also sleepwalked into the woods during a camping trip, leading supervisors to send her home.
5 Nocturnal Drawing Masterpiece
Lee Hadwin, a nurse by day, becomes a sleepwalking artist at night, creating excellent artwork with no daytime interest or ability. He uses pencils and paper to produce fantastic artwork, shocking himself with his peculiar “nocturnal talent” upon waking.
4 Emailing While Asleep
A 44-year-old woman logged onto her computer and emailed party invitations to friends in Ohio in 2008, as described in “Sleep Medicine.” The poorly formatted emails, with odd expressions, included messages like: “Come tomorrow and sort this hell hole out. Dinner and drinks, 4 pm. Bring wine and caviar only.” Experts found such complex behavior, requiring coordinated movements and pre-planned tasks, unique among somnambulists.
3 Conducting an Orchestra
Harry F. Rosenthal, a journalist, was caught by his wife conducting an orchestra in his sleep, vocalizing all the instruments. Naidene recorded the event, showing Rosenthal’s enthusiastic performance. Rosenthal, with no memory of the incident, finds it embarrassing as it has happened repeatedly without his knowledge, only learning about his antics from witnesses.
2 Prepare a Snack or a Meal
Ambien, a common insomnia treatment, has been linked to patients preparing meals and snacks, even using the microwave, while asleep. They eat sloppily, often consuming high-calorie foods, and wake up to a messy kitchen or crumbs in bed, with no memory of their nocturnal eating habits. This can lead to significant weight gain.
1 Killing Close Relatives
In 1987, Ken Parks drove 14 miles to his in-laws’ house, allegedly strangling his father-in-law and stabbing his mother-in-law to death before confessing to the killings at the police station. Experts testified that Parks was asleep during the attack due to his obliviousness to pain and family history of parasomnia. He was acquitted, deemed unaccountable for his actions. However, others, like Michael Ricksgers, who claimed to have accidentally killed his wife during a sleepwalking episode, have been convicted.
Sleepwalking incidents range from the bizarre to the tragic, highlighting the complexities and potential dangers of this sleep disorder.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done in your sleep, or witnessed someone else do? Share your stories in the comments below!
