Myth Buster: Don't Wake Sleepwalkers
"Never wake a sleepwalker!"
You've probably heard the warning before:
"Never wake a sleepwalker!"
It's often repeated with such confidence that it sounds like an established medical fact.
Some people claim waking a sleepwalker could cause a heart attack, brain damage, or even death.
Fortunately, none of those claims are supported by modern sleep science.
While abruptly waking a sleepwalker can certainly be startling—for both of you—there is no scientific evidence that waking someone during an episode of sleepwalking causes brain damage, triggers a heart attack, or results in any other catastrophic medical event.
So where did this myth come from?
An Ancient Belief
The exact origin of the myth isn't entirely clear, but historians believe it may have grown from ancient beliefs about sleep.
Many cultures viewed sleep as more than simple rest.
Some believed that during sleep, a person's soul temporarily left the body to travel through dreams or the spirit world.
According to these traditions, suddenly waking someone while their soul was "away" could supposedly leave them confused, injured, or even permanently separated from their soul.
Although these beliefs varied across cultures, they shared a common idea:
Sleep was a mysterious and vulnerable state that should not be interrupted.
As medicine advanced, the supernatural explanation faded—but the warning itself remained.
What Is Sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is a type of parasomnia, a group of unusual behaviors that occur during sleep.
Unlike dreaming, sleepwalking usually happens during deep non-REM (NREM) sleep, most often during the first third of the night.
During an episode, a person may:
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Sit up in bed.
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Walk around the house.
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Rearrange objects.
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Open doors.
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Eat food.
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Carry on simple conversations.
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Perform surprisingly complex behaviors while remaining asleep.
Most sleepwalkers have little or no memory of the event the next morning.
Sleepwalking is especially common in children, many of whom outgrow it as they get older.
Adults can also sleepwalk, although persistent or frequent episodes may warrant medical evaluation.
So, Can You Wake a Sleepwalker?
Yes.
If necessary, it is perfectly acceptable to wake a sleepwalker.
However, it may not always be the easiest approach.
Because the person's brain is still largely asleep, they may awaken feeling:
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Confused
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Disoriented
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Frightened
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Startled
Some people may briefly react defensively simply because they don't immediately understand where they are or why someone is suddenly standing in front of them.
These reactions are usually temporary and are not signs of brain injury or psychological harm.
The Safest Approach
Sleep specialists generally recommend guiding a sleepwalker back to bed whenever possible instead of abruptly waking them.
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Speak softly.
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Avoid yelling or grabbing them suddenly.
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Gently redirect them away from hazards and toward their bedroom.
Many people will return to bed without fully waking.
However, there are important exceptions.
If the person is:
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Walking toward stairs
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Leaving the house
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Approaching traffic
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Handling sharp objects
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In any immediate danger
Then waking them is absolutely appropriate.
In these situations, safety is the highest priority.
Experts recommend doing so calmly and, if possible, from a safe distance to reduce the chance of a startled reaction.
Why Does Sleepwalking Happen?
Researchers still don't fully understand why some people sleepwalk, but several factors appear to increase the likelihood of an episode.
These include:
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Sleep deprivation
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Fever (especially in children)
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Stress
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Certain medications
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Alcohol use
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A family history of sleepwalking
Sleepwalking tends to run in families, suggesting that genetics play an important role.
What Should You Do if Someone Sleepwalks Often
Occasional sleepwalking—particularly in children—is usually harmless.
The biggest risk isn't the sleepwalking itself but the possibility of injury during an episode.
Simple safety measures can help reduce that risk:
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Lock doors and windows if necessary.
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Remove tripping hazards.
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Install gates near stairways.
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Keep dangerous objects out of reach.
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Ensure the sleep environment is as safe as possible.
If episodes become frequent, violent, or begin in adulthood, it's a good idea to consult a healthcare professional or sleep specialist to rule out underlying sleep disorders or medical conditions.
Why This Myth Persists
Like many psychology myths, this one survives because it contains a small grain of truth.
It is possible to startle a sleepwalker.
It is possible for them to become briefly confused.
But somewhere along the way, those ordinary reactions became exaggerated into dramatic claims that waking someone could seriously harm them.
Modern sleep medicine simply doesn't support those fears.
The Bottom Line
The warning to "never wake a sleepwalker" is a myth.
Waking a sleepwalker does not cause brain damage, heart attacks, or other catastrophic medical problems.
If they are safe, gently guiding them back to bed is often the easiest solution.
But if they are headed toward danger, waking them calmly is not only acceptable—it's the safest thing to do.
Sometimes, protecting a sleepwalker means interrupting their sleep.
And that's perfectly okay.