SLEEPWALKING

My 8-year-old son often has terrifying dreams. Because of these dreams, he walks in his sleep or wakes terribly afraid and crying. Is this dangerous?

Sleepwalking, also called somnambulism, is a sleep disorder characterized by motor activities such as leaving the bed, walking, urinating, eating, or going outside the house. It commonly occurs in children and adolescents while asleep. The cause is unknown but there is often a hereditary tendency.

Waking a sleepwalker can be difficult because he may sometimes display an aggressive and violent behavior.
 

Night terror or pavor nocturnas, usually happens in young children during the first several hours after sleep. The child suddenly screams or exhibits nervous manifestations like palpitations, sweating, and rapid breathing. A child experiencing night terror is difficult to arouse and oftentimes does not remember the dream. Because the experience is self-limiting, this should not be a cause for anxiety.
 

The mind usually retains what it has seen or experienced during waking hours. Thus, the subconscious can often express a reaction to such experience through dreams. It is best not to let your child watch violent or scary television programs and computer games.
 

As a Christian doctor, I believe that the mind can be used by the devil as a tool in instilling disastrous thoughts which, in the end, can also be acted out or become a part of the child’s character or personality. A child’s mind is very fertile for learning, and just like a computer, what you feed it is what will come out. Be aware of what your child reads, sees on the television, or does in the computer. Letting your child read character-building stories, Bible story books, and informative books and magazines is one of the best and safest ways to keep his or her thoughts pure. Philippine Publishing House offers such products. You may call these numbers: 363-3024 or 365-5485.

 

Read more articles on March-April 2009 issue of Health&Home