General Sleepwalking And Other

[Mrs. T]

Hi! h has started sleepwalking. Unfortunately, nearly the only thing/one that can wake me is my baby when he wants to nurse. so I didn't know he had sleepwalked twice in the past couple nights. He has never done this in his life and fears what he might do or where he might go while he's sleeping.

Also, he dreams (or something) when he's awake. He gave me an example the other day: he was sitting on the couch holding our baby and he saw himself throw the baby behind the couch. It's not just a negative thought, he actually sees it happen. When these thoughts come, he hands the baby to me.

He also has these thoughts of conversations with people, like a memory, that seem so real. He has to really think about what is reality and what isn't. he will have a memory of a conversation with me that actually didn't happen. I "said" terrible things that he knows I would never say. Thankfully though, he has been able to differentiate between reality and whatever this memory is, though it takes some logical thinking to realize the truth.

Anyone else experience some similar things??

 

[ISupportHer]

Just wondering if he had any recent medication changes. Some of the medications for sleep, I believe, have this as a side effect. Seems like I have read about Ambien causing this in some people.

 

[Inspired 2 B Free]

Good idea checking out the meds. If that all checks out...

My sleepwalking turned out to be dissociation. Much of what you described of your husband sounds very much like dissociation. I would encourage him to see a professional (preferrably someone trained in trauma since that could be a likely reason for triggering such behavior).

The 'imaginary' conversations and images he is seeing are cause for concern. Your baby's safety is at stake. If he is dissociating these behaviors/images could be real cries for help.

 

[Mrs. T]

Hey thanks for the replies. There haven't been any med changes. A while ago he tried a few different sleeping pills, but they didn't work so he gave up all together. At the moment he is taking a max dose of antidepressants and T3s.

He has brought up and expressed wanting to see a professional, but hasn't for a while. Life right now is a little crazy around here as H and I are both looking for a job with a steady income.

I really thought I understood dissociating, but now I'm thinking I don't. I'm going to look it up and then talk to him about this...

thanks. I do worry about the baby when he tells me these things. Just didn't know what to think as it's not him that scares me, it's me his not being fully conscious of what he is doing...

On the topic of dissociating. The day after our son was born, H worked. He wasn't meant to work the whole shift because of our just having a baby, but he did because it was busy. He left work a bit early to pick us up from the hospital. He brought us to my dad's birthday party, stayed for a bit, then brought us home and went back to work to close and clean up. I should also mention that he had missed taking his antidepressants a few days and it was affecting him big time.

He doesn't fully recall everything of that weekend. The safe for the money was stuck and he couldn't get it to close. He worried about someone breaking in and stealing the money and so he took out some of the money. He wrote in detail of what kind of bills and how much he had taken out. He put it in the car and forgot about it.

When we were home that weekend he didn't try to help with the newborn or with our other two kids. It was totally out of character, which is why I didn't say anything. He spent his time curled up in a ball on the couch reacting once in a while to whatever he was going through. It was terrible.

On Sunday he finally got a refill for his meds. I didn't know where he got the money and he didn't seem to know.

Monday, he went to work early to try and fix the problem of the safe. Couldn't. When the assistant manager came, she saw that money was missing and called him up (as he wasn't working that day and had gone home before she started work) accusing him of stealing. After this he FOUND the money in the car. He realized he had put it there but it was something he was unaware of. There was $60 missing, which we were able to replace. He doesn't know where that sixty went, but I'm assuming it went towards his meds.

Skipping to the end, the assistant manager worked her magic and convinced the board to fire him the harshest way possible with some awful accusationsof theft (the full amount had been returned that Monday), dishonesty (about what, I don't know), and neglect of duties (even though he put way too much into that job). At one point during his being on the couch, he began to tell me something about him taking money but couldn't finish.

Do you think he was dissociating?

 

[Inspired 2 B Free]

Mrs T, I am so glad you wrote again.

What you have written absolutely sounds like dissociating. I took money from an employer once also. I found it in my purse after it was missing and was horrified and confused because I have never, ever done that. I was able to keep my job but the bigger issue was my therapist and I finally found out it was an alter who was really hurting and it was the only way they knew to get noticed.

I truly believe your husband couldn't finish telling you the story about taking the money. His memory probably fades in and out as he dissociates and it is crazy making. His meds may or may not make a difference in his functioning, but there is no doubt he is probably is very depressed.

Please...don't walk, but run to your phone book or the internet and find a trauma based therapist to take him to. If he is not dissociative they will be able to figure that out, too. Just a caution...sometimes it takes alters awhile before they build a trust with a therapist to 'come out'. It likely would take some time to dig in and discover what's going on. But, they could at least help him learn how to cope in the meantime.

I don't know if you live in the US, but here is one good resource:
Link Removed

My heart goes out to you and your family as you struggle to find out what's going on. You are obviously very concerned and will be a good support for him as he navigates this. Don't forget to take good care of yourself, too.

 

[ISupportHer]

Of course, I am no expert, but I think I recall reading that sometimes people who dissociate can, at times, try to fill in the gaps, so to speak. It must be very hard to experience that, even embarrassing perhaps. So, as a kind of defense mechanism, the is maybe an attempt to cover it.

My wife had an accident on the freeway a few years back. Fell asleep? I suspect she had a dissociative episode, however, based on what was going on at the time.

ISH

 

[Mrs. T]

Thank you both so much. Great news. H gave me the go-head to call a trauma therapist. We live in a small city in Canada where there are no trauma therapists. So I found a place in a nearby city that does therapy for immigrants for free (H being an immigrant). Called them and the one lady I talked to does Self Regulation Therapy. Talked to H about it and he would like to go. Unfortunately, at the moment we are unsure where or when we will be having income, so we can't risk using our gas on the travel to the city. I am certain something will work out soon and he will be able to go :).

Today, went to the bank today. He was told by one of the staff that they were trying to talk to him but he was unresponsive. He told me the other day that he is a fighter and he just has to figure out what is going on with him so he can fix it. gave me so much hope :)

 

[Kitty]

Hi! h has started sleepwalking. Unfortunately, nearly the only thing/one that can wake me is my baby when he wants to nurse. so I didn't know he had sleepwalked twice in the past couple nights. He has never done this in his life and fears what he might do or where he might go while he's sleeping.

I'd suggest talking to him and maybe his doctor about treating the sleep walking. I used to sleep walk and started going outside--very dangerous. I have to take Requip to keep it under control. Is H on any new meds that could cause these symptoms? Any particular stress in his life that is new? Has he ever had a Sleep Study? I went to a sleep neurologist for my sleep walking. The waking dreams he is having could possibly be linked to the sleep walking? Talk to a doctor-sleep walking is dangerous. Kitty

 

[wife of]

From my experiences with hubby I have to say that does sound like dissociation...please be very careful..

 

[Mrs. T]

Thanks Kitty. No new meds. Newish stresses. I would like him to have a sleep study done on him. Hope he can get this done soon. It's difficult to get him to try new things as its an added stress.

Wife of. Thanks for the comment. Which part are you referring to?

 

[lilybug]

oooh, yes! I was arrested for this. They tried to book me for robbery (even though I wasnt in anyones house and I didnt steal anything) Got it dismissed after lowering the charge to trespassing on an unenclosed property. I had to go to therapy and pay tons of money. I have memories(sort of). They dont make sense if I told you. I did it another time after dissociating and spazzing on my mothers boyfriend. I took off running. Jumped an 8 foot barrier wall and wound up in a neighborhood...when I came "back" I had no memories of ANY of it or how I got there.

 

[jackpine]

Are you guys saying that when they are sleepwalking and talking and being.. well.. delusional.. that is dis-associative behavior? If so, am I correct in assuming there is a high danger level when they are in that state? Should I try to wake him? He scares me beyond belief when he is like that. I've thought of grabbing the dog and leaving when he's like that, but it's MY house. He's threatened to trash it and burn it down in that state too so terrified to leave or stay.

The evening leading up to that last and most bizarre episode he was practically euphoric and out of the blue so since he had been dismal for a few weeks.