Shane Crawford’s sleepwalking storywalking story

The former-AFL footballer shares his lifelong experience of sleepwalking, and how he manages going bump in the night.

OK, here’s a funny story for you.

A few years back, when I was over in Ireland on a footy trip, I had to share a room with one of my AFL teammates. I don’t usually like doing this because of my sleepwalking, but on this occasion, I didn’t have a choice.

The night started pretty normally. We were both tired after a long day of playing footy and we fell asleep fairly quickly. Unfortunately, I’d forgotten to tell him I was a sleepwalker, and if you’re familiar with the condition, you’ll know that it usually occurs early on in the sleep cycle.

I have no memory of what happened next, but according to Angelo Lekkas (my teammate), soon after falling asleep he was rudely awoken by me standing over his bed, stark naked and talking utter gibberish. I can’t imagine the look on his face, but I’m sure he’ll think twice before sharing a room with me again.

I have a lifetime of stories like this one. Having been a sleepwalker since I was a boy, waking up in strange places or doing strange things during the night has become a common occurrence.

Sleepwalking (or somnambulism as it’s also called) usually starts in childhood. Most kids grow out of it, but some people – like me – don’t. In fact, recent studies suggest that around four per cent of adults are prone to parasomniac activity.

The cause is still a mystery, but according to Sleep Psychologist Hailey Meaklim, there are a number of contributing factors that make somnambulism more likely for those who suffer from it.

“One thing we know for sure,” she says, “is that there’s a strong link between high levels of daytime arousal and occurrences of sleepwalking.

“If we’re busy running around from one thing to the next, our bodies stay geared up throughout the day, making it harder to transition into deeper sleep.”

Another factor, and one that might come as a surprise, is sleep deprivation. According to Hailey, the more tired you are, the more likely you are to have a sleepwalking episode.

A question I often get asked as a sleepwalker is whether I’ve ever found myself in a dangerous situation. Thankfully, I haven’t experienced anything too hazardous, but I do know people who have.

My Uncle Butch, who’s a truck driver, was travelling down the highway one night when he decided to pull over and take a nap in his cab. Upon waking, to his horror, he realised he was no longer lying down on the seat; he was actually behind the wheel, driving full speed along the highway.

“For some sleepwalkers, safety is a real issue,” says Hailey. “Leaving the house, going out on the road, or acting in strange ways can create a certain level of risk.”

For me, this is great motivation to do daily things to help minimise the chance of a sleepwalking episode. Mindfulness is one solution, as is taking time out in the day to rest, so my body doesn’t get too revved up.

Hailey also recommends cutting down on caffeine and getting checked by a sleep specialist to see if there are any extra medications or treatments that could help.

I’m yet to find something that cures my sleepwalking completely, and funny stories aside, it is an issue I need to be aware of on a daily basis.

If you’re a sleepwalker and you’re looking for support, check out The Sleep Health Foundation’s amazing website – I’ve always found it really useful. Oh, and maybe think about tying a bell to your bedroom door.

Sweet dreams!

Shane Crawford is an Australian television personality, appearing regularly on programs like The AFL Footy Show, Postcards and Kids’ WB. The former Australian Rules footballer played over three hundred games for Hawthorn in his fifteen-year career, earning the game’s highest individual honour – the Brownlow Medal – in 1999 before being inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2012. Shane co-founded his own production company, Not So Normal Productions, and is a proud Dad to four boys, Charlie, Ben, Jack and Harry. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.