“Sleepwalkers should never be woken up because it could kill them”

Many people have heard the warning that waking a sleepwalker is dangerous, potentially causing a heart attack, brain damage, or even death. This widespread misconception likely stems from the disoriented and confused state a person experiences when abruptly roused from a deep sleep, especially during a sleepwalking episode. The shock of being suddenly awake in an unfamiliar situation can be startling, leading to temporary confusion or agitation that might be misinterpreted as a sign of serious harm.

However, scientific evidence consistently debunks this myth. Waking a sleepwalker will not cause them any physical harm, a heart attack, or death. The primary risk is that the awakened individual may be momentarily confused, disoriented, or even startled, but this is a transient state and poses no lasting danger. In fact, leaving a sleepwalker to wander unsupervised can be far more perilous. Individuals in a sleepwalking state are not fully aware of their surroundings and can easily injure themselves by falling down stairs, walking into objects, or even attempting to leave the house and encountering hazards outside.

The enduring belief in this myth can be attributed to several factors, including its transmission through generations as an old wives' tale and the dramatic nature of the supposed consequences. The vivid image of a sleepwalker being "shocked to death" is more memorable and impactful than the mundane reality of temporary confusion. This fear, though unfounded, has contributed to many people hesitating to intervene when they encounter someone sleepwalking, unknowingly putting the sleepwalker at greater risk.