@John Brunner, usually, I will get up thinking I dreamed walking in my sleep and doing some of the stuff I do. For instance, not long ago, I must have gone to bed hungry and got up went to the kitchen and made a peanut butter sandwich. I brought it back with me, climbed into bed and started eating it. Fell into a sounder sleep and evidently began chewing which raised my awareness level enough to have finished that sandwich. The next morning, I was certain I dreamed it all until I finally went to the kitchen for my coffee and on the counter was the peanut butter jar and loaf of bread. So, that's how it works with me.
I just went and read a little about it. It's interesting that since it happens during deep sleep, and since the person doesn't usually wake up, the quality of rest is not diminished...the person does not wake up tired, despite having been active.
I have a good friend who has Parkinson's and was taking a heavy cocktail of drugs to control it. She had horrible sleep disturbances and would walk in her sleep. One night she stood up in her bed and fell, hitting a nightstand and breaking 3 ribs. After getting her medication adjusted she finally doesn't have those sleep disturbances any longer.
Sleep walking usually takes place during the first or second cycle of sleep and I don't feel as though I am in a deep sleep. Thankfully, this doesn't happen very much anymore and it's the first time I've been injured. Some people sustain terrible injuries. My uncle would hear my cousin and he'd get up and follow her. She one time went out and got on her bike, and my uncle also took her sister's bike to follow her. She rode to a walnut tree and gathered some, brought them home, and there they were on the kitchen table the next morning. She thought she'd dreamed the entire episode.
Just amazing to be in an "in-between" state to execute such tactile activities (like eating...or going outside, riding a bike, picking walnuts, riding back home) and not wake up, but still having them register...as dreams. It's a weird subset of everything we don't know about sleep.
I have a mild headache, Beth and my face is bruising more and more each day as when a head injury occurs, the bleed courses downward. So, I look like a raccoon with gorgeous purpling. Still a small knot on my head causing the headache, but nothing major. Thanks for asking.
John, there is a word for that particular state which I'll have to look for, but it's something like a twilight sleep. We awaken in the morning thinking we were in REM sleep dreaming when we actually were retaining a smidgen of consciousness and yet not awake. Had I thought of it at the time maybe I'd have done my post grad thesis on this and titled it, "People Do The Craziest Things While Sleeping."
Do you have your doctorate in pysch? Did you work in the field? (Sorry if you've said elsewhere and I've overlooked it.)
Leaving shortly for a cat scan of my brain to rule out intracranial bleeding. When my son sees my face, I hope he does not pass out. I've tried to tell him what to expect. It is still spreading all over my right side of the face which is normal since that's where I hit. As healing takes place blood cells spread out and discolor everything in their path. Should be interesting.