Buzz
At some point in your life, you might overhear someone speaking while asleep, or you may even witness someone wandering around in their sleep! Sleepwalking is a widespread condition, impacting up to 4% of adults and leading to many amusing stories.
10. Sending a ZZZ-Mail
As remote work continues to rise in popularity, productivity has become a top priority. Writing emails and attending virtual meetings have become second nature for many. For some people, even sending emails while asleep is possible! A New York Times article recounts the story of a woman who allegedly sent several emails in the middle of the night—during an eight-minute span when she was fast asleep.
The article also highlighted that all the messages displayed “odd capitalization, punctuation, and phrasing.” One email had the subject “!HELP ME P-LEEEEESE,” while another extended an invitation for “dinner & drinks.” The recipient’s friends were left puzzled by these strange emails, and the woman had no memory of sending them!
It’s crucial to establish work-life boundaries and shut down your laptop by 5:00 pm—especially if you have a history of sleepwalking. Otherwise, you might wake up to some bewildering emails in your inbox the next morning!
9. Unknowingly Walking Nine Miles While Asleep
Walking just one mile can be tough, but a woman in Colorado managed to walk nine times that distance in her sleep! According to an ABC News report, 19-year-old Taylor Gammel went “missing for hours on Tuesday morning before she… woke up… miles from her home.” Despite being found about 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) away from her Denver residence, Gammel had no recollection of her sleepwalking journey. She was still in her pajamas and barefoot. Yikes!
Since she was discovered without any identification, wallet, or money, it seems unlikely she traveled by bus or car. Thankfully, Gammel made her way home safely. Her ability to walk nine miles while asleep is both impressive and chilling!
8. Midnight Snacks Aren’t Just for the Aware
Sleep eating is a common condition, and although it may sound amusing, it’s actually a confusing experience for those who go through it. An ABC News article reports that over a million people have encountered this strange eating habit, with the majority being women. However, the exact causes of sleep eating remain a mystery.
The article features an interview with Amy Koechler, a woman who suffers from this condition. According to the piece, “After falling asleep, Koechler would get up and shuffle to the kitchen almost every night, find a snack, and eat it—without ever waking up.” So, if you often find yourself waking up beside tasty treats, it might be a good idea to get checked out!
7. Another Species That Sleep Eats: Reindeer!
That’s right—sleep eating isn’t limited to humans! Reindeer, not to be confused with the ones that help Santa deliver presents, prepare for the grueling Arctic winter by training their bodies to replenish in their sleep. Smithsonian Magazine highlights a study that discovered the more time reindeer spent chewing their food, the more rested they appeared.
After examining the brain waves of the reindeer, researchers found that when the animals chewed their food, “their brain waves resembled those during non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Because they experience the benefits of such rest while calmly chewing their cud, the animals feel rested after ruminating.” This helps the reindeer bulk up while facing the tough Arctic environment!
6. Unintentional Cliff Diving
A man camping with his friends unknowingly fell asleep in a hammock, only to wake up at the bottom of a cliff. Shortly after settling into the hammock, Ryan Campbell was overtaken by a case of sleepwalking. His friends watched in disbelief as Campbell walked toward a nearby cliff and plunged 70 feet (21 meters) to the ground below.
An ABC News article reported that Campbell had an incredible stroke of luck during his sleep, with the officers finding him with minimal injuries. The rescuers noted that his soft landing was due to falling into a rhododendron bush instead of landing on the sharp rocks and boulders scattered around the area.
After a full recovery, Campbell assured the interviewers that he would no longer put himself in situations where that could happen again. So, to all sleepwalkers out there, take Campbell’s story as a cautionary tale and avoid falling asleep near cliffs!
5. His Artistic Talent Only Emerges When He’s Asleep
Lee Hadwin is a fascinating case, as his artistic talent only comes alive while he's asleep! BBC News covered his intriguing story, noting that when Hadwin was just four years old, he would “scribble on the walls.” While this might sound like typical childhood behavior, what set it apart was that he was asleep when doing it. In an interview with BBC, Hadwin shared, “At fifteen, that’s when the art started becoming more intricate, and I drew three small Marilyn Monroes. What’s strange is that I have no artistic talent when I’m awake.”
It’s hard for people to understand how Hadwin can achieve such incredible feats—which is why many are willing to pay handsomely to own his artwork. He’s sold several pieces for thousands of dollars, some even reaching hundreds of thousands! And in the process, he’s giving back. He donates a portion of each sale to charitable organizations such as Amnesty International.
4. Former Chef Continues His Cooking Career in His Sleep
A former chef has discovered that his sleepwalking has evolved into sleep-cooking. As unbelievable as it sounds, 55-year-old Robert Wood was featured in the Daily Mail, where he explained that he “gets up four or five times a week while asleep and heads to the kitchen, where he’s previously prepared omelettes, stir-fries, and chips.”
Though it may sound impressive to whip up delicious recipes in your sleep, this experience has been terrifying for Wood and his wife. Fearing that he could accidentally set his house on fire, Wood has been seeking medical advice. So, as fascinating as it may be to become a chef in your sleep, it’s important to remember the dangers of performing certain tasks while sleepwalking!
3. If You Sleepwalk, It’s Essential to Stay Safe!
While the stories shared so far have been entertaining or harmless, it’s important to acknowledge the dangers of untreated sleepwalking and other sleep disorders. As noted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleepwalking is often underdiagnosed and can be linked to daytime issues and mood disturbances, significantly affecting a person’s quality of life.
While it’s widely known not to wake a sleepwalker, there are other strategies people should be aware of. The Cleveland Clinic suggests several non-medical approaches to reduce sleepwalking, including relaxation techniques, stress management, mental health therapy, or scheduled awakenings. So, although sleepwalking isn’t typically harmful, it’s essential to recognize the risks and learn how to minimize them!
2. Dolphins Speak Whale While They Sleep?!
Sleep talking is a common phenomenon for many people, and studies have even shown that dolphins engage in a similar activity! However, dolphins might ‘sleep talk’ in a way akin to an English speaker speaking French while asleep. A Live Science article revealed that a group of dolphins was heard “making whale-like sounds late at night—despite only having heard whale sounds as recordings during their daytime dolphin performances.”
Dolphins have long been regarded as one of the most intelligent animal species, and this study may reveal that these creatures are perhaps mentally replaying their daily performances, including the pre-recorded whale sounds they hear! The article suggests that “it’s possible the dolphins are even asleep as they make the whale-like noises, essentially sleep-talking in ‘whale.’” This discovery has opened new avenues for research into dolphin intelligence and learning processes. So, if you were unsure of dolphins' intellect, this might just change your perspective!
1. Sleepwalking Right Out of a Window
For most people, the morning routine involves opening a window to let in the sunshine and help wake them up for the day. However, Rachel Ward, a teenager, took a much more unconventional approach while sleepwalking. A Daily Mail article reported that Ward got out of bed, dressed, and walked over to the window “before making her dramatic, unconscious exit.” She fell a staggering 25 feet (7.6 meters) to the ground.
As frightening as this incident was for Rachel and her parents, who rushed her to the hospital, the outcome was surprisingly good. After undergoing a series of tests, including X-rays and CT scans, the doctors kept her overnight but found nothing wrong. “They were astonished and couldn’t explain it. She must have fallen like a rag doll because she was still asleep.” Rachel later said that she was perfectly fine and only had a minor backache to show for this shocking ordeal!
