Chapter 1: The Vaccination Experience

In the summer of 2021, I joined the masses getting vaccinated.

As I stood in line for my dose, I felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. After receiving the shot, I was instructed to wait in a large room for about ten minutes. My wait turned unexpectedly eventful when someone nearby collapsed from their chair, twitching on the floor. Thankfully, they recovered after a few minutes, and I couldn’t help but feel relieved that my body wasn’t reacting that way.

After the wait, I stepped outside, slightly dizzy from the atmosphere, but eager to meet my friends. The day that followed was rather mundane. A friend visited for a chat, but the details of that day faded from my memory.

That night, I experienced something bizarre—I awoke in my kitchen with all the lights on. I had been dreaming about saying goodbye to my friend, yet, to my surprise, no one was present. Without a second thought, I went to the bathroom and then returned to bed.

The next morning, the dream was already forgotten, and the week continued with normal sleep until another peculiar incident occurred. This time, I found myself outside, clutching a shoe. Living on the ground floor meant I could easily access the small garden from my bedroom. Confusion washed over me as I questioned whose shoe it was, how I ended up outside, and why I was only in my underwear. It finally struck me—I was sleepwalking. Since it was only 1 AM, I decided to return to bed.

The following day, I turned into a detective, trying to uncover the mystery of my newfound sleepwalking. Throughout my life, I had experienced sleepwalking just once, when I had wandered into my parents’ room searching for my slippers in the middle of the night, even though I had already prepared for bed.

It eventually dawned on me that my first episode of sleepwalking coincided closely with the timing of my vaccination. While this may seem like mere anecdotal evidence, sleep disturbances are indeed a known side effect of vaccinations. I considered reporting it but didn't follow through at the time.

A month later, it was time for my booster shot. I had some reservations but decided to go ahead.

Did my sleepwalking episodes increase afterward? Not particularly, but I did have another memorable experience.

During a weekend kayaking trip, I enjoyed myself thoroughly. That night, however, I once again found myself standing in bed, dreaming I was on a boat in complete darkness. I wanted to escape, and in my sleep, I tore down my curtains, waking up to a brightly lit room without them. It was awkward trying to fall asleep again with the summer sun shining in.

After that incident, sleepwalking became a rarity for me. Eventually, I moved in with my girlfriend, who pointed out some strange behaviors I exhibited during the night, like sitting up in bed or talking in my sleep. Over time, these occurrences diminished.

Even recently, I've had a couple of minor sleepwalking incidents.

Now, enough about my experiences. Do you or someone you know sleepwalk? Share your funny stories in the comments!

Chapter 2: Understanding Sleepwalking

In this video, Dr. Durbin discusses the potential health implications of sleep disturbances post-vaccination, including sleepwalking. It raises awareness about what to expect after getting vaccinated.

Sivert Høyem's "Sleepwalking Man" lyric video captures the essence of sleepwalking through its evocative lyrics and visuals, resonating with those who have experienced similar situations.