What are Night Terrors?

Night terrors, also known as sleep terrors, are a kind of parasomnia, which is a sleep disorder. They usually occur during the early stage of the night, around two to three hours after you fall asleep. Night terrors can be quite frightening, but are not associated with any ill effects.

Meanwhile, nightmares are also a sleep disorder, but typically happen during the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep. Dreams are mostly linked to negative emotions, such as fear, anxiousness or feeling uneasy and disturbed. In contrast, night terrors cause panic and fear, but there are no dream images linked to it.

Signs and Symptoms of Night Terrors

Night terrors generally cause the person to sit upright in bed and scream in terror. It is quite common for the person to have their eyes wide open and a terrified facial expression. People who experience night terrors experience a state of confusion or disorientation. They may sweat, scream and look as if they are scared, but are unconscious during this time and usually not responsive to external stimuli.

In addition, they may also become violent and thrash around. The person may be difficult to awaken and may not able to recall the episode in the morning. They may become distressed at the mere recollection of the episode and can take days to get back to normal.

Managing Night Terrors

Treating underlying conditions such as anxiety, depression, and sleep deprivation can help with night terrors. To prevent night terrors, healthy sleep habits should be adopted such as good sleep hygiene and regular sleep and wake times. If there is anything physically stimulating people during sleep, such as noise, light or uncomfortable room temperature, it should be reduced as much as possible.

When night terrors occur, it is recommended to remain calm, speak soothingly and make sure the person does not hurt themselves before the episode has ended. Do not try to shake or shout at the person as this can further cause distress. Avoiding using strong language or bright light as this can awaken the individual.

Conclusion

Night terrors are a kind of sleep disorder that can cause a person to become scared and stressed. It is important to understand the signs and symptoms of night terrors and manage underlying conditions. Taking steps to ensure good sleep hygiene and reducing anything that may stimulate the person during sleep can help reduce the risk of night terrors. It is important to stay calm during a night terror episode if the person does have one.