1. Terror in the Night
Night terrors are a sleep disorder that affects people of all ages but are most common in children ages four to 12. Most of the time, night terrors will disappear once the nervous system matures. Night terrors can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more. Night terrors run in families.
2. Many Things Are Causes of Night Terrors
Night terrors come about by interference between the rapid eye movement phase of sleep (REM) and the non-REM phase of sleep. It's root cause is usually a fear or agitation. Extreme fatigue, illness, fever, taking new medicine, excessive stress or a change in bedtime routine or sleep location can also cause night terrors.
3. Night Terror or Nightmare?
A night terror often occurs during the first three hours of sleep, but a nightmare most often happens later. A person who is having a night terror won't recall the event, will scream in his sleep and will be difficult to wake during the episode. A person with nightmares will recall the event and wake up easily, sometimes screaming. A night terror will cause heavy breathing, a rapid pulse, sweating and confusion. A nightmare won't usually cause these symptoms.
4. Deal With Them Before, During and After
Dealing with night terrors can be difficult. It is best to leave the person asleep until the episode is over, but make sure that she doesn't hurt herself. Once she awakens from the night terror, cuddling with her in silence is one of the best ways to comfort her. Talking or making a big deal about the episode may frighten her and make falling asleep again more difficult. Establishing and following a bedtime routine and avoiding letting her get too tired are ways you can help to prevent the chance of a night terror occurring. Making sure she has a way to de-stress, such as writing in a diary if she is old enough, also helps prevent night terrors.
5. Medical Treatment May Be Required
In very rare instances, medical intervention becomes necessary to help treat night terrors. Seek help from a medical professional if a child younger than three has more than one night terror a week or if a person older than three has more than two night terrors a month. Usually, a detailed medical history along with a record of the episodes and a physical exam are the only things necessary to diagnose night terrors. A doctor may perform an electroencephalogram or EEG to test for seizures or order a polysomnography series to test for breathing problems during sleep, if he believes one of those to be the cause of the night terrors. In very rare instances, your doctor may prescribe a tricyclic antidepressant such as Imipramine for short-term treatment if the night terrors interfere with daily activities.
