The best way to handle a night terror is to wait it out patiently and make sure your child doesn't get hurt if thrashing around. Kids usually will settle down and return to sleep on their own in a few minutes. It's best not to try to wake kids during a night terror.
Speak calmly but avoid waking them.
Trying to wake them up can be dangerous but also futile. Many people in night terrors never wake up during the episode. What you can do is speak to them in a calm and soothing voice to offer comfort. If they get up but are not too agitated, gently guide them back to bed.
The cause is unknown but night terrors are often triggered by fever, lack of sleep or periods of emotional tension, stress or conflict. Night terrors are like nightmares, except that nightmares usually occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and are most common in the early morning.
However, do not try to wake a child during a night terror. Attempts at arousal may make the episode last longer or provoke a physical response that could lead to injury. Most often these episodes are short, and your child will fall quickly back to sleep.
If the night terror episodes are frequent and occur at a specific time every night, you may find that waking your child breaks the cycle. Wake your child 15 minutes before the anticipated time of the episode every night for seven days.
Night terrors usually last around five to 10 minutes and may happen more than once during the same night.
Since adult night terrors are so closely associated with life trauma and psychological disorders, many of those who endure this bedtime battle will often also exhibit signs of aggression, anxiety, memory loss, and inward pain that are often expressed in the form of self-mutilation.
Night terrors are most common in children between the ages of 3 and 8, while nightmares can affect both children and adults. Differences between night terrors and nightmares.
Sometimes, night terrors can lead to injury for the person or other people, especially if they thrash about or go sleepwalking as well. An adult is more likely to display aggressive behavior than a child during night terrors.
Night terrors stem from an arousal disorder, known as a parasomnia, which occur during deep sleep, says pediatric pulmonologist and sleep specialist Katharina Graw-Panzer, MD. They affect nearly 40% of children between 4 and 12–years-old, with 5-7 being the peak age range.
Night terrors occur in deep sleep or NREM stage three. During night terrors, the front part of your brain that controls executive functioning and memory is asleep while the back part that controls motor movement is awake. This is similar to sleepwalking.
Night terrors in adults can be treated with medications such as an antidepressant called Tofranil or benzodiazepine drugs such as Klonopin or Valium.
Night terrors can occur in adults however it is rare. This may be indicative of underlying neurologic disorders that require more work up and investigation.
Night terrors are most common in children ages 3 through 7, and much less common after that. Night terrors may run in families. They can occur in adults, especially when there is emotional tension or alcohol use.
Night terrors are most common in children aged 2-4 years, but can happen in children aged up to 12 years. Most children outgrow night terrors by the time they reach puberty.
But kids who have nightmares often are at increased risk for developing psychotic symptoms later in adolescence, suggests a new study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
Benefits of weighted blankets for kids
While there is still a lot of research to be done, there is some evidence that deep pressure can help reduce anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, night-waking, night terrors, and overstimulation in autistic children and those with developmental disabilities.
Differentiating sleep terrors from nocturnal seizures can be challenging. In both instances, patients seem to awaken suddenly from non-REM sleep; they may scream, appear agitated, and move their arms and legs. However, there are important differences to look for when making a diagnosis.
A night terror can be triggered if your child becomes overtired. Be sure your child goes to bed at a regular time, and early enough to give him or her enough sleep. Younger children may need to return to a daily nap.
Sleep terrors differ from sleepwalking and confusional arousals in that the individual appears to react to some type of frightening image. The individual may act in an improper or agitated manner without regard to reality. If another individual is encountered or is in close proximity, violent behavior may occur.
There's no treatment for night terrors, but you can help prevent them. Try to: reduce your child's stress. create a bedtime routine that's simple and relaxing.
Night terrors in adults are often linked to stress or trauma. Sometimes a condition that affects sleep can be a trigger for night terrors.
Traumatic brain injury occasionally precipitates parasomnias, including sleepwalking, sleep terrors, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.
Scary nights
Researchers have long known that people who suffer from schizophrenia tend to report night terrors and frequent, terrifying nightmares.
Nightmares and Night Terrors: Nightmares and night terrors plague a majority of people with PTSD, leading to nighttime awakenings and making it difficult to get back to sleep. The content of these vivid dreams is sometimes related to past trauma, with many PTSD sufferers reporting repetitive nightmares.