It’s the middle of the night. Your child is screaming and shouting out in intense fear. It’s a terrifying experience for you to watch and it feels as if there’s nothing you can do to console him. He’s probably having a night terror… fortunately, these are rarely harmful and most children outgrow them by adolescence. Fewer than 2% of adults experience them.
What is a night terror and how does it differ from a nightmare?
A night terror:
- Is an episode of intense fear.
- It takes place whilst the person remains asleep.
- It’s associated with crying, shouting, screaming, kicking or thrashing, fast breathing and a rapid pulse.
- It can last from 1-45 minutes.
- It occurs during non-REM sleep (non-dream sleep), about 90 minutes after falling asleep, the person will usually not be able to remember the incident the following morning.
- It can occur in conjunction with sleep –walking during a night terror, the person will be unaware of your presence, be inconsolable and difficult to awaken.
A nightmare:
- the person wakes up from their dream.
- the person can remember aspects of their dream.
- it occurs during REM sleep (dream sleep), often during the second half of the night.
- your presence will be a source of comfort to the person.
What causes night terrors?
- the cause is not fully known, although night terrors tend to run in families.
- night terrors can be associated with the following medical conditions:
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Medications affecting the central nervous system
- Restless leg syndrome
- An overactive thyroid gland
- Neurological conditions such as: migraines, stroke, encephalitis, head injuries
- Factors that can contribute to night terrors include:
- Fever (especially in children)
- Sleep deprivation
- Sleep disturbance from noise or light
- Stress
- Sleeping in an unfamiliar place
- A full bladder
What can be done about night terrors?
- Educate the family/people sharing the home, that night terrors are generally not dangerous.
- Keep to a regular bedtime routine (going to bed and getting up at the same times each night and morning).
- Avoid caffeine and stimulants.
- Consider an ENT opinion where enlarged tonsils or adenoids could be causing sleep apnoea/obstruction during breathing at night .
- Make the bedroom and surrounding area safe by:
- keep windows and outside doors locked and install a gate at the top of stairs
- In the event of a night terror:
- Stay with the person during the episode
- Do not try to wake the person up
- Do not restrain or hold onto the person, unless you can see he/she is in direct danger of hurting
him/herself - Be calm, talk quietly if necessary
- Block the person from coming in contact with any potentially harmful objects by placing yourself
between the person and the specific object
When is it necessary to see a doctor about night terrors?
- When night terrors start in adulthood
- When night terrors persist beyond early teen years
- When they pose a safety risk or cause injury
- When they lead to sleep deprivation
- If they become more frequent