What are night terrors? What do you do if someone is suffering from them?

Answer 1

A night terror, is a parasomnia sleep disorder characterized by extreme terror and a temporary inability to regain full consciousness. The subject wakes abruptly from the fourth stage of sleep, with waking usually accompanied by gasping, moaning, or screaming. It is often impossible to fully awaken the person, and after the episode the subject normally settles back to sleep without waking. A night terror can occasionally be recalled by the subject.

Night terrors are distinct from nightmares in several key ways. First, the subject is not fully awake when roused, and even when efforts are made to awaken the sleeper, he/she may continue to experience the night terror for over 10 or 20 minutes. Unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during the deepest levels of non-REM sleep. Even if awakened, the subject often cannot remember the episode except for a sense of panic, while nightmares usually can be easily recalled. Unlike nightmares, which are frequently a scary event dreamt (e.g. a monster under the bed, falling to one's death, etc.), night terrors are not dreams. There is no situation or event, scary or otherwise, that is dreamt but rather the emotion of fear itself is felt, often coupled with tension, apprehension and so on, without any distinct sounds or visual imagery. These emotions without a focusing event or scenario that make up the dream itself compound and add to each other, increasing the emotions in a cumulative effect. The lack of a dream itself leaves those awakened from a night terror in a state of disorientation much more severe than that caused by a normal nightmare. This can include a short period of amnesia during which the subject may be unable to recall his name, location, age, or any other identifying features of himself. This state generally passes after only one or two minutes. While each night terror is usually different, all episodes of the same person will generally have similar traits. One seemingly universal quality of night terrors is a strong sense of danger — there is always a being, tangible or otherwise, who wishes to hurt the sleeping person. Many sufferers of night terrors are reluctant to speak of them because of their violent, graphic, and often disturbing nature.

Treatment:
The consensus for treating night terror episodes is three-pronged: gentleness, disposal of anything nearby that might hurt the subject, and avoiding loud voices or movements that might frighten the subject further. It is also critical to remember that the person experiencing the terror is unaware that he is dreaming. As a result, he may become even more agitated if told that "it was just a dream," as he is quite convinced that what he is experiencing is real. The quickest remedy is simply to calm the person by telling him that everything is alright and that what he thinks is happening is not really happening. Knowing the person's source of "calm" helps immensely. If he has a favorite companion dog or cat, telling him that the cat or dog is warm in bed, safe and asleep and that he needs to sleep as well could also be a good trigger. Calm the person and convince him to "go back to sleep" (although he is, in fact, already asleep). Night terrors are transitory so medical help is often unnecessary, but options may range from treatment of sleep apnea to prescription of benzodiazepines and psychotherapy.

Answer 2

My Dad is still having Night Terrors, from his time on Active Duty 20 years ago.
We have discovered that they need 2 run their course & is the Brains way of storing the Information that it's seen.
Night terrors R nasty 4 the dreamer & I'd advise nobody share a bed, without some of get out plan at hand.
My poor dad has had worse 1's lately, due 2 the War Climate of the Planet. He feels like he's on Stand By.

Answer 3

I have panic disorder, I was told by my Doc that night terrors are panic attacks that occur in young children. I know I had them as a very young child because my mother told me, I don't remember them. She said she would come to my room because I was trying to wake up and I was screaming " I can't breath" she would then read to me until I fell back to sleep. If your someone is suffering from night terrors as a teen, or adult I would have them seek professional help, and ask for advice as to what to do for them.

Answer 4

If you have night terrors, then you dont know you have theme. It happens in the fourth stage of sleep called REM. The person will wake up screaming or gasping and might even get up and walk around. They are unaware of there surrondings and there is nothing you can do but make shure that they dont hurt theme selves. The episiodes ushully last 10-30 min.

Answer 5

Well, I would think that Night terror are when people are either afraid of the dark or they have trouble with nightmares.
If they are afraid of the dark, then I suggest that you put on a dim light.. but not too dark and not too light.
If they have lots of nightmares, tell them a nice story, maybe a comedy and sleep with them in the bed to help them feel comfortable.

Answer 6

My son has had them considering delivery. As loopy as that sounds, that is authentic. he's rather a lot 4 now. yet, he has autism, and that i'm particular that is linked to that. Do you be particular you do not watch some thing remotely scary at the same time as she's round? She would not might want to be taking note of it, purely listening to it. I used to have evening terrors at the same time as i become little, it is what brought about mine. except that, a accessible reason must be sensory subject matters, yet you've got different clues in her habit if that become the case. The psychologist is the great position to commence, they'll word her for the sensory subject matters, too. between the failings that helped my son become that after I had adorned his room I positioned a really lovable Taz photo in there, only a small one! once he become in a position communicate a touch extra effective, he instructed me that scared him. after I took it out, his evening terrors began reducing. imagine about some thing new that she's further to her room, or the cartoons that she watches, even. What must be stupid to you and me could have a countless outcome on her. good success with the psychologist, they are rather good at detecting actual aspects of the mind.

Answer 7

I've heard that night terrors are bad dreams, but they are worse than the typical nightmare.
If the person opens their eyes or gets up while they are having one, I've read that they are not really awake.
You are supposed to say comforting words to them, things that they are familiar with as you lead them back to bed.

Answer 8

night terrors=really bad nightmares. Never wake a person having a nightmare. Refer the person to a sleep clinic if ur city has it

Answer 9

Basically the body has a mechanism that keeps you from moving and acting our your dreams.

Some people have an amount of consciousness combined with this paralysis while dreaming, so it feels like "i'm paralysed, monesters/ aliens/ witches are all around me, and I can't scream"

Mostly children under 5 get them, but usually grow out of them. You can talk to their doctor. IF you are an adult with them consider having a sleep study. You may have other issues, and/or require treatment.

Answer 10

Night terrors are night mares that are so bad the person has severly disrupted sleep. The are sleep clinics and doctors who specialize in treating this disorder.