Looking for Cures for Night Terrors?

Question

A night terror, also known as pavor nocturnus, 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

My friend who is thirty actually is having these frequently, any advice for older people?

Answer 1

My son has had night terrors since he was about 18 months old. When he is having an episode he will be crying, screaming or disoriented, and although his eyes are open, he may or may not see people and objects around him. He has great difficulty waking up, and is dangerous to himself and other when in this state. At one time, he was having episodes several times per week, but over time (he is 3 and 1/2 now) the frequency of his night terrors is becoming less and less. He only has about one episode per month, although he still sleepwalks (we have to keep the house locked and the floor clear - once we found him sleepwalking around the backyard).

We he does finally wake, he is still upset and disoriented and it takes him about 15 minutes to recover. We don't try to wake him up during the epidoes...that only seems to increase his distress. We just try to hold him, whisper calm, reassuring words to him, and try to keep him from injuring himself. The wakeful episodes can vary in length from 30 seconds up to half an hour.

Supposedly they decrease naturally over time, and that is supported by what we have personally experienced, by every child is different. It was really upsetting to us when our 18 month old would wake up screaming and not recognize us, but eventually we found out about the condition and it doesn't worry us so much anymore.

Answer 2

Our oldest son had 'night terrors' for about a year when he was about 5. We went to a doctor for help with this, but they went away on their own. We did nothing about it. The Doctors biggest concern was that we may hurt the child trying to wake him. The sight of his mother always calmed him down.

Answer 3

My son has horrible night terrors. My DR told us to wake him slightly (don't have to wake him completely) SHORTLY AFTER he goes to bed BEFORE he has a night terror. This disrupts the sleep pattern. I was skeptical, but we tried it for about a week. We would gently shake him and get him to 'talk' to us and then let him go back to sleep. IT WORKED!! He rarely has them anymore and when he seems to be getting in the 'pattern' of having them again, we do this.
When he is in the middle of a night terror, I talk to him gently and get him back in bed. I sit with him until he calms down and goes back to sleep. Usually his terrors include him screaming for something/someone, frantically looking for something etc. I talk about other things to him until he calms down. I do not attempt to wake him.

Answer 4

I've had these before, but not with any frequency, thank goodness. It's associated with sleep paralysis. In my case, it seemed to be exacerbated by alcohol before bed. And no, not large amounts, just a glass or two of wine.

Answer 5

My son used to have these and I was told by a nurse not to try to wake him, that it would be even more traumatic.

Answer 6

-Shivers- I've been there before. It's scarry.

Answer 7

Yep. been there.