Description

Sleep terrors are times of screaming or crying, intense fear, and sometimes shake your arms and legs when not fully awake. Also known as night terrors, sleep terrors can lead to sleepwalking. Like sleepwalking, sleep terrors are a type of parasomnia. Parasomnias are disturbing or strange behaviors or experiences during sleep. A dream of terror, usually lasts from seconds to a few minutes, but can last longer.

Sleep terrors can occur in children between the ages of 1 and 12 years. They happen much less often in adults. Although the terrors of the dream can be scary for those around the person with the terrors of the dream, which usually is not a cause for concern. Most children will outgrow sleep terrors by their teenage years.

Sleep terrors may require treatment if they cause problems with getting enough sleep or cause a safety risk.

Symptoms

Sleep terrors differ from nightmares. A nightmare is a bad dream. The person who has a nightmare wakes up from the dream and may remember details. A person who has a dream of terror remains asleep. Children usually do not remember anything about their sleep terrors in the morning. Adults can remember part of a dream he had during the terrors of the dream.

Sleep terrors usually happen in the first part of the hour of sleep, and rarely during naps. A dream of terror can lead to sleepwalking.

During a sleep terror, a person can:

  • Start screaming, yelling or crying.
  • Sit on the bed and look scared.
  • Looked at with open eyes.
  • Sweating, breathing heavily, and have a racing pulse, flushing of the face and dilated pupils.
  • Kick and thrash.
  • Be difficult to wake up and be confused if he wakes up.
  • Not to be comforted or soothed.
  • Have No or little memory of the events of the next morning.
  • Possibly, to get out of bed and run around the house, or have an aggressive behavior if they are locked or retained.

When to see a doctor

Occasional terrors of the dream is usually not a cause for concern. If your child has sleep terrors, can you just talk about all of them in a routine well-child visits. But if you have concerns for yourself or your child, talk with your doctor or other health care professional before, especially if the terrors of the dream:

  • Occur more often.
  • Regularly interrupt the sleep of the person with sleep terrors or the other members of the family.
  • Bring to safety concerns or injury.
  • Result in a day, symptoms of extreme drowsiness or problems with daily activities.
  • To continue beyond the years of adolescence, or start as an adult.

Causes

Sleep terrors are a type of parasomnia. A parasomnia is a disturbing or strange behavior or experience during sleep. People who have sleep terrors are not completely wake up from sleep during the episodes. Its appearance may suggest that they are awake, but remain partially asleep.

Several problems can contribute to the terrors of the dream, such as:

  • Severe lack of sleep and extreme fatigue.
  • Stress.
  • The sleep schedule changes, travel, or interruptions of sleep.
  • Fever.

The terrors of the dream, at times, can be triggered by conditions that interfere with sleep, such as:

  • Sleep-disordered breathing — a group of disorders that include breathing patterns that are not typical during sleep. The most common type of sleep-disordered breathing is obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Restless legs syndrome.
  • Some medications.
  • Mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
  • The consumption of Alcohol.

Risk factors

Sleep terrors are more common if the members of the family has a history of sleep terrors or sleepwalking.

Complications

Some of the complications that may arise from the terrors of the dream include:

  • Be too much sleep during the day, which can lead to problems at school or at work or with the tasks of daily living.
  • Sleep disorders.
  • Shame about the terrors of the dream, or problems with relationships.
  • The injury to the person who has a dream of terror, or, rarely, to someone who is near.

Diagnosis

To diagnose the terrors of the dream, your doctor or other health care professional can:

  • Talk about your medical history. Your health care professional is likely that you discuss your medical history. You may have a physical exam to identify any conditions that may be part of the reason for their sleep terrors. You can ask about your family history of sleep problems.
  • Talk about your symptoms. The terrors of the dream is diagnosed based on the description of the events. The health professional may also ask you or your bed partner a few questions about their sleep behaviors. A video of a sleep terror episode can be useful.
  • We recommend a sleep study during the night. In some cases, your doctor may recommend an overnight study in a sleep laboratory. The sensors placed in your body to register and monitor brain waves, the oxygen level in the blood, heart rate and breathing during sleep. The sensors also record of the eyes and the movements of the legs during sleep. You can be in a video to document your behaviour during the sleep cycles.

Treatment

The treatment generally is not necessary for the terrors of the dream that occur rarely. Children often outgrow sleep terrors.

The treatment may be necessary if the terrors of sleep causes a security risk, interfere with sleep, not go away with time or happen more often. To be embarrassed or disrupt the sleep of others can lead some people to seek treatment.

Treatment generally focuses on security plans, and get rid of the causes or triggers of the terrors of the dream.

Treatment options may include:

  • The treatment of any underlying condition. If the terrors of the dream are related to a medical or mental health condition or another sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea, treatment is directed at the underlying problem.
  • Address your stress. If the stress or the anxiety seems to be part of the cause of the terrors of the dream, your health care professional may suggest a meeting with a sleep specialist. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, hypnosis or relaxation therapy can help.
  • Anticipation of awakening. This involves awakening to the person who has sleep terrors of about 15 minutes before the person usually has the event. Then, the person remains awake for a couple of minutes before falling asleep again.
  • Of medicine. Medicine are rarely used for the treatment of sleep terrors, especially for children. But if it is necessary, the healthcare professional may prescribe medications to help with sleep, such as benzodiazepines or certain antidepressants.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If the terrors of the dream are a problem for you or for your child, here are some tips:

  • Get enough sleep. Extreme tiredness can contribute to the terrors of the dream. If you are not getting enough sleep, try a bedtime and a more regular sleep schedule. Sometimes a short nap can help you. If possible, avoid noises or other stimuli that may disrupt sleep.
  • Establish a regular, relaxing routine before bedtime. Make a calm, relaxing before going to bed. Read books, do puzzles, or soak in a hot bath. Meditation or relaxation exercises may also help. Make the bedroom quiet and comfortable for sleeping. Avoid caffeine close to bedtime.
  • Make the area safe. To help prevent injuries, to close and lock all windows and external doors at night. You can even lock interior doors or alarms or bells of them. Lock the doors or stairs with a door. Move electrical wires or other objects that may be a tripping hazard. Do not use bunk bed if possible. Place sharp or breakable objects out of reach. Also, the locking of all the weapons.
  • Put stress in its place. Identify the things that cause you stress. Think of ways to handle the stress. If your child seems anxious or stressed, talk about what is bothering your child. A mental health professional can help.
  • Offer comfort. If your child has a dream of terror, consider the possibility of just waiting. It can be annoying to see, but that will not harm your child. You can embrace and gently calm your child. Then, try to get your child back on the bed. He speaks in a low voice and calmly. Do not shout. Trying to wake up his son or to keep your child's movement can make things worse. Usually, the event will be at short stop on your own.
  • Look for a pattern. If your child has sleep terrors, keep a sleep diary. For a couple of weeks, keep in mind how many minutes after the hour of sleep a dream of terror occurs. If the timing is pretty consistent, anticipatory awakenings can help.

Preparing for your appointment

Sleep terrors in children tend to disappear by the time they are teens. But if you have concerns about the security or underlying conditions for you or your child, talk with your health care professional. Your health care professional may refer you to a sleep specialist.

Keeping a sleep diary for two weeks prior to the appointment. A sleep diary can help health professionals to understand more about the hours of sleep, problems that affect sleep and when the terrors of the dream happen. In the morning, log bedtime rituals, the quality of sleep, and anything else you think is important. At the end of the day, registration of behaviors that can affect sleep, as the sleep schedule changes, and any medication that you take.

You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible, to provide more information.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • Any of the symptoms, including those that do not seem to be related to the reason for the appointment. Keep a sleep diary for the appointment, if possible. A video recording of the dream of terror can be useful.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, herbs, or other supplements that are taken, and the dose.
  • Questions for the health care professional to help you make the most of their time together.

Some questions are:

  • What is likely the cause of these symptoms?
  • What are other possible causes?
  • What kind of proof do you need?
  • It is the condition likely to last for a short time or a long time?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are other options for the main actions that you're suggesting?
  • Do you recommended to consult a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor or other health professional is likely that several questions, for example:

  • When did the sleep terrors begin?
  • What is the frequency of sleep terrors occur?
  • When during the night of the episodes occur?
  • Can you describe a typical episode?
  • There have been problems of sleep in the past?
  • Does anyone else in your family has trouble sleeping?
  • Has the episodes result in any of the lesions.

Be prepared to answer questions, so that you have time to go through the information that you want to spend more time.

Symptoms and treatment of Sleep terrors (night terrors)