Sleeping Disorders: Night Terrors

Night Terrors, also known as sleep terrors and pavor nocturnus, are a form of sleeping disorders. Anyone can have a nightmare but night terrors are more intense and terrifying. The sleep terror can occur anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour after falling asleep. It can affect anyone but it is most common in children around age 3 to 10. After a simple nightmare you can comfort the person but a night terror can leave them inconsolable.

When the person wakes up they

• scream
• cry
• gasp for air
• bolt upright
• have a rapid heart beat
• are covered in sweat

They can feel afraid and panicked anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. Some people remember what they saw but not all of them. If you choose to wake a person during an attack, you should do so calmly as to not upset them further.

There isn't an exact cause but the list below are possible triggers.

• fever
• lack of sleep
• stress
• some medications
• traumatic events

There isn't a cure for this disorder and treatment isn't always necessary. Sometimes the sleep terrors will stop all on their own. Usually sticking to a regular sleep pattern is enough to prevent any future attacks.