Imagine that the person sleeping next to you suddenly wakes up as if driven by a spring and screaming as if he had seen the devil himself . You try to comfort her, but she doesn’t respond. Then after a few minutes, he falls asleep again as if nothing happened… Scary, right? This strange behavior is the result of a sleep disorder generally known as night terrors . In this article we explain everything you need to know about it.
What are the symptoms of night terrors?
The main symptom of night terrors is being extremely agitated during sleep, to the point of screaming or crying in sleep , but others can also occur:
- Hitting the bed while asleep
- Heavy breathing
- High pulsations
- Sweat and flushed cheeks
- Get up, jump on the bed, or run across the room
- Aggression (especially if you sleep with someone and they try to calm you down)
- Lightheadedness, confusion, and blank stare upon awakening
When do they occur?
Night terrors are more common in young children and tend to disappear with age , but if you’ve ever experienced them as an adult, you’re not alone – an estimated 2% have them frequently. And, in reality, this number could be even higher, as people often do not remember having them (or take them for nightmares).
As for the moment in which they occur, night terrors generally occur during the first phases of sleep, specifically in stages 3 and 4 – slow wave sleep and non-rapid eye movements (NREM) -. It is rare to have them twice in one night, although it can happen.
How long do they last?
Night terrors generally last several seconds to a minute, but can sometimes continue for 10 minutes or more. You may experience them on a regular basis or just a few times a year.
The difference between night terrors and nightmares
Night terrors and nightmares may seem similar, but there is an important distinction between the two: Unlike nightmares, people do not often wake up from night terrors . During the episode, they may scream, flail and kick, sit up in bed, and appear terrified.
Although it sounds quite traumatic, it doesn’t really have to be so traumatic, as people usually return to a normal sleep after the incident and have no recollection of what happened the next morning . In fact, it is very difficult to wake up or communicate with someone during a night terror, because they are sound asleep.
With nightmares, on the other hand, you always wake up and can remember them completely or at least some parts, both the moment they occur and the next morning.
Is there a way to avoid night terrors?
Night terrors don’t usually require treatment because they usually don’t lead to major problems, even though they can be unpleasant.
However, sometimes it is necessary to combat them because they can have a negative effect on your rest and your health, or affect your relationship with your partner if they are very frequent and cause you to wake up. To avoid them, you can try a few tricks:
Develop good sleep habits
A good starting point is to have a regular sleep schedule . Sometimes getting enough regular sleep is enough to combat night terrors.
Avoid overstimulation before sleeping
Try to avoid using electronic devices, resolving work issues, or any stimulating activity before going to bed. Don’t drink caffeine at the end of the day, limit your alcohol intake, and try to relax before going to sleep.
Go to the psychologist
In some cases, night terrors can be a sign of stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems . If nothing seems to be working, consider seeking support from a therapist
