What are Night Terrors - Meaning, Symptoms, Causes, Risks & Treatment

source: cdnparenting

We require sleep to drive away risks of chronic diseases and develop immunity. However, adverse conditions like stress, genetic disorders or past traumatic experiences can disturb the quality of our sleep and trigger unusual behaviour like sleepwalking or night terrors.

Keep reading this article if you are curious about what are night terrors, their symptoms, and their causes!

Night terrors may involve children getting out of bed and walking around in a confused state of mind along with other symptoms. In addition, adults may perform potentially dangerous acts while remaining in a sleep-like state. It is believed waking people suffering from night terror is complex and may cause further outbursts.

Episodes of night terror may last from a few seconds to nearly 20 minutes and return to their REM (Rapid Eye Movement) state immediately. Additionally, a night terror patient may also suffer from amnesia or momentary loss of sense, rendering them irresponsive to humane conversations.

Although sometimes used interchangeably, night terrors are different from nightmares. These phenomena occur at different sleep phases, and while the person getting nightmares usually wakes up, night terror victims remain in a deep sleep. Some typical symptoms of night terror include:

• Excessive screaming and shouting to express fear.
• Waking up abruptly, looking confused or undergoing sleepwalking.
• Uncontrolled stretching of arms and legs to show discomfort.
• Wide-eye staring but no response to stimuli
• Aggressive behaviour in adults, including increased muscle toning, dilated pupils and may be hard to awaken.
• Completely forgetting the event after waking up and being inconsolable.

Usually, doctors believe that children undergo night terrors when they spend the night somewhere unfamiliar. However, cases of abuse or traumatic situations can also trigger sleep terrors. Studies show that children who have been subject to bullying in school are two times more prone to night terrors. Some causes of night terrors include:

• Fever or physical illness, especially in small children; 
• Continued periods of sleep deprivation, acute tiredness and sleep schedule or location disruptions;
• Obstructive sleep apnea with abnormal breathing patterns;
• Medications or excessive alcohol consumption;
• Stress and mood disorders like anxiety.

The following are certain factors which increases a person’s risk of developing night terrors:

• Studies reveal that Parkinson’s disease in adults between 45-85 undergoes night terrors.
• Dysfunction of the thalamus part of the brain may cause micro-arousals in the form of night terrors.
• Genetic can aslo increase the risk of experiencing night terrors. A 2015 study reveals that children whose parents have undergone sleep terrors are more likely to experience one.

Doctors diagnose the night terror condition using the following methods:

• Consultation: Discussing about the description of past events gives great insight to a doctor. So, he or she may ask about it along with your family history of sleep problems.
• Physical Exam: Before treating cases of night terrors, doctors need to understand the physical or psychological causes responsible for such disorders. So, they perform physical exams for it.
• Polysomnography or Nocturnal Sleep Study: Doctors may also suggest sleeping one night at the lab to perform Polysomnography. It helps measure vital statistics like blood oxygen levels, brain waves, breathing patterns and bodily movements.

Night terrors do not usually cause serious harm. However, doctors recommend treatment when night terrors episodes pose potential safety threats for the person or their family. Some common treatments for night terrors are as follows:

• Treating Underlying Condition: Identifying and treating the underlying causes of sleep apnea or psychological disorders.
• Setting Right Sleeping Pattern: Changing sleep patterns and making them more comfortable for children. Parents may consider exposing their children to physical activity before they sleep.
• Addressing Stress: Dealing with stress through counselling, especially for adults.

Taking Medications: Although doctors do not recommend medicines for treating sleep terrors, occasional doses of benzodiazepines and serotonin may prove advantageous. These medicines regulate moods and emotionally stabilise the person.

Following are some strategies you can use to prevent night terror of you or your child:

• Get Enough Sleep: Fatigue can be a reason for developing night terrors. So, if you are not getting enough sleep, try going to bed early or removing any distractions like your phone before sleeping.
• Make a Bedtime Routine: It is healthy to adopt calming activities prior to your bedtime, like doing puzzles, reading books, or soaking yourself in a warm bath. Also, you can even try relaxing activities like meditation.
• Offer Comfort: You can offer comfort to your child or even yourself by putting on some calming music before sleeping. It can be a chant or lullaby. Another way you can offer your child comfort is by cuddling them or speaking softly to them.
• Keep Stress at Bay: If you are anxious about something, brainstorm what is bothering you and, if necessary, seek professional help. However, if your child is stressed, talk to them and try to solve the problem.