2. A night terror can also be called a sleep terror because they can happen even just in a daytime
nap. A night terror is similar to a night mare but with a lot more drama. They are more
common in children then they are in adults with about 15% of younger children having a
night terror every now and then. Night terrors are most common in children aged between 2
and 6, although they can occur at almost any age. They are also more common in boys then
girls. They occur due to increased brain activity.
3. • Some people think that nightmares and night terrors are the same thing , they are similar but
there is a difference. Nightmares happen during the dream phase which is known as the REM
sleep. You usually enter the REM stage of sleep after about 90 minutes of sleeping.
Nightmares are dreams that frighten or scare the sleeper and when they wake up they will
have a good memory of a long dream. Where as night terrors occur during the phase of deep
non-REM sleep, usually within an hour after the person goes to bed. During a night terror the
person will usually sit up right with their eyes wide open and can look like they are in fear or
panicking. They can scream and are usually also sweating, breathing fast and have a rapid
heart rate. They will appear confused and won’t recognise you. It seems like the person is
awake during a night terror but they are actually still asleep. When the person wakes up they
usually don’t remember the episode at all other than a sense of fear. Although some people
do recall some parts of the night terror and a few people even remember the whole thing.
4. • The cause of night terrors is not known
but there are some things that can
trigger them. They can happen when a
child is going through something
stressful, when they are unwell or over
tired, or sometimes for no reason at
all. They are also more likely to have
this sleep disturbance if there is a
history of it in the family.
• Night terrors seem to be a temporary
phase which children grow out of. They
are not linked to psychological
problems latter in life.
• Night terrors do not happen during
dreams.
5. • Even thought they may not recognise you or let you comfort them, as a parent you need to
go and comfort your child and make sure they are all right and safe if they are having a night
terror, and stay with them until they relax fall back asleep. Talking gently to your child and
cuddling them may help them to become calm, but if this does not seem to help and they
become more stressed just sit near by. If they are doing something like climbing on furniture
which is not safe you need to go stop them even if they fight with you. Try not to wake the
child up as this can be unsettling and make the child agitated.
6. • - (2002) “Physical therapies” Abnormal psychology, Brown Parkworks limited, Singapore, Vol
6 pp.131-134
• About.com (2010), (Online) “Night terrors”
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/sleep/a/night_terrors.htm
• Nemours (2010), (Online) “What are night terrors?”
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/terrors.html
• NightTerrors.org (2006), (Online) “Night Terrors” http://www.nightterrors.org/
• Children, Youth and Women’s Help Service (2008), (Online) “Night terrors and other sleep
disturbances”
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=141&id=2241
