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What Are Night Terrors?
They tend to be more common in young children, but they can also be experienced by adults.
These episodes may last for several minutes, but people usually do not fully awaken.
Claudio Burlotti / Getty Images
Your doctor may also order other tests if health problems or a sleep disorder are suspected.
Your doctor will also ask you a number of questions.
Night terrors most commonly occur as people move from one stage of sleep to the next.
Some factors may increase the risk of night terrors in adults.
Night terrors are not uncommon in children between the ages of four and 12.
Sleep terrors in adults often seem similar to the experience of a daytime panic attack.
Some of these key differences include:
Nightmares can occur during any stage of sleep, including REM sleep.
Night terrors, on the other hand, only occur during NREM sleep.
Psychotherapy
Approaches such ascognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)may be helpful for improving sleep hygiene.
Relaxation therapy may help reduce symptoms, but other techniques such ashypnosisorbiofeedbackmight also be recommended.
Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications may be helpful in some cases.
you’re able to have your partner wake you or set an alarm to rouse you from sleep.
Research has shown that this approach can significantly reduce or even completely eliminate sleep terrors.
If your partner experiences night terrors, you might help by providing reassurance and keeping them safe.
Remove hard or sharp objects from the bedroom to prevent accidental injuries.
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Cleveland Clinic.Nightmares in children.
(2013).A cognitive-behavioral treatment package for sleep terrors: a case study.
The Open Sleep Journal.
2015;2015:786928. doi:10.1155/2015/786928
Cleveland Clinic.Are night terrors disturbing your child’s sleep?
