Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Learning about nightmares
• Part 2 of 3: Understand night terrors
• Part 3 of 3: Understanding the distinction between nightmares and night terrors
• Tips

Although nightmares and night terrors or parasomnias have some characteristics in common, they are different experiences. Nightmares occur when someone wakes up from a vivid dream, with an intense feeling of fear and / or dread. Night anxiety is a moment of partial awakening where someone can scream, beat around them with their arms, kick or scream. In addition, night terrors are rare in adults, while nightmares are experienced by people of all ages. Because nightmares and night terrors are two different types of sleep experiences, they will each need to be differentiated and treated differently on their own.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Learning about nightmares

1. Learn the characteristics of a nightmare. Nightmares are unwanted sleep experiences that occur while you fall asleep, sleep, or wake up. Nightmares have several characteristics:
   • The storyline of the nightmare is often related to threats to your safety or survival.
   • People who have nightmares wake up from their vivid dream with anxiety, stress or anxiety.
   • When the dreamers wake up from nightmares, they will often remember the dream and be able to repeat details of it. They will be able to think clearly after awakening.
   • Nightmares often prevent the dreamer from falling back to sleep easily.
2. Nightmares can occur in people of all ages. Nightmares are most common in children aged 3-6 years, with up to 50% of these children having nightmares. However, many adults also experience nightmares, especially if the person in question has a lot of anxiety or stress.
3. Know when nightmares happen. Nightmares usually occur later in the sleep cycle, during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM). This is the time when dreams usually occur, and common dreams as well as nightmares occur.
4. Consider the possible causes of nightmares. While nightmares can occur for no reason, seeing or hearing things that are frightening or alarming to a person can lead to a nightmare. The images or sounds that can cause a nightmare can be things that really happened or come from fantasy.
   • Common causes of nightmares include illness, anxiety, the loss of a loved one, or a negative reaction to a drug.
5. Be aware of the aftermath of nightmares. Nightmares often leave the dreamer with intense feelings of dread, fright and / or dread. It can be very difficult to fall back to sleep after a nightmare.
   • Comfort your child if they have had a nightmare. He or she may need to be calmed down first and reassured that there is nothing to fear.
   • Adults, teens, or older children who experience nightmares may benefit from talking to a counselor who can help identify what may be causing the stress, fear, and anxiety manifesting as nightmares.

Part 2 of 3: Understand night terrors

1. Determine if a person is prone to night terrors. While night terrors are generally relatively rare, it usually occurs in children (up to 6.5% of children). Night anxiety can be a result of the central nervous system maturing. Unlike nightmares, night terrors are rarely experienced by adults (only 2.2% of adults experience night terrors). When adults experience night terrors, it is often due to underlying psychological factors, such as trauma or stress.
   • Night anxiety in children is usually not alarming. There is no evidence that a child experiencing night terrors has a psychological problem, or is angry or upset about anything. Children usually grow out of night terrors.
   • Night terrors seem to be hereditary. Children are more likely to experience night anxiety if someone else in the family also has it.
   • Many adults with night anxiety also have other mental illness, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or an anxiety disorder.
   • Night anxiety in adults can also be caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or by drug abuse (especially alcohol abuse). It is critical to identify the possible underlying causes of nighttime anxiety in adults and to treat any underlying causes if necessary.
2. Identify behaviors linked to night anxiety. There are certain behaviors that are often associated with night terrors. Common behaviors include:
   • Sit upright in bed
   • Scream or scream for fear
   • Kick with the legs
   • Strike with the arms
   • Sweating, heavy breathing, or a fast heart rate
   • Stare with eyes wide open
   • Engaging in aggressive behavior (this is more common in adults than children)
3. Know when night terrors occur. Night anxiety often occurs outside of REM sleep, usually during the short wave period of sleep. This means that they often occur during the first hours of sleep.
4. Don't assume that you can wake up someone experiencing night terrors. People who have an attack of night panic are often very difficult to wake up. However, when they wake up, they are often in a confused state and may not understand why they are sweaty and out of breath, or why their beds are messed up.
   • Assume that the person does not remember anything about the event. Occasionally, people who have experienced this may recall vague parts of the event, but there is no vivid memory.
   • Even if you manage to wake the person, they will often be unaware of your presence or unable to recognize you.
5. Be patient with the person experiencing a night terrors. It is likely that he or she will find it difficult to communicate, even if they appear to be "awake" after the attack. This is because the panic attack occurs during deep sleep.
6. Be prepared for dangerous behavior. A person who has a night terrors may pose a threat to themselves or others, without knowing it.
   • Watch for sleepwalking. A person experiencing night anxiety can sleepwalking, which can pose a serious threat to that person.
   • Protect yourself from aggressive behavior. Night terrors are often accompanied by abrupt physical movements (punching, kicking, and hitting) and can cause injury to the person themselves, someone sleeping next to them, or someone trying to control the person.
7. Deal with night anxiety properly. Do not try to wake a person who is having a night terrors unless they are in danger.
   • Stay with the person having a night terrors until he / she calms down.

Part 3 of 3: Understanding the distinction between nightmares and night terrors

1. Determine if the person has woken up. A person who has a night terrors will stay asleep, while someone who has a nightmare will wake up and may remember vivid details of the dream.
2. See if the person wakes up easily. A person who has a nightmare can easily wake up and be brought out of the nightmare, but this is not the case with night terrors. In the latter case, the person will be extremely difficult to wake up and may not wake up completely from deep sleep.
3. Observe the person's condition after the attack. If the person who had the attack appears confused and does not seem to be aware of the presence of others in the room, he / she has likely experienced a night terrors and will often go back to sleep immediately. On the other hand, if the person wakes up anxious or restless and seeks reassurance or companionship from another person (especially with children), that person has had a nightmare.
   • Remember that a person who has had a nightmare often takes longer to fall back to sleep.
4. Notice when the attack occurs. If the attack occurs during the first few hours of sleep (most usually about 90 minutes after falling asleep), then it probably occurred during the initial short wave sleep period. This indicates that the attack was likely a nighttime panic attack. However, if the attack occurs later in the sleep cycle, it probably occurred during REM sleep, so it is a nightmare.

Tips

• Night terrors are most common in children. It is important to see a doctor if night terrors are more common, disturb family members' sleep, cause your child to fear going to sleep, or lead to dangerous behavior (such as getting out of bed and walking around the house) or injury.
• If night terrors begin in childhood, but continue into the teens, or if it begins in adulthood, it is important to visit your doctor.