Night or sleep terrors are a debilitating sleep issue. It causes episodes of severe screaming, crying, and fear during the night’s sleep. Night terrors can contribute to severe insomnia and decrease your sense of well-being. Because of sleep deprivation, night terrors can increase your risk of other serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes. 

The night terrors are more typical for children but adults may also experience them. Over 2 percent of the adult population suffer from regular sleep terrors. Night terrors occur during the deep phase of sleep and can last from fifteen to several minutes until you wake up. This issue often runs in families. If you have night terrors, your child is at risk. 

What is the difference between nightmares and night terrors?

Most people think that night terrors and nightmares are the same sleep issues. But unlike common nightmares that occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep stage, night terrors happen when you reach the deep phase of sleep. It can be hard for you to wake up during a night terror episode. In the morning, people suffering from night terrors usually don’t remember about it. 

What are the symptoms of night terrors?

The intense screaming and crying during the night’s sleep is the most obvious symptom of night terrors. But you may also experience other symptoms that include thrashing of limbs, heavy breathing, sweating, and a high pulse. During the night terrors, your eyes may be open, but will not respond to external stimuli. Adults who suffer from night terrors often show aggressive behavior during the episodes. 

Sleep terrors are often paired with episodes of sleepwalking. Women are more prone to sleepwalking. Just like with terrors, a person usually doesn’t remember about sleepwalking in the morning but may feel fatigued and unrested.

What causes sleep terrors?

Sleep terrors are serious health conditions that can ruin your relationships with loved ones and worsen overall health. While night terrors often occur without a specific cause, certain things can play a role in your risk or severity of this condition. 

The major risk factor for developing night terrors is a genetic predisposition. If someone from your family has night terrors or sleepwalks, this makes you more vulnerable. Underlying mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression increase the risk of night terrors. People with PTSD are also more prone to sleep terrors.

Sleep conditions like sleep apnea can increase your risk of having night terrors. Respiratory events during the night’s sleep stress your nervous system and contribute to episodes of parasomnia. In this case, the treatment of sleep apnea or other respiratory issues can help you cure night terrors. 

Other common causes that can contribute to night terrors include serious stress, fever, severe caffeine or alcohol use, or restless leg syndrome. Medications that affect the central nervous system and brain, or recent anesthesia can also trigger sleep terrors. 

What treatments are available for night terrors?

Night terrors don’t always require treatment because they tend to stop when the child becomes older. In rare cases when night terrors don’t stop or affect adult people, the doctor may prescribe medications and suggest lifestyle changes. The common medications for the treatment of night terrors include low-dose benzodiazepines or tricyclic antidepressants. 

There are several home remedies available for the treatment of night terrors for both children and adults. You need to make the room safe so that you or your child aren’t hurt during an episode. If you have electronic devices in the room, get rid of them. They may disrupt your sleep and cause an episode of night terror. 

Lowering your stress levels is also crucial to improve your sleep. Include in your routine meditation, deep breathing techniques, or yoga. These help fight stress and prevent episodes of night terrors. You may create a relaxing bedtime routine like aromatherapy or massage to prepare for sleep. It is also very important to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.