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What does it mean to wake up screaming


The Real Reasons Why You Wake Up Screaming

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George Dvorsky

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Imagine the person sleeping next to you suddenly sitting bolt upright and screaming wildly. You try to console them, but they don't respond. Then, after a few minutes, they fall back asleep as if nothing happened. No, they didn't have a nightmare. It's called a night terror. Here's what you need to know about this bizarre and often frightening sleep disorder.

Night terrors are a largely misunderstood and neglected parasomnia, or a category of sleep disorders that involve abnormal physical movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams. Much of this has to do with the fact that it's a very challenging condition to study and that it's often confused with nightmares. But the only similarities between the two is that they happen during sleep. A common problem with assessing or diagnosing night terrors is that most people don't realize what's happening to them.

Table: Carolyn Thiedke, "Sleep Disorders and Sleep Problems in Childhood."

Night terrors go by several names, including sleep terrors, sleep terror disorder, pavor nocturnus, and the formal designation, DSM-IV AXIS I: 307.46 (it's recognized as a psychological disorder by the American Psychiatric Association).

Not Quite Asleep, Not Quite Awake

The key to distinguishing night terrors from nightmares is that the former involves partial waking, while the latter happens during sleep. Indeed, the two occur at vastly different phases of the sleep cycle.

Sleep can be divided into two basic phases, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). The NREM stage, also known as delta sleep and slow wave sleep, can be divided into four sub-stages, each characterized by deeper levels of sleep (e.g. slower breathing, decreased heart rate, etc. ). Night terrors tend to happen during the third and fourth stage of NREM — a stage where dreaming — and nightmares — do not occur. They're most common during the first third of the night, often between midnight and 2 AM, but they can also occur during naps. [Related: Why we need to sleep in total darkness]

During a state of partial waking, people are observed to talk or engage in sleepwalking. But during a night terror, individuals exhibit any number of (often) disturbing physical and verbal behaviors.

During a bout of night terror, a person will suddenly bolt upright and scream. They may shout out at a perceived threat, uttering phrases like, "They're going to get me!" Individuals will often thrash around violently and appear to protect themselves from an invisible threat, or worry about some unseen phenomenon (like worms in the bed). Their hearts pound wildly, they break out into a sweat, hyperventilate, and exhibit widened (dilated) pupils. The entire episode can last 10 to 20 minutes, followed by a return to sleep. For chronic sufferers, it can happen as many as three to 16 times per night.

A distinguishing feature of night terrors is that, during the episode, people are utterly inconsolable. A person in such a state cannot be spoken to or comforted. And in fact, it's often dangerous for a spouse or family member to intervene. Most people are unable to explain what happened the next day, and they have often have no memory of the event when they wake up the next morning.

But remarkably, and totally unlike a nightmare, it's very easy for a person to fall back asleep after an episode.

Triggering Terrors

Night terrors are a bit of a mystery to neuroscientists and sleep experts, but there are three associated causes or factors: age, environment, and triggers.

The vast majority of sufferers are boys between the age of five and seven, though it also occurs in girls. Partial awakening, which happens to practically all kids, is developmental for children at this stage in life; up to 17% of preschool-aged children experience disorders of arousal. Typically, sleep terrors decrease in frequency and intensity as children get older. They typically outgrow them by the time they reach school age. The number of episodes usually decreases after age 10.

But after the age of seven, other factors come into play. A slammed door, for example, can trigger an episode in someone prone to the condition. Sleep terrors can also be brought on by emotional tension, stress, fatigue, or conflict, such as a recent divorce or move.

Night terrors may also run in families and have a genetic component. A 2008 study of both identical and fraternal twins showed that the prevalence of sleep terrors was 37% at 18 months and 20% at 30 months. Nearly half of affected children were boys, and 51% were girls. At 18 months, the correlations were significantly stronger for identical twins than fraternal twins.

Night terrors can occur in adults, especially when there is emotional tension or the use of alcohol. But strangely, night terror in adults has been linked to a history of psychopathology and other mental disorders. There may also be links to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder. It's also closely related to sleepwalking (a related parasomnia) — and even frontal lobe epilepsy.

Living With Night Terrors

In most cases, and aside from the night-time inconvenience imposed on parents or spouses, night terrors are not a serious problem. In most cases, it's a condition that mostly goes away.

According to child sleep expert C. Carolyn Thiedke, there's really no good way to treat night terrors aside from reassurance, scheduled awakenings, and diazepam (Valium) in extreme cases (but it should be noted this is rarely done). In the case of scheduled awakenings, it's advised that children be woken-up just prior to the onset of stage three and four NREM (somewhere between the 60 to 90 minute mark into sleep).

Psychologists recommend that the night terror be allowed to run its course and that nearby people not intervene for fear of being injured. It's a good idea to keep a distance, otherwise it can make the situation worse.

In chronic cases, however, psychotherapy and medication can help. Reducing stress or using coping mechanisms may lessen the frequency of night terrors. Talk therapy or counseling can also help in some cases. And in addition to diazepam, it has been shown that l-5-hydroxytryptophan (l-5-HTP) can help children with night terrors.

Other sources: Medline Plus | Medscape | PubMed Health

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Paranormal Activity

Symptoms, Causes, and How to Stop Them

Night terrors are recurring episodes where you might cry out, move around erratically, or show other signs of distress while you sleep. And unless a startled partner or roomie relays all the deets of your shouting and flailing — you might not know it’s even happening.

But wait, aren’t night terrors just a kid thing? Even though night terrors are more common in kids, an estimated 1 to 2 percent of adults get them, too. And since many people don’t remember these episodes, this figure could be higher.

If you’re an adult with night terrors, here’s what to know.

What causes night terrors in adults?

Scientists don’t exactly know what causes night terrors in adults (or people of all ages). Mental health conditions, breathing issues, and other factors that impact sleep (e.g., restless leg syndrome and alcohol) may play a role.

Night terrors often begin with you sitting up and bed and crying out. These episodes can last from 45 to 90 minutes, though timing can vary a lot. Night terrors can also happen on the reg or just a few times a year.

Other night terror symptoms may include:

  • screaming
  • thrashing or flailing
  • breathing rapidly
  • staring blankly
  • fast heart rate
  • feeling flushed or sweaty
  • appearing confused or disoriented
  • jumping or running around
  • becoming aggressive (especially if someone tries to stop you)

Most night terrors happen during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, which is basically a state between sleep and awake. In this state, you’re unlikely to wake up during the episode or recall WTF happened. But compared to kids, adults are more likely to get night terrors at any stage of the sleep cycle, which means they’re also more likely to remember what went down.

If an adult thrashes during a night terror, they may also injure themselves or anyone nearby.

Night terrors are a type of parasomnia — aka a sleep disorder that involves physical events or experiences that disrupt your Zzz’s.

No one knows why so many kids (about 30 percent) get night terrors compared to just 2 percent of adults. Here’s a look at some potential night terror causes if you’re all grown up.

Mental health conditions

Some experts believe adults who have night terrors tend to live with mood-related mental health conditions like:

  • depression
  • anxiety
  • bipolar disorder

Night terrors may also be associated with trauma or chronic stress.

But since there’s limited research on the link between night terrors and mental health conditions, we don’t know if it’s a legit cause.

Breathing issues

Respiratory conditions like sleep apnea could potentially boost your risk of having night terrors.

In a small 2003 study of 20 people, researchers found that those with disruptive sleep disorders (like night terrors) were more likely to experience breathing troubles while sleeping. Scientists think the extra effort needed to breathe might trigger arousals and abrupt wake-up calls that look like night terrors.

Though the research is limited, they could be onto something.

Other factors that affect sleep

The research on what causes night terrors is pretty murky, but other factors that *might* cause these dreamtime episodes include:

  • restless leg syndrome
  • sleep deprivation
  • fatigue
  • travel-related sleep disruptions
  • meds like stimulants or antidepressants
  • fever or illness
  • alcohol use

They might both be frightening, but night terrors and nightmares aren’t one and the same.

Here are the main distinctions between the two:

  • During a night terror, you’re unlikely to wake up. You’re much more likely to wake up during a nightmare.
  • You’ll typically stay asleep during a night terror and won’t know what happened. When you wake up mid-nightmare, you’ll usually remember the gist of it. (Maybe that vampire was inches away from your neck, or your boss was just about to fire you!)
  • Night terrors typically happen during NREM sleep. Meanwhile, nightmares usually happen during REM sleep.
  • Your eyes will often be open during night terrors. Your eyes won’t look wide awake during your average nightmare.

While there’s currently no tried-and-true way to stop night terrors, the following prevention tips might help.

Create a healthy sleep routine

Getting more restful sleep on a regular basis might help halt your night terrors. To create a more peaceful sleep regimen, try these tips for better Zzz’s:

  • Ban blue light at night. You’ve prob heard this one before, and that’s because it really helps! Try to turn off your TV, laptop, smartphone, and all other electronics at least an hour before bed. Blue light and excess stimulation before shuteye can disrupt your sleep rhythm.
  • Relax and unwind. Try taking a bath, meditating, or reading a book before bed instead (preferably not true crime or a Stephen King novel!). Create a quiet, comfy, and dark space to sleep. Blackout curtains or white noise might help.
  • Curb caffeine and alcohol. Limiting caffeine and alcohol — especially later in the day — might help you rest more easily and avoid sleep disturbances.
  • Reserve your bed is for sleep and sex. Doing other things like working, watching TV, or taking stressful phone calls in bed can cause your brain to think that bedtime = awake time. Reserving your bed for sleep and sex may help create the cozy sanctuary you need to doze off more deeply.

Seek support from loved ones

If your night terrors tend to go down around a certain time, try setting an alarm or having a loved one wake you up about 15 minutes before an episode. Stay awake for about 10 minutes before falling back asleep.

Experts usually advise against rousing someone mid-episode, since there’s always the possibility that the person experiencing the night terror could react violently.

Alleviate stress and deal with trauma

Since night terrors could possibly signal underlying stress, trauma, anxiety, or depression, it may help to address these concerns. Some potential ways to heal include:

  • visiting a therapist or another mental health professional
  • meditating regularly
  • practicing yoga
  • hypnotherapy
  • doing deep breathing exercises
  • practicing mindfulness

How to help a partner with night terrors

  • Don’t wake up your loved one mid-episode. They could become confused, upset, or violent.
  • Lend nonphysical comfort. Talk to them in a calm, quiet voice. Maybe gently suggest that they return to bed.
  • The day after the incident, try to offer support and understanding.
  • Consider encouraging them to track episodes in a sleep journal, visit a therapist or doctor, or take up a mindfulness practice like meditation.

Night terrors aren’t technically a part of a diagnosable condition according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Instead, they’re a combo of conditions like nightmare disorder, NREM sleep arousal disorder, and REM sleep behavior disorder.

Though night terrors don’t always require treatment, you may want to see a pro if you:

  • feel they have a negative impact on you, your roommate(s), partner, or family
  • often wake up still tired
  • feel the episodes affect your day-to-day life
  • think your actions during episodes could harm you or someone else

Visiting a sleep specialist or reaching out to a doctor or therapist may help you find the relief you need.

Night terrors are episodes that can cause you to shout, flail or do other things in your sleep. Even though they’re more common in children, adults get them, too.

No one knows for sure what causes night terrors, but underlying stress, anxiety, or other mental health conditions could play a role.

If you feel like your night terrors are negatively impacting your life or could harm you or a loved one, talking with a doctor, sleep specialist, or therapist may help you find the support you need.

The child wakes up at night and cries and screams terribly. Why is this happening and how can you help it?

A very common request in parent groups goes something like this: “My child suddenly started waking up in the middle of the night with terrible screams, he seems to be sleeping, but at the same time he screams terribly, it is impossible to calm him down, and this is very frightening. What is it and how to deal with it?

It turns out that this condition in children is not uncommon, and in general there is nothing terrible here. But there are a few things you need to know to be prepared. Sergey Zaitsev, a pediatric neurologist, wrote about this in detail on his Telegram channel.

Bizarre child behavior associated with sudden, inappropriate awakening during an inappropriate period of the sleep cycle is a very common and at the same time unique group of sleep disorders (parasomnias) that most often frightens and upsets parents.

Probably everyone has experienced night terrors or night terrors. Approximately one to three hours after falling asleep, the child suddenly rises and starts yelling terribly in a heart-rending voice.

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Mom rushes to help, tries to pick her up and calm her down, but the baby does not recognize her, pushes her away, fights, breaks out like an animal caught in a trap. The child is in a panic, disoriented, his eyes are wide open, his gaze is fixed, horror is frozen on his face, there is no reaction to others, he beats and scratches, tries to jump out of bed and run away, may shout: "Go away, don't touch me!" or scream silently. Sometimes the baby is all wet with sweat, the heart beats often, often, breathing is rapid. This behavior of the child is easy to explain - just at this moment he is very, very SCARY!

It is possible that the seizure stops just as instantly and unexpectedly, and the baby is fast asleep again.

Sometimes attempts to calm or wake up a child do not lead to success, but only exacerbate the problem. In this case, it usually takes from several minutes to half an hour before the child finally wakes up and calms down.

But even after that, he is confused and seems confused, it is difficult to get an intelligible explanation of what happened from him. Of course, the next day there are no clear memories of the night's events.

Most often, nighttime fears appear in the age period when babies begin to refuse daytime sleep.

In this case, prolonged daytime wakefulness and fatigue lead to significant stresses and overloads in the sleep rhythm regulation system. In this regard, the phase of non-REM sleep becomes significantly more in-depth and enhanced, which can make it difficult to properly adequately transition to the phase of superficial (REM) sleep.

Night terrors are invariably associated with the activation of certain brain areas during deep (slow-wave) sleep, usually in the first third of the night cycle. Simplified, such a mechanism can be represented as a mismatch in the work of the nerve centers, which occurs in a dream after the accumulation of severe fatigue or information overload (stress).

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At the same time, individual brain systems, having received a strong emotional charge during the day, are easily excited and give the command to switch to superficial sleep, giving rise to dreams. And others, having not recovered properly after a hard day's work, "believe" that the time for intensive work has not yet come, and continue to be in a deep sound sleep. This contradiction spills out in the form of the most powerful and ancient human emotions - fears and horrors.

Night terrors are quite common (between two and eight percent of all children), usually occurring in impressionable children between the ages of two and six, mostly during periods of fatigue, lack of sleep or stress.

Most often, night terrors occur in boys, but this proportion changes during adulthood, and the proportion of girls increases to about half.

Despite this terrifying picture for parents, rare night terrors are usually benign, do not cause serious health problems, disappear by themselves and rarely require treatment.

It is enough to have certain regime measures, as well as medical advice, and the problem can be solved. However, this does not mean that even with rare night terrors, parents should calmly wait for the child to “outgrow” and the night attacks will end on their own.

Since consciousness at the time of such an attack can be turned off, only a neurologist, using special research methods (night video-EEG monitoring, polysomnography), will be able to recognize nocturnal epileptic seizures (see ABC of epilepsy), which are insidiously hiding under the guise of harmless night terrors and require mandatory serious treatment.

What should I do if my child wakes up at night and screams in fear? Children's neurologist Sergei Zaitsev answers

What should parents do during and after a child's night terror attacks?

Don't panic or fuss, stay calm.

Night terror is not a crisis that threatens the baby's mental and physical health. Do not commit rash actions: do not try in any way to wake the child. Usually it is enough just to wait for the attack to end. Of course, it's hard to do nothing but just look: you need to have iron restraint and calmness.

If the child is in a state of pronounced motor arousal (beating and scratching, trying to jump up and run away, etc.) - ensure the physical safety of the child by gently holding him in his arms or on the bed.

Carefully observe the child during the entire period of the attack and after it, in order to describe it in detail to a specialist (according to the plan, see below).

If the child does wake up, gently soothe him, distract him, carefully try to find out how he feels and what, perhaps, he remembers.

The next day, do not discuss the night attack with or in the presence of the child.

This can lead to the formation of neurotic reactions and the appearance of daytime fears and anxiety. However, very carefully and diplomatically, without directly mentioning the night's adventure, one must make a careful attempt to find out possible memories of the previous night.

Sometimes, very rarely, you can try letting your child spend the rest of the night in bed with you.

Never forget about the threat of forming an unconscious, so-called "side benefit". Watching how a frightened mother “dances” and fusses around him, allowing him to sleep with her in bed, the child becomes subconsciously “interested” in such nightly adventures. True, this is more typical for nightmares.

The instinctive desire for such "benefit" can naturally lead to the manipulation and progression of these disorders. That is why, after an attack, you should not enthusiastically water and feed a child, leave it in bed with adults, and, in general, cherish and cherish excessively.

Be sure to control your rest and sleep patterns - a rested and well-rested child is much less likely to have night terrors.

This can be achieved in different ways. If there is no daytime sleep, you can try putting the child to sleep in the afternoon, this is especially good for younger children. You can try to go to bed earlier than usual in the evening and (or) strive to prolong the sweet morning dream.

The process of falling asleep, preferably at the same time, should be maximally adapted for relaxation and soothing of the child. Create a specific bedtime ceremony: telling stories, reading books, listening to music or nature sounds (rain and wind, sea waves, etc.) are great for helping your child relax and fall asleep peacefully.

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Make it a rule to talk to your child before going to bed and discuss the events of the day. If you succeed in getting into trust, you need to gently push the child into a detailed discussion of his fears, worries and anxieties for the whole day. In this way, certain components will be destroyed, and sometimes all the stressful tension that has accumulated over the whole day of a stormy life, full of stress, grief and joy.

It is necessary to instill in the child complete confidence in strong parental protection and a sense of absolute invulnerability.

The organization of the process of falling asleep should provide the child with only positive feelings and thoughts as much as possible. The usual "baby monitor" helps out excellently. In this case, the child will be absolutely sure that parents will always be able to hear extraneous night noises and come to the rescue.

The child's sleeping space (crib) should be extremely isolated from irritating factors: strong noises, bright lights, radiation from household electrical appliances, etc.

With frequent night terrors, early “unscheduled” awakening sometimes helps remarkably.

If you gently and gently try to wake the child from sleep approximately 30-60 minutes after falling asleep and then put him back to sleep, this can radically change the sleep cycle and disrupt the "devious designs" of nightly fears.

If night terrors recur and interfere with life, you need to consult a specialist.

But! Parents should always remember that any book recommendations, even the smartest ones, are not the ultimate truth and a guide to immediate thoughtless actions. Perhaps completely different advice suits your child - analyze, reflect, listen to your inner voice.

And finally, the most important thing is the psychological comfort in the family and the peace of mind of the people around the child.

A child cries and screams in a dream: what are night terrors and how do they differ from nightmares if you hug him or take him in your arms.

Why can't this condition be equated with ordinary nightmares and should it be treated? Let's figure it out together with somnologist Irina Zavalko.

What are night terrors and how they manifest

Night terrors, sleep terrors, or night terrors, as they are translated, is a state of incomplete awakening. It refers to parasomnias - unusual behavior associated with sleep. Night terrors occur due to the incomplete awakening of the brain from the deepest stage of non-REM sleep. Approximately 1-3 hours after falling asleep, the child wakes up, screams in horror, does not recognize his parents, can fight back, sometimes starts to run and does not react to those around him. If you wake him up, he will not remember anything and will not be able to tell what he dreamed about. If the child is not touched, he will return to normal after a while (from a few minutes to half an hour), fall asleep again and not remember anything in the morning.

Photo: Shutterstock / Ann in the uk

At what age can night terrors occur? The older the child, the less likely it is to happen to him. Subsequently, night terrors may appear on the background of stress: exams, double loads, spending the night in an unfamiliar place.

Why night terrors occur

There can be many reasons for night terrors: deterioration in health (high temperature or illness), lack of sleep, too busy day or additional stress. Night terrors can occur when the environment changes: for example, if the room is usually cool, but now it's hot. There is a genetic predisposition to this condition, as well as to other parasomnias. That is, in children whose parents suffered from such parasomnia or similar - sleepwalking, sleepwalking - the likelihood of night terrors is greater.

How night terrors differ from nightmares

Night terrors are frightening dreams that occur during REM sleep. Unlike night terrors, nightmares occur closer to the morning or in the second half of the night: as a rule, people dream more often at this time. When a child wakes up from nightmares, he wakes up completely, can tell what he saw, asks for parental help, and makes full contact. By morning, a nightmare can be both remembered and forgotten.

How to behave as parents during night terrors with a child

Remain calm and just be near the child. Do not try to put him to bed on purpose, especially if he fights back. Just make sure he doesn't get up, hurt himself, fall out of bed. When the episode comes to an end, you will notice this and be able to gently put the baby to bed, without resistance.

Photo: Shutterstock / Gorodenkoff

When to see a doctor

If such a condition is a one-time occurrence or arose due to stress and passed along with it, it is not necessary to go to the doctor. If, during an attack, the child has convulsions, his actions are of the same type, or he does not control the emission of urine, it is worth showing him to a neurologist or somnologist.

An episode of night terrors usually goes away on its own, but it is important to make sure that it is not a manifestation of a neurological disease. For example, epilepsy. Treatment for night terrors is usually non-medical. The specialist may prescribe examinations to rule out other diseases. Drugs are prescribed much less frequently. The course can be temporary, for example, so that this episode does not occur at a summer camp and does not frighten others. Parents who are going to see a doctor need to record an episode of night terror on the phone so that the specialist can see the child's actions during the episode and make a more accurate diagnosis.

Is it worth informing the caregiver about night terrors

Even though it is rare, night terrors can develop from daytime sleep, so it is better to warn the kindergarten teacher or camp counselor about this condition of the child. You need to tell the teacher not to be frightened, not to try to forcefully calm the child, and ask him to inform you so that you have complete information about the frequency of occurrence of such conditions.

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