What it is
Children usually grow out of night terrors. It is best not to wake the child, but stay with them and keep them safe.
Regular bedtimes, enough sleep and reducing stress can help. Frequent nightmares in adults can be linked to stress, trauma or medicines.
Common signs
- Screaming, shouting or thrashing during sleep
- Seeming awake but not responding
- Not remembering the episode
- Waking up frightened from a vivid dream (nightmare)
How it is usually diagnosed
- Questions about the episodes
- A sleep study, rarely
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- A sleep diary with the times of episodes
- Videos of episodes, which can help doctors
Questions to ask your doctor
- Could these be seizures rather than night terrors?
- How can we keep our child safe?
- Could stress or trauma be playing a part?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Jerking movements, breathing pauses, or episodes with injury: get medical advice promptly
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.