Help! Anxiety and sleep problems.

[twinmummy24]

Hi all,
I was hoping some of you might of experienced this with your DC and might be able to offer some insight.

First a bit of backgroung, DH and I adopted 11 month old twin girls nearly six years ago, (they are now six) and for the most part they have settled well with no major problems.

When twin 2 was about 2.5 she started to suffer from night terrors which were generally triggered by change in routine, if we had had to tell her off or after a busy day. They would come and go but were managable.

Then about six months ago they started to become much more intense, lasting for up to an hour and happening every night. We spoke to post adoption support who came for a visit and suggested that she was playing out her anxieties in her sleep, almost like her sub conscious was taking over and allowing her to vent.
We have gone back to a very structured bed time routine but nothing is helping.

Any thoughts anyone?

TIA

Happened lots to Ds. Usually because

There were new horizons at school or at the childminder

He had seen something he was scared of

He was scared to go to sleep because of burglars.

We had a quiet and structured routine with a nice happy bedtime book

We say prayers but you can do good thoughts without the religious side. Eg, let's think of the good things that have happened today, like I saw a butterfly, my sister let me hold her teddy, grandma sent me a card. We avoided mention of school or child care.

Then
We said (dear lord, but you can leave this out) let no thief break in or fire break out this night and evermore. My mother's nanny had used this with all her babies/ children when they were scared or had night terrors.

Then we said good night but reminded him that we were not far away. And left a night light it a corridor light on.

Hth

Thank you so much for the reply, it's just so nice to know that other people have had to deal with this.
I don't know anyone else in RL who has adopted and i think sometimes i drive myself nutty overthinking everyhting and not having anyone else to bounce ideas off who "gets" it.
Our evening routine is Bath, Back rub, Book and then Bed, at the minute we are reading the magic faraway tree which the girls are enjoying but think i will put in some positive, nice thoughts before bed.

Thanks again x