to be worried about night terrors / sleep walking??

[Flojo1979]

My 6 yr old DS wakes usually a couple of hours or so after hes gone to bed, and runs up and down the landing screaming, when i go to him his eyes look through me and he screams loads and his body when i've tried to hold him still goes rigid and panicy, energy for a few seconds then relaxs for a few seconds then rigid.... so on for about less than 5 minutes. When i talk to him he responds appropriately at the relaxed times and incoherently when rigid/running around. What should I do?

Take him to the doctors? I had night terrors as a young child, although I think I just grew out of them (as do a lot of children, I think)? Have found this night terrors website which might help?

I am a sleepwalker and come from a family of sleepwalkers, although none of us acted quite like that, I did used to sort of rush iyswim. Wake him as you would wake any other sleeping person i.e. gently. Make sure he is fully awake and take him back to bed.

I didn't stop until well into adulthood and my father was the same. Sometimes we'd both be up and sleepwalking at the same time. My DM hated it - like living with zombies she said.

my DS2 used to wake up crying and shaking / shivering all sweaty / cold, never really knew us in this state, so I just used to try and get him back into bed and settle him by stroking his face, cuddling his favorite toy by his side, it was awful as he really did not seem to know what was going on but did settle if i talked gently to him about nice things we had done. went on off and on for about a year or so and he did seem to just grow out of it. scary but gp just said meh... night terrors he will grow out of it. good luck, try not to panic, it is common.

I thought going to doctor might seem like wasting their time when hes not actually 'ill'.
I cant wake him, he doesnt wake, even when i've washed his face etc. I can steer him back to bed, but if hes not finished he'll jump back up straight away and carry on running round manicly

never a waste of doctors time IMO, go and put your mind at rest and get some proper advice.

ok thanx step, he used to just bolt upright and scream out alot for a few seconds then lie back down and go to sleep, but now its lasting longer and gets up and does a crazy marching type run up and down the landing before i get to him.

My DD had night terrors, they are truly horrible. The advice we were given was to wake her BEFORE she would usually have the terror (hers was also a couple of hours after falling asleep - I believe it's linked to REM sleep but not sure), we did this for about 2 weeks and she hasn't had any more episodes in the last 6 months.

I still have night terrors on occasion, fewer since having DD bizarrely. Apparently they are very common in children, but quite rare in adults. I never had them as a child though. But I do find them terrifying, have had some horrendous ones involving much running around/activity. If there is anything that can be done I'd pursue it for a child, absolutely.