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My 7 year old DS has just started having nightmares- anyone who can help please??

5 replies

AFingerofFudge · 27/08/2010 21:52

My 7 year old DS is quite an easy going boy, quite quirky, but happy and content. I am not aware of any particular issues or problems with him or our family that would change anything at this moment in particular.

Anyhow, about 3 weeks ago, he woke up about 2 or 3 hours after he had fallen asleep, in a complete state. I would say he seemed half awake and half asleep, his pyjamas soaking through having sweated so much. He was mumbling and crying and had obviously had a bad dream that had disturbed him and spent a while crying and muttering.He was so distressed. Then he "came to" a bit more after about 20 minutes of me cuddling him and reassuring him, and then developed the shakes (like you do when you have a temp) and teeth chattering. Again this went on for about 20 minutes and then we managed to settle him. This has happened now every 2 or 3 nights since, mostly following the same pattern. He doesn't want to sleep in his bed any more and it's becoming a real issue.

Unfortunately he's been getting more and more worried during the daytime about them, and worried going to sleep, when he normally enjoys his sleep.

Having said that they are every 2 or 3 nights, I have just come back downstairs mid-post from him having another one. He only had one last night, and has only been in bed an hour tonight!Sad

It's so puzzling that he has never had one before until 3 or so weeks ago.

I'd be really grateful if anyone could help enlighten me, or give me any tips for dealing with them.

OP posts:
AFingerofFudge · 27/08/2010 22:20

anyone??

OP posts:
castille · 27/08/2010 22:31

It sounds quite like a panic attack (partic the chattering teeth), poor boySad

Obvious I'm sure but has he heard or seen anything, even only vaguely, that might be bothering him? A clip of a film, or something on the news? Or has he or someone he knows had a frightening experience he might have heard about and might be worrying him, including subconsciously?

I ask because my sister starting having similar when a classmate lost his Dad.

mumonthenet · 27/08/2010 22:33

Not sure I can help but didn't want your post to go unanswered.

Could it be what they call "night terrors"? My brother had these, and I believe they are more common among boys.

Very distressing for the parents but they grow out of it.

Has he said what he was dreaming about or does he have no recollection of it? They say don't try and wake him up...just talk calmly to him.

Am sure others will be on soon who know more about this.

AFingerofFudge · 27/08/2010 22:43

Thanks to both of you for replying. No, I can't think of anything particular that has happened or that he has seen or heard, He doesn't really remember them afterwards, but bits that I have been witness to have all had different themes ( I haven't got any money left/ i can't get away/ you said you wouldn't tell).
There doesn't seem to be a pattern to it but I am now worried as they seem to be happening more often.

OP posts:
loulou33 · 28/08/2010 21:26

the difference between night terrors (NT) and nightmares (NM) is that with NT they don't remember them in the morning with NM they do. NT occur when dreams occur in the wrong phase of sleep and you usually get sitting up, shouting, thrashing, fighting but they don't seem aware of your presence. NM are common in children and peak around age 6-8. NM can be triggered by scary things but not necessarily. Reassurance during the day and at night that they are not real is the key to NM. if its NT then reassurance is not worth trying as they don't remember them but may be anxious because of the mention of bad dreams that they didn't know they were having IYSWIM. NTs are far more distressing for those watching than those having them.

For NTs, keep a diary for a week to see when they occur, they usually happen within an hour or three of falling asleep. when you have a rough idea of when they occur, you need to wake him fully for 10 mins, about 15 mins before the NT were due to occur. you need to do this for about a week to reset the sleep cycle so dreams occur in rem sleep when you naturally produce hormones which paralyse your muscles (hence dreams of running and not getting awy or falling being common). If they NT occur later on in sleep depsite the first waking, you have to wake then again 15 mins before that second one is due to happen.

HOpe this make sense, its a little garbled but should work if its NT. If it doesn't work you could ask for a referral to a paediatrician who specialises in sleep studies

HTH and good luck

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