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Anyone experience Night Terrors?

10 replies

Scottishlass · 06/01/2004 18:59

I know this is not about my ds but uts effecting him. I have suffered from Night Terrors on and off for a few years. I say "suffer" because that is how it makes me feel. I wake in the night and think I see people standing at the end of my bed. I let out a blood curdling scream and swear and shout, then try to hide or attack whatever it is i see. It is absolutely terrifiying. I have not had them for a while as I noticed i left the curtains open slightly and let some night light in I did not have them also I always remove anything that looks like a person eg. jacket hanging off wardrobe etc. Last night it was a bad one, I woke up thinking I could see my ds standing at the top of our wardrobe, I jumped out of bed towards the wardrobe screaming uncontrollably, i thought my baby had died. It took a few minutes for my dh to calm me down, i just kept screaming and pulling at the top of the wardrobe before bursting into tears. My heart was pounding, I came over sweaty - basically my body was in a state of shock. I could then not go back to sleep as i was totally paranoid and aware of every noise etc. Needless to say my screams woke my terrified ds who cried his little heart out, he must of got a awful shock, one minute sleeping soundly, the next mummy screaming in a frenzy at the wardrobe. I really dont know what to do, has anyone experienced this, i dont know why i get it, there is no pattern. It takes a minute or two after i have woken up to realise i was dreaming so i am actually in a sleep state as i can see the figure right before me, sometimes i keep rubbing my eyes to wake myself up. I would appreciate any help/advice, i just dont know what to do. i dont want my child to experience that again

OP posts:
Scottishlass · 06/01/2004 20:37

hi i was hoping for a few replies b4 i go to bed in a few hours... im feeling anxious about going to sleep tonight.

OP posts:
kmg1 · 06/01/2004 20:50

Scottishlass - I've never heard of them in an adult before. Have you had a chat with your GP, see if they can suggest anything.

My ds1 has night terrors from time to time. The only thing we've found that tends to trigger them for him is getting too warm. So we make sure his nightclothes and bedding are lightweight, and that the heating is not on too high ... but I'm not sure if that would help you at all.

Hope you sleep well tonight. Try not to worry about ds - children are pretty resilient. How old is he? Would he understand if you explain to him that it's just a scary dream, and nothing to worry about?

Thinking of you.

kmg1 · 06/01/2004 20:55

Oops - just re-read that - did it sound a bit trite? Night terrors are distressing to observe - just watched ds1 have one tonight - and I understand how anxious you must feel about your ds seeing you screaming. (He doesn't actually wake up - we've been advised not to wake him - and he never remembers it in the morning.)

popsycal · 06/01/2004 20:57

NO experience apart from a colleagues daughter had these when small
You may not want to post on here, but do youhave anything troubling you?
I presume you have serached on the internet?
I have just serached for 'night terrors adults' and it produced lots of info
Also says not that common in adults
could your gp help?

Scottishlass · 06/01/2004 21:08

hello i did look on the net but only came to discriptions and about children experiencing it. It makes me feel more helpless to think i am alone with this... I dont think anything is bothering me, i dont have any big stresses in my life. I just want to know why i have it and how to avoid it. Is it a mental illness?

OP posts:
Scottishlass · 06/01/2004 21:09

kmg1 - my ds is 10 months so too young to explain to.

OP posts:
popsycal · 06/01/2004 21:12

here is the list i came up with
here
hth

popsycal · 06/01/2004 21:13

usually associated with emotional tension and stress in adults....
have a look at some of those links!

popsycal · 06/01/2004 21:15

i doubt taht it is a mental illness
seems uncommon in adults but not rare
try some of those sites

2under2 · 07/01/2004 20:22

scottishlass - I've just been looking into this as dd has night terrors, an found this helpful website It also talks about treatment options.

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