Question:
I have suffered from night terrors for the last twenty years. They occur as often as 2 to 3 times a week or as infrequently as 1 every few months. I generally wake and jump upright in bed and sometimes scream. I have had diffculty finding any answers to this problem since most sleep studies deal with lack of sleep which is not a problem for me. Any solutions?
Response:
Greetings Amy! You might want to be on the lookout for Mongo’s post of "[REPOST][LONG] …". It’s a list of resources on the Internet. I’m pretty certain it has some pointers to Night Terror resources. But how about it folks, surely some of you struggle with Night Terrors. Any suggestions? Regards, =jbf= John B. Fisher
Response:
On Mon, 17 Jan 2000 10:40:05 -0500, in alt.support.sleep-disorder "John B. Fisher" <john_b_fis…@bellsouth.net> wrote: >Greetings Amy! >You might want to be on the lookout for Mongo’s post of "[REPOST][LONG] >…". It’s a list of resources on the Internet. I’m pretty certain it has >some pointers to Night Terror resources. >But how about it folks, surely some of you struggle with Night Terrors. Any >suggestions?
I’d be interested in any answers too. I have a friend who has severe sleep apnea and also suffers from extreme night terrors. I’d like to be able to help him in some way. — Tony Polson, North Yorkshire, UK
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Barb, <What are "confusional arousals"? Is there somewhere I could read about it? Although my main feeling is of panic when I "wake up" (e.g., I imagine I have poison in my mouth and will die if I swallow), I also have some doubt or confusion in my mind as to whether this nightmare feeling is actually correct. Is it this type of confusion that gives rise to the name "confusional arousals"? Confusional arousals (as I understand it, which is not very well) is the term that is given to a family of occurrences that can happen on the boundary between sleeping and waking, apparently when, in some sense, the brain is waking up, but another it is still asleep. Remember, I’m a medical writer, so I don’t really know what I’m talking about! What you could be having could be any number of things, including plain old horrible nightmares. < Is there any evidence, these kinds of attacks are related to previous major traumatic experiences? I don’t know. Wouldn’t be surprised. I know that post traumatic stress does affect sleep, and some research has been done on the subject, but I haven’t followed it. I think if I were you I would want to talk with a sleep specialist (with a neurology or psychiatry background) about getting these episodes out of my life. I suspect that there are medications that would help. And if there is a traumatic event in the background, maybe then you could work on that while getting some decent sleep! Best wishes, Sally
Response:
I would like some information on "night terror." At least, I think this is what it is called. Several times a month I scream loudly and sit up in bed. I am unaware of any dreams I might be having, and don’t remember these episodes. However, my husband and I are afraid it will give him a heart attack if it goes on. Can anyone give me some information?
Response:
ditzy…@aol.com (DITZYLOU) wrote: >I would like some information on "night terror." At least, I think this is >what it is called. Several times a month I scream loudly and sit up in >bed. I am unaware of any dreams I might be having, and don’t remember >these episodes. However, my husband and I are afraid it will give him a >heart attack if it goes on. Can anyone give me some information?
Recently here in Australia, they had an Oprah show (hey, my wife had it on!) and it featured night terrors. Theyhad on a couple of doctors who specialised in it. You might like to contact the producers for some contact information if you don’t get any joy out of your post. They showed some film of adults going thru night terrors in a sleep lab……SCARY STUFF. Regards…….John
Response:
John Ross (jr…@senet.com.au) wrote: : ditzy…@aol.com (DITZYLOU) wrote:
: >I would like some information on "night terror." At least, I think this is : >what it is called. Several times a month I scream loudly and sit up in : >bed. I am unaware of any dreams I might be having, and don’t remember : >these episodes. However, my husband and I are afraid it will give him a : >heart attack if it goes on. Can anyone give me some information? : Recently here in Australia, they had an Oprah show (hey, my wife had : it on!) and it featured night terrors. Theyhad on a couple of doctors : who specialised in it. You might like to contact the producers for : some contact information if you don’t get any joy out of your post. : They showed some film of adults going thru night terrors in a sleep : lab……SCARY STUFF. I’m married to a night terrorist. My husband has had good results with a drug called klonopin. Unfortunatly most doctors don’t know much about using it for night terrors-you need to find a sleep specialist who does. I too saw the Oprah show and it was very helpful. It was shown December 1995 in the US. It’s *very* difficult but tell your husband it will help to try to quietly soothe you and suggest you go back to sleep. I always woke up screaming from the sound of my husband’s screams, which got us both terriefied even thoguh he didnt wake. When I learned to grab for the switch and turn the light on(which made it less scary for me) and say "it’s ok" over and over instead of screaming, it made everything easier for both of us. You may talk in your sleep and tell him scary things just after you scream. If he calmly tells you it’s ok, nothing’s there, it’s safe to go back to bed, this may help even thoguht you never woke up to understand it. It’s typical for someone with night terrors not to remember a thing in the morning, since you never really woke up. Trying to wake someone during a terror is not a good idea. Not beacuse fo the old superstitions against waking a sleepwalker, but simply that someone in the middle of a night terror is nearly impossible to wake and if you try they just get even more scared and agitated. Just be as calm and soothing as you can, and remember they’re asleep and won’t be able to listen to reason. There’s a point failry early in the sleep cycle where it’s most likely to happen. For Eric it’s 1 to 1 1/2 hours after he goes to sleep. Some people have good results if someone wakes them shortly before the critical time. Then they will go back to sleep and the rst of the night will be peaceful. It may be worth trying, though we found it too big a nuisance for us, since I fall asleep much earlier than Eric does. We’ve found that a lot of people beleive that only children have night terrors and will tell you you’re a freak if you have them. They’re wrong. Night terrors are far more common in children but quite a few adults get them too. Ps-this post is as much for your husband as for you. Please show it to him.
Response:
I’m not sure if my pattern can be called night terror. Two or three nights a week I wake up in a panic, usually around half an hour to an hour after I go to sleep. Sometimes I’m already at the door of my apartment, sometimes dressed, sometimes in the process of getting dressed. Usually I am panicking that there is a fire or my car is being towed or there is somebody trying to get in or I’ve been told I have to get dressed and get out NOW! I then wake up a little, realize that it’s not real and go back to bed, often with my heart still thumping. I asked a therapist about this once, but she didn’t seem concerned. Has anybody else out there had this happen? Is this night terror? I do wake up. I live alone so I don’t know if I scream though I have woken myself up yelling once or twice. What does one do about this? Because I live alone, I don’t have anybody to wake me. Dreaming of sleeping well… Priscilla
Response:
Priscilla, I do something rather similar, except that my fear is that I have swallowed something poisonous. I rush to the bathroom, but it may take quite a few minutes before I fully wake up and realize that my fear is not real. A psychiatrist told me that since I have full memory of the incident it does not fit the typical night terror. He said it might be related to OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), but I have no problems of this sort except when asleep. I have been greatly helped by taking melatonin. Since the incidents only happen between 1/2 hour and one hour after going to sleep, I hypothesise that the melatonin keeps me from going into that sleep state for the critical time. The melatonin seems to be in my system for about 2 hours. I hope this helps, Barb. Priscilla Howe (st…@idir.net) wrote:
: I’m not sure if my pattern can be called night terror. Two or three : nights a week I wake up in a panic, usually around half an hour to an : hour after I go to sleep. Sometimes I’m already at the door of my : apartment, sometimes dressed, sometimes in the process of getting : dressed. Usually I am panicking that there is a fire or my car is : being towed or there is somebody trying to get in or I’ve been told I : have to get dressed and get out NOW! I then wake up a little, realize : that it’s not real and go back to bed, often with my heart still : thumping. I asked a therapist about this once, but she didn’t seem : concerned. : Has anybody else out there had this happen? Is this night terror? I do : wake up. I live alone so I don’t know if I scream though I have woken : myself up yelling once or twice. What does one do about this? Because : I live alone, I don’t have anybody to wake me. : Dreaming of sleeping well… : Priscilla
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Priscilla Howe <st…@idir.net> wrote: >I’m not sure if my pattern can be called night terror. Two or three >nights a week I wake up in a panic, usually around half an hour to an >hour after I go to sleep. Sometimes I’m already at the door of my >apartment, sometimes dressed, sometimes in the process of getting >dressed. Usually I am panicking that there is a fire or my car is >being towed or there is somebody trying to get in or I’ve been told I >have to get dressed and get out NOW! I then wake up a little, realize >that it’s not real and go back to bed, often with my heart still >thumping. I asked a therapist about this once, but she didn’t seem >concerned. >Has anybody else out there had this happen? Is this night terror? I do >wake up. I live alone so I don’t know if I scream though I have woken >myself up yelling once or twice. What does one do about this? Because >I live alone, I don’t have anybody to wake me. >Dreaming of sleeping well… >Priscilla
Sounds like you’re acting out your dreams, which might mean REM Behaviour Disorder. I would look for a sleep specialist who has some experience in this area. Dave Hargett, dave_harg…@Prodigy.com Illinois Patient Coordinator for Wake Up America A.W.A.K.E. Coordinator – Elk Grove Village IL group
Response:
Unfortunately, I have a similar problem with night terrors. However, mine tend to include (while in the panic/escape mode) beating and pounding on my boyfriend. In the morning I have no recollection of this, but he has the bruises to prove it. I cannot seem to find anything on this and any information would be helpful. For all others and their partners, I simpath
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -David Hargett wrote: > Priscilla Howe <st…@idir.net> wrote: > >I’m not sure if my pattern can be called night terror. Two or three > >nights a week I wake up in a panic, usually around half an hour to an > >hour after I go to sleep. Sometimes I’m already at the door of my > >apartment, sometimes dressed, sometimes in the process of getting > >dressed. Usually I am panicking that there is a fire or my car is > >being towed or there is somebody trying to get in or I’ve been told I > >have to get dressed and get out NOW! I then wake up a little, realize > >that it’s not real and go back to bed, often with my heart still > >thumping. I asked a therapist about this once, but she didn’t seem > >concerned. > >Has anybody else out there had this happen? Is this night terror? I do > >wake up. I live alone so I don’t know if I scream though I have woken > >myself up yelling once or twice. What does one do about this? Because > >I live alone, I don’t have anybody to wake me. > >Dreaming of sleeping well… > >Priscilla > Sounds like you’re acting out your dreams, which might mean REM Behaviour > Disorder. I would look for a sleep specialist who has some experience in > this area. > Dave Hargett, dave_harg…@Prodigy.com > Illinois Patient Coordinator for Wake Up America > A.W.A.K.E. Coordinator – Elk Grove Village IL group
Yes, PLEASE, if anyone has some info regarding night terrors, it would be MOST appreciated. I, too, am a "night terrorist." (I saw that in another post and really liked it.) On a "good" night I’ll have just one episode, on a bad night, five or more. I average about two or three night terrors every night, and this has been going on for about twelve years. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. Every night I wake up thinking I’m choking, absolutely convinced that my life is about to end. I’m in a complete panic–screaming and gasping for breath until I "get out of it" and realize that it was just another episode. These night terrors usually happen within the first hour of sleep and I have no dream recall associated with them. I’ve gotten violent on many occassions and have broken several things in my house–a clock, lights, a screen door, etc. Several times I’ve woken up in the morning with a pounding, swollen wrist or other bruises–all self-inflicted, of course. Other times I haven’t been able to get out of the night terror for several minutes and when I finally do, I realize that I’ve been running outside on the street in my nightshirt! It has gotten to the point where I can’t trust myself when I’m asleep anymore. I’m afraid that I might start pounding on my husband or jump out of a window or something. On top of this all, I’ve had a hard time getting to sleep since Day One. It’s past 5 a.m. right now and I feel great. Not a bit sleepy. In response to the people looking for info about night terrors, I’m sorry I don’t have any answers. Believe me, I wish I did. But if anyone out there does have some suggestions, please send them this way. Jamie
Response:
BuzBomb, Your violent sleep events can probably be controlled by making sure you get enough sleep, managing stress, and if necessary medication. I am not a doctor, but a medical writer who has just researched and edited a medical newsletter article on parasomnias. Yours sounds as though there is some danger that you might injure yourself or your partner. Talking to a sleep specialist (probably the only kind of doctor who will appreciate the extent of the problem and know what to do about it) might be a good idea. Look for a sleep specialist who has neurological training as well as specialty training in sleep disorders medicine. He/she will know what medication to prescribe if this seems necessary. Good luck. Sally
Response:
JSoest, Thanks very much for your suggestions. What are "confusional arousals"? Is there somewhere I could read about it? Although my main feeling is of panic when I "wake up" (e.g., I imagine I have poison in my mouth and will die if I swallow), I also have some doubt or confusion in my mind as to whether this nightmare feeling is actually correct. Is it this type of confusion that gives rise to the name "confusional arousals"? Also the relationship of the problem with stress and lack of sleep makes a lot of sense. Is there any evidence, these kinds of attacks are related to previous major traumatic experiences? Unfortunately, the panic awakenings themselves severely cut my sleep, since I need to become fully awake to know that the fear is not real. It typically takes me several hours to get back to sleep. The possible connection with sleep apnea is also interesting, but, although possible, it is unlikely that I have sleep apnea. I have had this sleep terror problem for many years since my late teens (with only slight varients on the nature of the nightmare thoughts), and it would be great to at least get some understanding of it. JSoest (jso…@aol.com) wrote:
: Barb, : This may be ‘way off base, but it rang a bell when you wrote: : < the incidents : <only happen between 1/2 hour and one hour after going to sleep : I’m a medical writer, not a doctor, and have read and written a lot about : sleep disorders, and just finished researching and editing an article on : parasomnias for a medical newsletter. : From what I’ve read and heard from sleep specialists, parasomnias that : occur about 1 to 1-1/2 hours after falling asleep could be related to : awakening from very deep NREM (or possibly the first REM) sleep, and what : you describe (bizarre behavior that you recall) would most likely be a : confusional arousal. : Confusional arousals (according to the medical newsletter article) can : occur by themselves or associated with some other sleep disorder such as : sleep apnea. There is a slight possibility that these events could be : associated with nocturnal seizures, but the fact that you recall something : about the event argues against that. : Confusional arousals are more common when the person is very tired or : sleep deprived, because then they go into deeper sleep and the transition : out of deep sleep is more difficult. Also, stress may make parasomnias : worse. So it should help you to make sure you are getting sufficient : sleep and to manage your stress levels. : If there’s a chance that an apnea event could be triggering your : awakening, you might want to talk this over with a sleep specialist.
Response:
Barb, This may be ‘way off base, but it rang a bell when you wrote: < the incidents <only happen between 1/2 hour and one hour after going to sleep I’m a medical writer, not a doctor, and have read and written a lot about sleep disorders, and just finished researching and editing an article on parasomnias for a medical newsletter. From what I’ve read and heard from sleep specialists, parasomnias that occur about 1 to 1-1/2 hours after falling asleep could be related to awakening from very deep NREM (or possibly the first REM) sleep, and what you describe (bizarre behavior that you recall) would most likely be a confusional arousal. Confusional arousals (according to the medical newsletter article) can occur by themselves or associated with some other sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. There is a slight possibility that these events could be associated with nocturnal seizures, but the fact that you recall something about the event argues against that. Confusional arousals are more common when the person is very tired or sleep deprived, because then they go into deeper sleep and the transition out of deep sleep is more difficult. Also, stress may make parasomnias worse. So it should help you to make sure you are getting sufficient sleep and to manage your stress levels. If there’s a chance that an apnea event could be triggering your awakening, you might want to talk this over with a sleep specialist.
Response:
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