subject: Night Terrors [print this page] Author: michaelrussell Author: michaelrussell
A night terror may be as simple as the individual sitting up in bed, eyes bulging with fear, and screaming. It may be as dangerous as a child bolting through the glass of a closed window. Night terrors occur, not because of a dream, but because the individual is stimulated in to a state somewhere between sleeping and waking. He or she can neither waken fully nor return to sound sleep. In children, night terrors often go away if they are allowed to run their course. In adults, they usually require treatment. By following some simple steps, night terrors can often be kept to a minimum in both children and adults. The following guidelines are a good place to start. Night terrors do not represent any serious psychological or medical problems. Treated with understanding and care, they are likely to subside.
Maintain A Regular Sleep Schedule : A strict schedule of sleeping and waking is the best insurance against night terrors for all individuals who suffer from them. In children, this advice is especially important, says Richard Ferber, M.D., director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital and assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "If i ask parents 'How can you predict when your child will have a night terror?' the most common answer is 'when the child is overtired,' " he says.
Make The Environment Safe : If you or someone in your household experiences violent night terrors, it's wise to make the environment safe to protect the sleeper from injury, says Lee 1. Brooks, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland. For example, keep sharp objects out of the bedroom, put locks on the windows, and keep clutter off of the floor (to avoid tripping over things). Do not allow children with night terrors to sleep on the top bunk of a bunk bed. It may also be prudent to have the individual sleep on the first floor of the house, if possible. If the episodes seem excessively violent, it's best to consult medical help, Brooks says.
Avoid Alcohol And Drugs : Alcohol, which tends to make sleep less sound, may make susceptible individuals more likely to have night terrors, according to Brooks. Illicit drugs, such as marijuana, also alter the normal sleep patterns and may act as triggers, says Ernest L. Hartmann, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Tufts University and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, both in Boston.
Limit Fluids Before Retiring : Anything that disturbs a susceptible individual during sleep is likely to bring on a night terror. A nagging, full bladder is no exception. Brooks advises limiting fluids in the afternoon and evening to avoid this problem.
Don't Try To Wake The Sleeper : Shaking or stimulating someone with a night terror is not advisable, since you will probably be unable to wake them and may make them more agitated or even violent, says Ferber. You may even be injured if the sleeper perceives your actions as an attack.
Stay Calm And Quiet : If you are witnessing the night terror, talk to the sleeper in calm and gentle tones and try to lead him or her back to bed, Ferber advises. If your efforts fail, simply give the sleeper some space and move objects out of the way to prevent injury.
Learn The Triggers And Avoid Them : "Many parents report that children tend to have night terrors with in the first two hours of sleep," says Mark Mahowald, M.D., president of the American Sleep Disorders Association and director of the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. "They know that sound or light stimulation may cause one to occur. Because of this, they won't close the child's bedroom door, cover the child, or turn lights off in the bedroom in the early part of the night."
Reduce Stress : Stressful situations or events are among the most common causes of night terrors, according to Hartmann. "Sometimes, children have night terrors when their parents aren't getting along," he says. "Stress aggravates night terrors. Avoiding or reducing stress is important, although that's easy to say and hard to do."
About the Author:
Michael Russell writes for Diseases-treatment.com. On this site you will find information on diseases and tips for curing them with remedies available. Also, if you wish to publish the above article, you are welcome to do so, just you need to provide a link back to authors site at : http://www.diseases-treatment.com.
