 |
The Frightening Fact Of Sleep Night Terrors
Sleep night terrors is a sleep disorder involving abrupt awakening from sleep in a frightened state. People who have night terrors are repeatedly misdiagnosed. The most frequent one is a simple nightmare. Another familiar misdiagnosis is PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. For this reason there is a marked difference between the definition of nightmares and that of night terrors.
Symptoms
Sudden awakening from sleep, persistent fear or terror that occurs at night, screaming, sweating, confusion, rapid heart rate, and inability to explain what happened, usually no recall of "bad dreams" or nightmares, may have a fuzzy sense of frightening images. Many people see spiders, snakes, animals or people in the room, are unable to fully awake, difficult to comfort, with no remembrance of the event on awakening the next day.
The Difference between Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares take place during the dream phase of sleep known as REM sleep. Most people enter the REM stage of sleep for a while after 90 minutes of sleep. The conditions of the nightmare will frighten the sleeper, who usually will wake up with a vivid memory of a long movie-like dream. Night terrors, on the other hand, happen during a phase of deep non-REM sleep usually within an hour after the subject goes to bed. This is also well-known as stage 4 sleep.
During a night terror, which may last wherever from five to twenty minutes, the person is still asleep, although the sleeper's eyes may be open. When the subject does wake up, they generally have no recollection of the episode other than a sense of fear. This, nevertheless, is not always the case. Quite a few people interviewed can remember parts of the night terror, and some remember the whole thing.
Treatment
In many cases, comfort and reassurance are the only treatment essentials. Psychotherapy or counseling may be apposite in some cases. Benzodiazepine medications used at bedtime will time and again reduce night terrors; however, medication is not usually recommended to treat this disorder. A safe over-the-counter drug, like Benadryl elixir, which is given 1 hour before the bedtime, may decrease the incidence of night terror.
|
|
|
|
RELATED TOPICS
Sleep Apnea: Have You Stopped Breathing During Sleep?
Sleep apnea is a disorder that is caused when a person suddenly stops breathing for around 20 seconds, thus disturbing sleep. This does not wake up the person, but there is a feeling of not having a...read more
Sleep Innovations: For a Perfectly Peaceful Sleep
If the mattress is comfortable then the sleep is also comfortable as it gives a perfect sleep to people seeking comfortable sleep. The bedding should be decided according to the foam and quality of...read more
The Disruption By Sleep Disorders
What is Disturbing Your Sleep?
This is a question that has bothered many who are suffering from sleep disorders as they disrupt the lives of people who are otherwise normal and healthy. It is...read more
The Frightening Fact Of Sleep Night Terrors
Sleep night terrors is a sleep disorder involving abrupt awakening from sleep in a frightened state. People who have night terrors are repeatedly misdiagnosed. The most frequent one is a simple...read more
What Is The Onset Of Sleep Paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is the lack of ability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form). Sleep...read more
|