General Information About Sleep Terrors
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is a sleep disorder (parasomnia) seen especially in children aged 3 to 8 (and sometimes in adults), where one wakes up suddenly screaming in terror and crying during the deepest stage of sleep, but the consciousness is not actually fully awake.
Nightmares are situations that happen during the REM (dream) phase and are remembered when waking up in the morning or at night. Sleep terrors occur in the first 2-3 hours of sleep (Non-REM); the child does not dream, and when they wake up in the morning, they ABSOLUTELY DO NOT REMEMBER screaming or crying during the night.
The child sits up suddenly in bed, their eyes are wide open, but they do not look at you (stares blankly). Their heart beats very fast, they sweat, thrash around, and when you try to hold or calm them, they may become even more aggressive and hit you.
Extreme fatigue of the child during the day (sleep deprivation), the birth of a new sibling, school stress, febrile illnesses, sleep apnea due to enlarged adenoids, or genetic predisposition (history of sleep terrors in the family) disrupt the sleep cycle and trigger these attacks.
The most important rule: DO NOT TRY TO FORCEFULLY WAKE THE CHILD UP! Shaking them, splashing water on their face, or yelling will only frighten them more. Move dangerous items around the child (that they could bump into and fall), wait calmly beside them; the attack will end on its own in 5-10 minutes, and the child will fall back into a deep sleep.
Sleep terrors do not usually indicate physical or neurological brain damage and disappear on their own as the child grows up. However, if it happens very frequently (several times a week), it is evaluated by a child psychiatrist or sleep specialist. Establishing regular sleep schedules and bringing back daytime sleep (napping) is the most effective solution.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
