Night terrors are a parasomnia, or undesirable sleep behavior. Quite different from nightmares, night terrors occur during non-REM sleep and are almost never remembered upon waking. Also called sleep terrors, they are characterized by sudden screaming, yelling, flailing, or crying about 90 minutes after falling asleep during the slow-wave sleep phase. Sleep terrors are rare, estimated to occur in about 15% of children and only about 2% of adults.
Researchers suspect a genetic link may greatly influence the presence of night terrors, although no exact cause has been pinpointed. A family history of night terrors may increase your chances. Additionally, some medical conditions and injuries are connected with night terrors, such as:
- Migraines
- Head injuries
- Restless leg syndrome
- Sleep-disordered breathing (such as obstructive sleep apnea)
- Fever
- Hyperthyroidism
- Encephalitis
Additionally, your state of mind may be impacting these unconscious, uncontrollable episodes of seeming panic and terror. Experts say extreme stress may provoke night terrors, and the Mayo Clinic states that “some adults who have sleep terrors may have a history of depressive or anxiety disorders, although most don't have a mental health condition.” However, there has been nothing to suggest an increase of mental health issues in children with night terrors. The presence of other parasomnias can exacerbate the likeliness of sleep terrors.
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