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More Articles on Sleeping |
Sleeping Problems (Home) > More Articles on Sleeping > Night Terrors Night TerrorsGeneralNight terrors are known in medical terminology as pavor nocturnus when it occurs in children and incubus when the patients are adults. It is a form of neurological disorder characterized by terror experienced by the patient. As the patient goes to bed and slips into the deepest sleep he is traumatized by the panic of situations accompanied by the horrors of the visual imagery in his dreams. In extreme cases such patients may have seizures and develop permanent disabilities. What are Night TerrorsA patient of Night Terrors invariably screams, sits up and is restless sometimes gasping for breath. At times the patient repels all efforts to calm him down. All the while the patient is actually asleep and it is almost impossible to awaken the patient to consciousness easily. Once the patient does arise, he cannot recall the traumatic events, images or the visual sequences that disturbed his sleep. To this extent, these Night Terrors are different from nightmares which can easily be recalled after sleep. However, since the signs of panic are etched in the psyche of the patient a medical specialist or near relatives can easily discern the symptoms. In some patients breathlessness and headaches linger on well after the sleep phase is over. Adequate rest almost always relieves patients. Patient SamplesVery young children between the ages of two to twelve years are typically prone to experience Night Terrors. However, the most vulnerable population samples come from depressed or abused adults who have suffered extreme trauma or have been victimized repeatedly. Such patients who have either been victims of violence or tragic circumstances tend to get into cyclic and obsessive recollections of their unfortunate experiences even when they do not wish to remember them. Since they are susceptible to develop seizures and all its accompanied complications, medical treatment and psychological intervention is necessary. In young children Night Terrors are benign and need just a little careful handling. Extreme tiredness, inadequate rest or high fever can lead to such symptoms. A good uninterrupted sleep, affection and treatment for the fever almost invariably reverse the symptoms of Night Terrors. Parental care and interaction plays a very important part in the response to this problem and more serious medical intervention is seldom warranted. A noiseless and comfortable sleeping environment is, also essential for young children. Equally important is the necessity of fixed timings for children to go to bed. Fixed and adequate sleeping hours help to obviate such problems in children. Most children overcome the problems of Night Terrors once as they grow past their adolescent years.
Adults who suffer from Night Terrors are the more serious patients. Their symptoms need a more careful and detailed attention. Psychological counseling coupled with suppressive drug treatment is sometimes required. ConclusionNight Terrors are known to be a children’s problem. Parents tend to seek a Pediatrics help when a little care and adequate rest in a comfortable and stress free environment almost always reverses the symptoms and cures the malaise. Night Terrors in adults are more serious and specialist intervention is necessary.
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