Night terrors: panic during sleep

The night terrors, with him somnambulism, are among the most shocking sleep disorders. Very likely, in addition, we know outstanding cases of nocturnal fear or we have even been the protagonists of one of these episodes at some point in our lives. They are experiences that are not easily forgotten: they are lived as moments of great disturbance and confusion, and to those who suffer them they may seem eternal (although in reality they last a few minutes).

We are talking about a paralyzed state in a situation where consciousness and unconsciousness are confused and everything we perceive is clouded by the afraid- Night Terror Episodes have it all to be terrifying. However, beyond the emotional toll that night terror brings every time it is experienced, it is difficult to know much more about this phenomenon. Why is it produced? What is the origin of these terrors? There are some organic or psychological c **** ause? What does science say to this?

Night terrors and sleep disorders

To speak of night terrors is to speak of

sleep disorders, group in which the former are included. Within the classification of sleep disorders is the group of parasomnias, which is divided into three groups:

• Parasomniasof awakening
• Paransomnias associated with REM sleep
• Other parasomnias

Night terrors are in the first group. Unlike sleepwalking (which is also a disturbance of awakening), night terrors are usually characterized by extreme fear and terror associated with the paralysis of the person who suffers it, keeping them in a important state of tension. They usually appear between the first 2 or 3 hours after the person begins to sleep.

What is the difference between night terrors and nightmares?

The main difference with nightmares is that the latter occur entirely within the REM phase of sleep and produce a complete awakening. The night terror, however, is a half awakening: we are aware of certain things in the waking world, but we do not finish being capable of becoming independent from sleep and, most likely, when the episode ends we will continue to sleep to the point of forgetting what happened.

Velayos (2009) explains that night terrors are episodes of crying and screaming that appear suddenly during deep sleep phrases, in the middle of the night. In addition, they are also expressed on the face by a facial expression of strong terror. As in sleepwalking, this disorder usually presents in childhood, between the age of 4 to 7 years, and are less common after this age. In the adult stage they can appear at any time, and sometimes it is possible that several episodes are repeated during the same night. Sáez Pérez affirms that during an episode of night terror in childhood, symptoms such as profuse sweating are usually present. elevated heart rate, confusion, and crying. This symptomatology does not vary in adolescence or adulthood.

Causes of night terrors

Little is known about the neurological and physiological aspects of what causes night terrors. However, some mental health specialists believe that there are some factors that can trigger this disorder, among which are:

• The lack of sleep
• States of emotional tension
• Drug consumption or some kind of drug
• Organic problems

Diagnosis

To obtain a diagnosis it is advisable to go to a mental health professional so that he can evaluate the problem thoroughly. It should be noted that there are other disorders with symptoms very similar to those of night terrors and that only the qualified professional will be able to differentiate them and give a final diagnosis. Disorders with similar symptoms include:

• The nigthmares
• The post traumatic stress disorder
• The sleep paralysis

Treatment for night terrors

Science advances, but as regards the origins of sleep disorders, it has not been possible to offer explanations about their logic and operation. It is an enigma yet to be studied, and the night terror is no exception to this rule.

Today there is no specific treatment for night terrors. As with sleepwalking, certain professionals recommend alternative techniques such as meditation, hypnosis, yoga, etc. As long as they serve as a complement to a psychological or psychiatric intervention.