Night terrors, or sleep terrors, are common terms for episodes that cause fear at night, especially in children. They are different from nightmares. They can be distressing for the person who has them and for their family. Although nightly episodes can be terrifying, night terrors are not normally a sign of anything more serious. They tend to end as abruptly as they begin. Night terrors are nocturnal episodes that cause great fear while sleeping.
Sleep terrors in adults: How to help control this potentially dangerous condition
Loans subject to status, terms and condition apply. A night terror is a brief disruption of normal sleep in which the sleeper becomes terrified; it is like a nightmare but much worse. Afterwards, the sleeper usually returns to normal sleep without regaining consciousness.
Sleep terrors STs —also known as night terrors—are characterized by sudden arousal accompanied by a piercing scream or cry in the first few hours after falling asleep. During STs, a patient may act scared, afraid, agitated, anxious, or panicky without being fully aware of his or her surroundings. STs may leave individuals feeling exhausted and perplexed the next day.