A night terror can be defined as a vivid episode that seems to occur during stages of sleep which causes scared and restless behavior. The behavior from a night terror can seem a lot like an awake person experiencing a type of panic attack.
Night terrors differ from nightmares as they occur during sleep and with intense feelings of fear. Despite the extreme fear factor with night terrors, it is common for sufferers to not recall having one when they wake up in the morning.
Night terrors vary in intensity and cause. Some believe that these events have some relation to trauma and may be due to trauma from past experiences such as abuse or the loss of a loved one. Night terrors may also wake a person suddenly and place them in a heightened state of anxiety for up to one hour before calmness becomes restored.
The sufferer remains conscious whilst experiencing this night terror which can be disturbing due to the vivid images surrounding it. In order for an individual with night terrors to avoid repeating these distressing episodes they must identify what is causing this intense fear reaction – whether it is caused by a lack of sleep, or a psychological distress.
Night terrors are difficult to explain, and not everyone will experience them in the same way. When you suffer from night terrors, you might find that there’s a sense of something bad about to happen or an unexplained dread. Examples of other symptoms include unexplained shaking and unpleasant feelings of uneasiness.