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Sleep terrors (night terrors)

Sleep terrors are times of screaming or crying, intense fear, and sometimes waving arms and legs when not fully awake. Also known as night terrors, sleep terrors may lead to sleepwalking. Like sleepwalking, sleep terrors are a type of parasomnia. Parasomnias are disturbing or strange behaviors or experiences during sleep. A sleep terror usually lasts from seconds to a few minutes, but it may last longer.

Sleep terrors may happen in children between the ages of 1 and 12 years. They happen much less often in adults. Although sleep terrors can be frightening to those around the person with sleep terrors, they aren’t usually a cause for concern. Most children outgrow sleep terrors by their teenage years.

Sleep terrors may need treatment if they cause problems with getting enough sleep or cause a safety risk.

Sleep terrors differ from nightmares. A nightmare is a bad dream. The person who has a nightmare wakes up from the dream and may remember details. A person who has a sleep terror remains asleep. Children usually don’t remember anything about their sleep terrors in the morning. Adults may recall part of a dream they had during the sleep terrors.

Sleep terrors generally happen in the first part of sleep time, and rarely during naps. A sleep terror may lead to sleepwalking.

During a sleep terror, a person may:

When to see a doctor

Occasional sleep terrors aren’t usually a cause for concern. If your child has sleep terrors, you can simply mention them at a routine well-child exam. But if you have concerns for you or your child, talk to your doctor or other healthcare professional sooner, especially if sleep terrors:

Sleep terrors are a type of parasomnia. A parasomnia is a disturbing or strange behavior or experience during sleep. People who have sleep terrors don’t completely wake up from sleep during the episodes. Their appearance may suggest they are awake, but they remain partially asleep.

Several issues can contribute to sleep terrors, such as:

Sleep terrors sometimes can be triggered by conditions that interfere with sleep, such as:

Sleep terrors are more common if family members have a history of sleep terrors or sleepwalking.

Some complications that may result from sleep terrors include:

To diagnose sleep terrors, your doctor or other healthcare professional may:

Treatment usually isn’t needed for sleep terrors that happen rarely. Children typically outgrow sleep terrors.

Treatment may be needed if the sleep terrors cause a safety risk, interfere with sleep, don’t go away with time or happen more often. Being embarrassed or disrupting the sleep of others may lead some people to seek treatment.

Treatment generally focuses on plans for safety and getting rid of causes or triggers for sleep terrors.

Treatment options may include:

If sleep terrors are a problem for you or your child, here are some tips:

Sleep terrors in children tend to go away by the time they’re teenagers. But if you have concerns about safety or underlying conditions for you or your child, talk to your healthcare professional. Your health professional may refer you to a sleep specialist.

Keep a sleep diary for two weeks before the appointment. A sleep diary can help the healthcare professional understand more about the sleep schedule, issues that affect sleep and when sleep terrors happen. In the morning, record bedtime rituals, quality of sleep, and anything else you think is important. At the end of the day, record behaviors that may affect sleep, such as sleep schedule changes and any medicine taken.

You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible, to provide more information.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

Some questions to ask include:

Don’t hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor or other healthcare professional is likely to ask several questions, for example:

Be ready to answer questions so you have time to go over information you want to spend more time on.

© 1998-2024 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.

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