adult night terrors?

[morg_monster]

2 weeks ago my boyfriend was staying at mine - the first time we'd shared a double bed for a while. about 1am a draft from the window made the door open, and i thought I was still in my single bed, and that someone had crept through the door and was crouching down by the bed.  Still asleep I freaked out curled into a corner and screamed in pure terror, according to my poor boyf.  Once I woke up the dream/nightmare just dispersed and I was fine, but my boyf was really freaked out by it (had to have the light on for an hour!) and i woke up my housemate and the cat!  this weekend in bed at his I half awoke and thought there was an extra person in bed with us (no funny jokes please!) and again shouted out loud, waking his housemates.  I've also woken and found myself standing on the other side of the room, duvet in a ball in my arms, apparently after the security light in the house behind shone thru the window.  Also standing up in bed, trying to stop boyf who I thought was about to take a flying leap off the curtain rail.  Numerous other similar sleep disturbances - many involve waking / sleeping hallucinations as I'm sure I'm seeing things like snakes and spiders and intruders superimposed onto what I'm truly seeing.  none of them really give lasting emotions after i'm fully awake (so don't think i want/need to see a doc) but they are freaking out my nearest and dearest.  Anyone else have this? and any tips on how to stop it?!

[Hgrove]

If you do not want/need to see a doctor I suggest Bach Rescue Remedy just before bedtime; keep it on the bedside table and take more if you have any more terrors.

[Kay]

Please dont mind me saying morg,you really should have a chat with your GP. There are several Bach Rescue Remedies,all for different ailments. A relaxation tape would help you before or whilst going to sleep at night.

[BUNNY]

I'm probably not as extreme as you!! but when my boyfriend started staying over on a regular basis he said most nights I talked in my sleep,I often sat up and on several occassions screamed the house down requiring him to spend about 5 mins calming me and getting me to lie down again.I remembered nothing of any of this.We noticed the bad dreams were more likely to happen after eating cheese,and also,if I'd been drinking alot at the weekend it would happen a few days later.Try and see if you can find a pattern.I also recommend chamomile tea before bed.Its really relaxing and knocks me out like a light!

[undercovers]

you seem to discribe these night terrors as happened when your normal routine is changed, e.g. different house, new partner, strange lights coming on etc. When you go to bed take time to wind down and prepare your room and partner to settle down so you won't be disturbed. You should also try locking your doors and windows securely (for peace of mind) and getting black out curtains fitted so lights wont accept you.

 

 

[OBonio]

If you're not interested in seeing the doc (though I'd say it might be worth it, unless they just put you on sedatives), I'd recommend a book called Counting Sheep. It covers night terrors and everything you could want to know about the world of sleep. From my experiences, my wife has woken me up before looking for paddles all ready to defibrilate me Casualty style (she's a nurse). Also, she talks in her sleep and suffers nightmares about work. This is usually after a bad day at work or after changing jobs....

[FP]

I have suffered all my life with nightmares and night terrors.  I am an extremely anxious person generally and find it difficult to relax.  I don't feel I ever really 'shut off'.  I have tried all the remedies all the years to no avail.  Funnily enough, a glass or two of red wine in the evening often gives me the best night's sleep.

[Mooney1968]

My Girlfriend has HORRIBLE night terrors virtually EVERY NIGHT. She survived a terrorist attack in Belfast and we suspect this is how they started. She relives the attack nightly. Her terrors are worse the night after a stressful day. Personally, I think they are in part explainable by "survor's guilt" though I'm no expert.

Because we live together and share a bed I've become her lifeguard of sorts reaching into her terror and helping pull her out of it. I actually appear in them now and take her away which helps her. The downside is that she often wakes up and hears and sees me except that I'm mutilated bleeding and missing parts of my skull and face - this sometimes lasts for 10 minutes and is apparently very real to her! Consider the implications of this to the people in your personal life.

I've done quite a bit of research on this and I encourage you to do a google search for "night terrors", "sleep terrors" or their medical name: pavor nocturnus.

The consensus for treating night terror episodes (if there is someone with the sufferer) is three-pronged: gentleness, disposal of anything nearby that might hurt the subject, and avoiding loud voices or movements that might frighten the subject further - holding the person down is a bad idea and can intensify the experience!

Prevention includes relaxing pre-bed rituals such as a hot bath or soothing music; making sure one is getting enough sleep in general; or setting an alarm to awaken the sufferer after about 2 hours of sleep which helps to break the cycle. There are also anti depressants that are proscribed, but judging from the mildness of your terrors, introducing meds to your system probably isn't a good idea.

I hope this helps!

PM

[tali1]

forms of epilepsy has been linked to night terrors