Night Terrors

[susanamonter]

My seven year old has started having nightmares every night. We have been to his school to see if there were any problems with his work, his friends ,bullying and so on. Everything seems fine and he is happy during the day, but he keeps having night terrors in which he is absolutely terrified. He gets out of his bed and cries and screams. Can anybody help?

[Le Chat]

My 8yr old, Luca has these too! He doesn't have them during school holidays though, so I've figured out that it is a type of 'sensory overload!' He has no problems at school and is popular and confident.

He has had them for the last 3 nights on returning to school. The only thing you can practically do Susan, is stay with him until the terror episode subsides. There is no use trying to ask him anything at the time as he will be incoherent as he is not completely awake. As you know he will eventually fall back asleep and may have no recollection of the event in the morning.

I am now trying an experiment with Luca, which is not allowing him to watch any t.v for one week! I am trying to cut down on anything that can overstimulate his brain!! So we'll see if this makes a difference.

Interestingly enough, my sister's daughter has them and we have noted that both her and Luca are what you would call 'spirited/touchy' types of personalities. Additionally, Luca is frightened of going upstairs on his own, even during daylight, due to monsters etc!!

[dirtyharriet]

Only one of my kids ever had this, it lasted for about 12 months.
My son would be hysterical and screaming at least 4 times a week. He never remembered a thing the next morning. I did try going in and waking him up briefly before they had a chance to occur and it did seem to work, although that may have just been coinicidence.
When he was in the middle of an episode, I just used to talk calmly to him until it stopped. Sometimes we could wake him up but usually he just stopped after a while.
I'd never heard of it before and at first thought it was part of my son's Asperger's condition. He is a very anxious child and apparently this could be why he suffered from it.

[wonky]

Maybe a change in drink or food could be a suggestion depending what you give them!! My friends little boy used to get them after drink sugary dilute drinks i think it was a mixture of over load at school and the sugar making his brain got a bit over the top!! a reduction in the drinks and more support offered with school work helped him completely!!

Obviously every child is different but thought this might be helpful!! x x

[leon nelkin]

My son has them . He is now 40 and happily married , and the most lovely person you could wish to meet