Night Terror Vs. Nightmare
Night terrors are the disorienting episodes that occur during sleeping hours, particularly among young children. They seem related to nightmares, but have more in common with sleepwalking.
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Difference
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Episodes of night terrors occur during slow-wave sleep versus the rapid-eye-motion or REM sleep in which nightmares occur. Slow-wave sleep is the period of deepest sleep.
Symptoms
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A night terror sufferer will appear to wake, and gasp, thrash, moan or scream. An episode will last a few minutes to a half hour. The sufferer will be unresponsive during this time, and rarely remembers the episode upon waking. People who dream, on the other hand, can frequently retain details.
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And Sleepwalking
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Both sleepwalking and night terrors are parasomniac disorders, which means they are sleep disorders. Nightmares are not a disorder at all.
Age
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Night terrors occur most commonly in children between 4 and 12 years old, and more commonly among boys. However, they can occur in adults as well. It is normal for people of all ages and genders to dream.
Causes and Treatments
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The Mayo Clinic advises that the most common causes of night terrors among children are sleep deprivation, fatigue, stress, anxiety, fever, and unfamiliar surroundings. All of these factors can resolve themselves in time. Causes among adults include all of the above, plus stroke, seizure disorders, migraines, hyperthyroidism and premenstrual swings. These underlying causes are largely treatable with medication.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Kevin Dooley
