The night terrorsalong with sleepwalking, are among the most impactful sleep disorders. Very likely, in addition, we know notable cases of night terror or have even been the protagonist of one of these episodes at some point in our lives. They are experiences that are not easily forgotten: they are lived as moments of great disturbance and confusion, and to those who suffer them they can seem eternal (although in reality they last a few minutes).
We are talking about a state of paralysis in a situation where consciousness and unconsciousness are confused and everything we perceive is clouded by the fear: Night terror episodes have everything to be terrifying. However, beyond the emotional burden that night terror carries every time it is experienced, it is difficult to know much more about this phenomenon. Why does it occur? What is the origin of these terrors? Is there any organic or psychological c****ause? What does science say about this?
Talking about night terrors is talking about sleep disorders, a group in which the former are included. Within the classification of sleep disorders is the group of parasomnias, which is divided into three groups:
Night terrors are in the first group. Unlike sleepwalking (which is also a disturbance of awakening), night terrors are usually characterized by extreme fear and terror associated with the paralysis of the person who suffers it, keeping them in a significant state of tension. They usually occur between the first 2 or 3 hours after the person begins to sleep.
What is the difference between night terrors and nightmares?
The main difference with the nightmares is that the latter occur entirely within the REM phase of sleep and produce a complete awakening. Night terror, however, is a half-awakening: we are aware of certain things in the waking world, but we are not able to separate ourselves from sleep and, most likely, when the episode ends we will continue sleeping to the point of forgetting. what happened.
Velayos (2009) explains that night terrors are episodes of crying and screaming that appear suddenly during deep sleep, in the middle of the night. In addition, they are also expressed on the face through a facial expression of strong terror. As in sleepwalking, This disorder usually occurs in childhood.between the age of 4 to 7 years, and are less common after this age. In the adult stage they can appear at any time, and sometimes it is possible for several episodes to repeat during the same night. Sáez Pérez states that during a night terror episode in childhood, symptoms such as profuse sweating usually occur. elevated heart rate, confusion and crying. This symptomatology does not change during adolescence or adulthood.
Causes of night terrors
Little is known about the neurological and physiological aspects of what causes night terrors. However, some mental health specialists believe that there are some factors that can trigger this disorder, among which are:
Diagnosis
To obtain a diagnosis, it is advisable to go to a mental health professional so that they can thoroughly evaluate the problem. It should be noted that there are other disorders with symptoms very similar to night terrors and that only a qualified professional will be able to differentiate them and give a final diagnosis. Disorders with similar symptoms include:
Science advances, but when it comes to the origins of sleep disorders, it has not been possible to offer explanations about their logic and functioning. It is an enigma yet to be studied, and the night terror is no exception to this rule.
Today there is no specific treatment for night terrors. As with sleepwalking, certain professionals recommend alternative techniques such as meditation, hypnosis, yoga, etc. As long as they serve as a complement to a psychological or psychiatric intervention.
