A Bride Worth Billions (78 page)

The previous presented a general overview of night terrors.

This will delve deeper and clearly define the symptoms of this sleep disorder. It also enumerates numerous risk factors that may increase the possibility of having night terrors.

In addition, the characteristics that set apart night terrors from other disorders, particularly nightmare disorder, will also be discussed.

By the end of this , it should be possible to ascertain the likelihood of someone suffering from the disorder.

However, this is only a guide and intended to impart basic information. A definitive diagnosis should be made by a qualified medical professional.

Symptoms of Night Terrors

In order to diagnose night terrors—or sleep terror disorder, as it is referred to in this case—the DSM presents the following criteria:

• An individual experiences abruptly waking up from sleep with a scream. This should occur in recurrently for a period of time.
  
• An individual experiences extreme fear and express physiological symptoms of it. Examples of this include rapid or heavy breathing, an increase in heart rate, an increase in perspiration, and raised blood pressure.
  
• An individual is inconsolable during an episode. It is not possible to comfort or soothe them once they begin to show symptoms. They only calm down once the episode subsides.
  
• An individual is incapable of remembering the fine details of an episode or of a dream they might have had during the episode.
  
• An individual experiences clinically significant distress due to their episodes. Their day-to-day functioning has been substantially impaired because of it.
  
• The following symptoms are not because of the effects of another medical condition, or of medication or any other substance.
  

All of these conditions should be apparent before an official diagnosis is made. Of course, while these are the
required
symptoms, they are by no means the only ones.

As mentioned in the previous , the response to the fear experienced by individuals with the disorder can be varied. Crying and screaming are common. So are sudden jolts of movement and fleeing—in fact, there have been reports of people tumbling down stairs or falling out of open windows during night terrors.

If one were to describe the diverse symptoms with a general statement, it would be that night terrors cause physical symptoms of intense fear. People who have the disorder are simply very afraid, although there is no reason to be.

Risk Factors That May Increase the Likelihood of Night Terrors

While the exact cause of night terrors have not been determined, it seems that there may be a few factors that increase the risk of a developing the disorder.

The first factor is
genetics
. There is evidence of night terrors being congenital. Many of the people who have it know about other family members who are also prone to the disorder or to other parasomnias, like sleepwalking, for example.

Some studies suggest that the risk of having night terrors increases ten-fold when one has first-degree biological relative who is affected.

Although it seems that the possibility for night terrors to be passed on through the genes is high, the mechanism for this is still not known. There is still no exact pattern of inheritance for night terrors, although some studies indicate that it may be autosomal—meaning the trait is not carried by the X or Y chromosomes and are not linked to gender.

Laboratory findings have also found that running a
fever and sleep deprivation
can increase the occurrence of episodes.

In adults especially, the lack of the proper quantity and quality of sleep is a noteworthy contributor to night terrors. It has been observed that treatments which improve the amount and quality of sleep work well in keeping adult night terrors under control.

Medical conditions
such as gastroesphageal reflux, asthma, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and narcolepsy may also increase the likelihood of episodes.

In adults, there is a notable correlation between night terrors and mental disorders, as previously mentioned.

Night terrors can also be indications of neurological diseases in adults.

Medications
for the central nervous system can also be causative factors.

Other factors that may exacerbate night terrors are:

• Extreme stress, both emotional and physical
  
• Head injuries
  
• Migraines
  
• Swelling of the brain (encephalitis)
  
• Overactivity of the thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
  
• Stroke
  
• Bloating of the stomach
  
• Arrival of the premenstrual period
  
• Substance abuse (particularly alcohol)
  
• Sleep in unfamiliar surroundings
  
• Travelling, and
  
• Excessive light and noise
  

Comparing Night Terrors and Nightmares

It’s easy to confuse nightmare disorder with night terrors.

For one thing, both involve fear and negative experiences that occur during sleep and in the process of waking. Both impact the quality of sleep and basically deal with having bad dreams.

However, there is a reason for the division between these two sleeping disorders. The differences between night terrors and nightmare disorder are important and truly merit their classification as separate disorders.

Possibly the most definite distinction between the two is the moment when they occur during the sleep cycle. As discussed in 1, night terrors occur in between stage 3 and 4 of NREM sleep. In contrast, nightmares occur during REM sleep. This difference is the easiest to quantify.

That’s not all. Another obvious difference is the amount of physical movement actually involved. With night terrors, a lot of movement is to be expected. Jolting out of bed, thrashing, kicking, even sleepwalking are the norm for an episode. On the other hand, people with nightmare disorder rarely move around. They normally don’t even get out of bed.

Those who frequently experience nightmares can usually remember what it was they were dreaming about. They generally know what occurred during their dreams. They know the cause for their fear and they usually wake up just before they experience the most terrifying part of a dream. It is this terror that causes them to be unable to fall asleep again.

The experience is very different for those who suffer through night terrors. These individuals usually don’t know why they are afraid. When they are experiencing episodes, they are not self-aware and conscious of their own actions. Afterwards, many are often not aware that an episode occurred at all. They go back to deep sleep after an episode without ever fully waking up.

After a general overview, a thorough examination of the symptoms, and wealth of other information characterizing night terrors, it is now time to look at the strategies that can be used to manage this disorder.

Night terrors can be damaging in a variety of ways. There is a real risk of physical injury when someone is suffering from an episode, not to mention the toll the lack of proper sleep takes on the body.

There is an emotional dimension to this as well. Episodes can be a source of great embarrassment for those who are afflicted by the disorder. This can be a great blow to their confidence and self-image.

Conflicts may also arise between family members, roommates, or other involved parties who are at a loss as to how to deal with the symptoms. The potential for danger, violence, and trauma during an episode can cause a significant strain on the relationships of those who are afflicted, especially if they are sharing a home with others.

Fortunately, the worst of these effects can be avoided. Dealing with night terrors may never be hassle-free, but with the proper management techniques, there is no doubt that it can be done.

Management at Home

If the disorder is not so severe and episodes are rare, no formal treatment may be necessary. This is especially true for children. Night terrors are usually temporary for them and will stop on their own as a child grows up and enters adolescence.

Experts even advise parents not to focus too much on a child’s night terrors, since it may lead them to become too worried and self-conscious about these episodes.

For adults, the risk of injury is higher, but as long as the person who experiences the episodes is able to live a normal life and is not substantially hampered in any way, then there is no reason to worry overmuch. Still, it would be prudent to get a physician’s opinion.

To minimize the potential for accidents and injuries, it would be advisable to arrange furniture in a way that minimizes risk, should an episode lead to getting out of bed and sleepwalking.

It is also important to close any windows and block the way to staircases and other potentially perilous areas to avoid any unfortunate mishaps.

As much as possible, watch over someone when they are having night terror episodes. Do not try to wake them, especially by yelling or shaking them. This may cause the situation to get worse. Just try to prevent them from hurting themselves as gently as possible and guide them back to bed.

Providing comfort is especially important for children. Speaking in a soothing manner while holding them firmly during episodes may also help.

Maintaining a regular sleeping schedule with a routine bedtime and wake-up time may potentially aid in managing the disorder.

Remember to inform any overnight houseguests or baby sitters about the potential for night terror episodes. Their understanding can go a long way to providing peace of mind for everyone involved.

Lastly, try to avoid triggers that seem to cause episodes. Of course, this differs from person to person, but steadfast observation can yield results. It may be possible to identify certain factors that can increase the risk of an episode, such as specific stresses or the lack of sleep, etc.

Getting Professional Help

In the case that episodes get too severe and start excessively disrupting a person’s life, professional help may be necessary.

Physicians may prescribe drugs
. There are a number of medications that have been used to manage night terrors. Among the most common and effective is
diazepam
, also known as Valium.

This drug is classified as a hypnotic. Its primary purpose is to induce sleep. The theory is that it helps prevent night terror episodes because it functions as a depressant of the nervous system.

There are many other types of hypnotics. The type that will be safe and effective for a person will depend on their medical history: the presence of other psychological or medical conditions, drugs that they are taking or have taken in the past, and any additional health factors.

In extreme and very severe cases, a benzodiazepine tranquilizer can be administered to help a person sleep without unwanted disturbance. Of course, this medication should be prescribed by a physician.

The use of drugs to manage night terrors has only been tested on adults. These medications should not be used on children.

Therapy
is also helpful. If episodes seem to be caused by stress, then engaging in relaxation techniques may prevent them from occurring, or at least lessen their frequency. Undergoing the process of psychotherapy may also reveal the underlying causes of the night terrors, and shed some light over a person’s specific triggers for their episodes. Once these triggers have been identified, they can be better dealt with or avoided.

Sleep specialists
also have methods of dealing with disorders such as this. They may rate individuals with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to see how sleep affects their life, perform in-lab studies and examinations, or monitor general stats, such as brain waves, in an attempt to understand the disorder and find ways to solve it.

When meeting with a medical professional, like a doctor or a sleep specialist, remember to be forthcoming with information. Be honest. Details like previous and current medical conditions, histories of physical and emotional stress, even past or present substance abuse, may be the key to understanding the origin of the disorder and finding a workable solution.

Thank you again for downloading this book! 

I hope this book was able to help you to understand what night terrors are,
who
they affect, and how significantly the can affect people’s lives.

You have now learned that night terrors don’t discriminate among their victims. They can affect the young and the old. Their effects can be disruptive and can cause physical and emotional harm not only to the ones who are affected, but to those around them.

However, you have also learned how to identify night terrors and you are now armed with the knowledge on how to deal with them. You know that they can be managed to minimize both the physical and emotional damage they can cause.

The next step is to share and apply the knowledge that you have. Make a difference to those who need it, whether it is with your own family and friends and to others.

Best of luck and thank you so much for reading this book!

Finally, if you enjoyed this book, then I’d like to ask you for a favor, would you be kind enough to leave a review for this book on Amazon? It’d be greatly appreciated!

Click here to leave a review for this book on Amazon!

Thank you and good luck!