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Many children have nightmares and night terrors, but most grow out of them. Some adults also can also have them.
Night terrors and nightmares are different and happen at different stages of sleep.
During a night terror you may talk and move about but are asleep. It's rare to remember having a night terror.
Nightmares are bad dreams you wake up from and can remember.
Night terrors are most common in children between the ages of 3 and 8, while nightmares can affect both children and adults.
| Night terrors | Nightmares |
|---|---|
| Mainly affect children | Affect both children and adults |
| Scream, shout, thrash about, jump out of bed, eyes open but not awake, will not remember it | Strong feelings of fear, child may wake up and be able to remember the dream |
| Happen in the early part of the night, sometimes more than once, lasting up to 15 minutes | Happen later in the night |
If you cannot move or speak as you wake up or fall asleep, you may have sleep paralysis. This is not the same as having a night terror.
Common causes of night terrors and nightmares include:
They can also be caused by:
Night terrors are more common in people with family members who have had night terrors or who sleepwalk.
For most people, night terrors and nightmares get better on their own.
If your child is having night terrors or nightmares, there are things you can try to help.
try having a relaxing bedtime routine
keep a sleep diary (including things you did during the day and evening, how you were feeling and how you slept) to help identify any causes
try to deal with things that might be causing stress or anxiety
During a night terror, you should:
If they're having a night terror at the same time every night, try waking them up 15 minutes before the night terror every night for a week. This can sometimes stop the night terrors happening.
Treatment for nightmares in adults depends on what may be causing them.
If you're having nightmares caused by a traumatic event, a GP may recommend psychological treatment such as counselling.
If you have a condition that affects your sleep, treatment will usually involve trying to manage the condition better.
