Night terrors are the sleep disorder equivalent of your brain saying, "You know what would be fun? An unscheduled horror movie marathon, of your own making, and at 2am!" If you’ve ever woken up screaming, sweating, and scaring the life out of everyone within earshot, you’ve likely experienced this nocturnal nightmare. And no, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill bad dream—this is Night Terrors: The Sequel That Nobody Wanted.
Let’s dive into the spooky world of night terrors, where logic takes a backseat, your body goes full panic mode, and your family starts Googling exorcists. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it funny enough to stop you from sleeping with the lights on. Hopefully.
what are night terrors?
Night terrors, or sleep terrors, are episodes of intense fear that occur during sleep. Unlike nightmares (which happen during the REM phase when you’re deep into dreamland), night terrors strike during non-REM sleep. This means they happen when your brain is just starting to relax and your body decides to pull a Psycho shower scene on itself.
People experiencing a night terror may:
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Scream, cry, or thrash around like they’re auditioning for a horror movie, or as an extra called ‘Shark in Background Number 3’, in a Jaws reboot.
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Appear wide awake, but they’re still stuck in dreamland.
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Sweat buckets, breathe heavily, and have a racing heart, as though they’ve just sprinted through a haunted mansion, quicker than you can say “Eddie Murphy”.
The kicker? Most people don’t even remember the episode the next morning. Meanwhile, everyone else in the house is left traumatised.
who gets night terrors?
Night terrors are surprisingly democratic — they affect both kids and adults, though children are the most common victims (1). If you’re a parent of a child with night terrors, congrats! You’ve earned the “Sleep-Deprived Hero of the Year” award.
For adults, night terrors often come with a side of stress, anxiety, or other sleep disorders, because why not throw in a little extra chaos for fun?
symptoms
Night terrors can feel like your brain is hosting its own horror show. Here’s what you might experience:
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Piercing screams: Loud enough to make your neighbours wonder if they should call the police. Nooooo! Not Sting, Stuart Copeland, and Henry Padovani’s award winning British-American New-Wave band… You silly sausage! I meant the rozzers! You know? 5-0! The Old Bill! Anyway.
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Thrashing and kicking: Your bed transforms into a wrestling ring. But the only thing the Rock can smell cooking, is your body as you sweat up a storm.
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Confusion and terror: You wake up mid-panic with no idea why you’re freaking out.
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Unresponsive behaviour: Loved ones might try to comfort you, but you’re about as approachable as the gate to Platform 9¾, after Dobby closes it before Harry and Ron can get through, causing havoc to ensue… Great stuff! Great. Stuff…
the science: why does this happen?
Night terrors occur when your brain gets stuck between different stages of sleep. Normally, your sleep cycle transitions smoothly between stages, like a well-oiled machine. But during a night terror, it’s as if someone threw a spanner in the works. Or an entire toolbox, depending on the severity.
Here’s the play-by-play:
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You enter deep non-REM sleep, where your brain is supposed to chill.
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Something triggers an overreaction, causing your fight-or-flight response to activate.
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Boom—instant panic, with no logical reason. Your brain is essentially screaming, "Danger!" while the rest of you is still horizontal. Very much NOT ready for danger.
triggers: what sets the terror train in motion?
Night terrors can be caused by anything that disrupts your sleep cycle, including:
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Stress: Work deadlines? Bills piling up? Your brain will turn that into a full-blown midnight apocalypse.
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Sleep deprivation: Not sleeping enough increases your risk of night terrors. It’s like your brain is saying, “Oh, you didn’t want rest? Here’s abject terror instead!”
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Alcohol: A nightcap might seem like a good idea until your brain decides to host a one-man panic rave at 3am, and now the room is spinning too, dependant on the volume consumed, of course.
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Fever or illness: If you’re unwell, your brain might throw in some terrors for good measure. Thanks for nothing, immune system.
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Genetics: If your parents had night terrors, you might be lucky enough to inherit this little gift. Cheers, Mum and Dad.
living through the terror
Picture this: You’re peacefully snoozing, dreaming about the fluffiest of fluffy kittens, when suddenly, you’re bolt upright, making the most blood-curdling scream since that lady accidentally created the Nazgul screeches for The Lord of the Rings (Yes, I’m a nerd). Your partner, jolted awake, panics and starts yelling, "What’s happening?!" But you’re too busy battling invisible monsters like an absolute legend, to answer. A few minutes later, you flop back down and go straight back to sleep like nothing happened. Meanwhile, your partner is left wondering if they should call a priest.
The worst part? You wake up the next morning feeling refreshed, with no memory of the terror you unleashed. The people who had to witness it, however, are not so lucky.
the effects on your loved ones
Let’s spare a thought for the poor souls who have to live with someone who has night terrors. They’re the true victims here.
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Roommates: They signed up for a quiet flat-share, not a live-action ghost story.
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Partners: Your significant other now sleeps with one eye open and a pillow (if you’re lucky) ready for self-defence.
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Kids: If you’re a parent with night terrors, congratulations — you’ve just become the thing your child fears most in the night. Cute! Every day is a blessing…
how to deal with night terrors
If you or someone you love is plagued by night terrors, here’s how to manage the madness:
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Stick to a sleep schedule. Consistency is key. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Yes, even on weekends. No, you can’t bargain with your body clock.
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Create a calming bedtime routine. Ditch the horror movies and true-crime podcasts before bed. Opt for a warm bath, soft music, or a book (preferably not Stephen King).
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Address stress. Meditation, exercise, therapy — whatever works to keep your brain from turning into a rickety ghost train of suffering. Good album title.
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Limit alcohol and caffeine. Your evening glass of wine or post-dinner espresso might be fuelling your midnight freak outs.
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Safety first. If you’re prone to thrashing, make sure your sleeping area is safe. No sharp edges, no breakables, and maybe consider padded walls or skateboarding pads, if things get extreme.
when to call in the pros
Night terrors are usually harmless, but if they’re happening regularly, affecting your daytime life, or turning your loved ones into sleepless wrecks, it’s time to see a doctor.
Treatments might include:
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Therapy: To address underlying stress or trauma.
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Sleep studies: To check for other sleep disorders, like sleep apnoea.
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Medication: In rare cases, a doctor might prescribe something to regulate your sleep.
night terrors vs. nightmares: know the difference
Night terrors often get confused with nightmares, but they’re very different beasts:
Nightmares: Scary dreams you can usually remember. You might wake up frightened, but you’re fully alert and able to tell your partner about the ugly, creepy clown chasing you. Careful how you go about this, if they’re the clown in the dream. That will take some backpedalling.
Night Terrors: No memory, no coherent explanation, just primal fear and screams. It’s like your brain pressed Ctrl+Alt+Delete (and then end task, naturally) on the whole episode.
finding the funny side
Okay, waking up mid-scream isn’t exactly comedy gold in the moment. But once the terror subsides, there’s a certain absurdity to it.
"I fought off an invisible monster last night. You’re welcome, household."
"Sorry for the screaming at 3am. My brain decided to audition for a horror podcast."
And let’s not forget the confused pets. Your dog is probably thinking, "Is this part of the human experience? Should I be barking or comforting you? I’ll just lay down with my junk out, they always seem to love that…
night terrors in a nutshell
Night terrors are a weird, wacky, and occasionally terrifying part of the sleep world. They don’t mean you’re broken or haunted—they’re just your brain’s way of saying, "Hey, something’s up. Maybe we should deal with that?"
So, if you’re a frequent flier on the terror train, remember this: you’re not alone, you’re not possessed, and with a little help, you can reclaim your nights. In the meantime, maybe warn your flatmates before they think they’ve stumbled into a real-life horror flick. Until next time, eve sleep.
