Sleep related disturbances are generated by anxiety experienced during waking hours, yet are acted out during sleep, as studies will conclude.
So night terrors are essentially nocturnal panic attacks that happen while we sleep.
They are just as disturbing as waking anxiety, and even more so, as there are people who have been convicted of crimes while under nocturnal panic attacks.
A normal nightmare will wake a person up, often with a pounding heart and sweating.
One can recall every detail of this nightmare.
This is not so with nocturnal panic attacks, or night terrors.
All you know is something happened but you are not sure exactly what.
Some wake up in a different room or even in the car.
It is apparent that those who suffer from night terrors act out the dream they are experiencing, and this is pretty scary stuff.
At any rate, nocturnal panic attacks deserve serious treatment.
One has no control over what happens when they go into a deep sleep.
Those who suffer from night terrors apparently have a constant flow of stress hormones that will increase the level of intensity of a dream, and act accordingly, as if they were awake.
This is similar to sleep walking, but more intense, as a dream is motivating emotion and actions.
Sleep therapy is often prescribed.
Other means of therapy can be helpful as well.
Relaxation techniques can be applied before retiring for the night.
Meditation and psychotherapy can help as well.
For those who suffer from nocturnal panic attacks there is always some underlying cause.
Deeply embedded emotions or a traumatic experience which has been blocked out is often the cause.
Certain medications can provoke night terrors.
If you are currently taking prescription drugs and are experiencing night terrors, discuss this with you physician right away.
Stress reducing can help nocturnal panic attacks.
Try meditation before bed and focus on happy things and thoughts.
Take time out for yourself each day.
Confront problems as they arise.
Do not let feelings fester for long.
They can carry over to your sleeping hours.
Seek professional help if you have an episode that leaves you wondering what happened, such as waking in a different room or even feeling apprehensive about what happened during the night.
Sleep apnea can give feelings of nocturnal panic attacks.
As the airway becomes constricted, one wakes up feeling as if something bad has happened, and it has because you stopped breathing.
Seek medical help.