Learn how to safely manage sleepwalking and night terrors with proven strategies like scheduled awakenings, sleep extension, and environmental safety. Most cases resolve with simple, non-medical steps.
Night Terrors: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How to Manage Them
When someone suddenly sits up screaming in the middle of the night, eyes wide open but not really awake, they’re likely having a night terror, a type of sleep disorder where the brain partially wakes from deep sleep, triggering fear and physical reactions without full consciousness. Also known as sleep terror, it’s not a nightmare—you won’t remember it the next morning. Night terrors are most common in kids between 3 and 12, but adults can have them too, especially under stress, sleep deprivation, or with certain medications.
These episodes are part of a group called parasomnias, abnormal behaviors during sleep that include sleepwalking, sleep talking, and bedwetting. Unlike nightmares, which happen during REM sleep and leave clear memories, night terrors occur during non-REM deep sleep. The person may thrash, sweat, breathe fast, or even get out of bed—but they’re not dreaming. They’re stuck between sleep and wakefulness. If you’ve ever woken to find your child screaming with no memory of it, you’ve seen this. It’s terrifying to watch, but usually harmless.
What causes night terrors? Genetics play a big role—if a parent had them, their kids are more likely to. Other triggers include fever, irregular sleep schedules, anxiety, or even sleeping in a new place. Some medications, especially those that affect the nervous system, can make them worse. And while they often fade with age, adults who experience them regularly should check for underlying issues like sleep apnea or PTSD.
Most kids outgrow night terrors without treatment. But if they happen often, last longer than 30 minutes, or put someone at risk of injury, it’s time to look closer. Keeping a sleep diary helps spot patterns—maybe they always happen after late dinners or screen time before bed. Scheduled awakenings—waking the person 15 minutes before the usual episode time—can interrupt the cycle. No drugs are approved for night terrors in children, and most doctors avoid them in adults unless there’s a clear medical cause.
You won’t find a quick fix, but you can reduce episodes by improving sleep hygiene: consistent bedtime, a calm environment, and avoiding caffeine or heavy meals before bed. If sleepwalking comes with the terrors, lock doors, remove tripping hazards, and consider alarms that trigger when movement starts. For adults, managing stress through therapy or mindfulness can help. And if you’re ever unsure, talk to a sleep specialist—they can rule out other disorders like epilepsy or REM sleep behavior disorder.
The posts below cover real-world advice from people who’ve dealt with these episodes—whether it’s a parent managing a child’s night terrors, an adult struggling with sleep disruption, or a pharmacist explaining how certain meds might be making things worse. You’ll find practical tips, common myths busted, and what actually works when sleep goes sideways.