Night Terrors

[Anya]

I'm a healthy 37-year old woman, unmarried, happy life.
Within the last three months I've started to have frequent recurrences of "night terrors"-- I wake up feeling like there's a great weight on my chest, and very frightened, though I can't remember any dreams.  As I wake up,I sometimes see bright lights.  I am not sleeping very well with the episodes or anticipating them. I've never had anything like these in my life.

My local doctor did heart and blood tests, and says all is okay.  He doesn't seem to think I should get anymore testing, and just try sleeping pills for a while.  

I did have post-traumatic stress disorder some ten years ago, but was treated by a neuropsychiatrist and had no more problems.  This taught me what a good thing proper treatment can do.

But I'm in the dark here on what to do with these episodes?  Are they physical or mental problems?  How can I avoid them without drugs?

Thank you
Anya

[HFHS-M.D-HG]

Dear Anya

Sleep terror disorder is a condition in which there can be  recurrent episodes of abrupt wakening from sleep with intense fear, with no detailed recall of the event and can significantly effect a person’s social and occupational functioning. For a person with sleep terror disorder, individual or family therapy is useful and sometimes using a small dose of Valium (benzodiazepine medication)
at bedtime can be effective. If this continues, I would recommend that you contact a sleep disorder clinic for an evaluation.

sincerely
HFHS-M.D

[barbara to pain and lortab]

It sounds like you are having panic attacks. You may want to seek a psychiactric evaluation and possible treatment. It may require meds.

[Becka]

I am a 44 year old woman who has night terrors also, but mine are different.  I sit up in bed with my eyes open & scream at the top of my lungs; sometimes I get out of bed altogether. I don't wake at all during these episodes nor do I remember them in the morning.  My husband says that he calms me down by rubbing my arm & talking softly to me.  Does anyone else have these kinds of episodes?  I would appreciate any help at all in understanding this.  Thank you.