Has anyone here experienced night terrors?

[The Blue Flower]

My daughter has had them since infancy--she is now in her 40s. A doctor told me they're caused by a chemical imbalance that induces fear. The doc's wife also had them. They are truly terrifying--when she lived under my roof she'd wake up screaming. As an adult living alone, she imagined someone in her room was trying to kill her. She once picked up the cat and ran outside before waking up. She has called 911 while still asleep. I found an online chat group of adults who have them.

Has anyone here managed to get rid of them? She was supposed to grow out of them, but obviously has not.

[bamagal62]

1. I am so sorry. My son had them when he was little.

But, he out grew them. They are terrifying because when you try to help, you become part of their nightmare. Hoping she can find some help.

[handmade34]

2. not me

but my son did... when young he would wake screaming and I would have to hold him through the night until he calmed down... it was into his teens before he could sleep through the night...

I am so sorry for your daughter... I understand how horrific they are... I have no idea how to quell them

[WheelWalker]

3. My 44 year old daughter has them There is medication that helps.

Prazosin is the medication. She has had night terrors for years. She takes the med. She says your daughter might need therapy along with the med. Apparently veterans are prescribed it for the night terrors that accompany PTSD. My daughter takes a pretty high dose and has for over 5 years. Her terrors are a result of PTSD. She says it helps, but it only dulls the terrors, it doesn't eliminate them. And there are side effects related to low blood pressure at higher doses. This is all coming from her. I have no personal experience.

[Karadeniz]

4. I haven't tried it, but a lot of people recommend reiki for imbalance.

[MerryBlooms]

5. I'm on Prazosin for mine (PTSD related) and see a counselor.

I also have sleep seizures that are triggered by the terrors, so I'm on an anti seizure med. I run a sound spa machine in my room 24/7. I still have them, but less frequently, same with the night time panic attacks.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Yes, I used to have them in my early to mid 20's when I was suffering from

severe depression. It was horrible. After a lot of therapy and the right medication (which was trial and error for many years) they finally went away, but I still have very bizarre dreams. They aren't really nightmares or night terrors but they are very intense and I often wake (when I do sleep) feeling like I never really got any rest at all.

There is hope. Has she been to a psychiatrist or a psychopharmacologist? It took me a while to get it right, but I have been doing pretty well for a while now. I know how terrifying it can be. I used to feel like people were trying to choke me and trying to kill me and all kinds of other horrible things. I am so glad I haven't experienced that in almost 30 years. I wish you and your daughter well, but if you would like to IM me, feel free.

I wish you both the best of luck!

[Liberalhammer]

7. I used to have them when i was young

And would sleep walk until my teens, then they went away after experimentations with psychedelics and other drugs.

[UTUSN]

8. A few night terror dreams, or something.

[Maru Kitteh]

9. When I am sleep deprived, they happen and it is truly hell.

So I do whatever is necessary to make sure I'm not sleep deprived.