Night Terrors Have Haunted Children

A five year old little boy is crying in his parents arms terrified for a reason unknown to him. The parents look at each other worriedly; this had become an every night thing. Their son had been diagnosed with night terrors and they know no way to help him. Night terrors have haunted children and their parents all around the world, prompting scientists find the causes of this disorder, improve treatment so parents and children can sleep peacefully at night, and help prevent them from happening. Sadly it seems that night terrors are frequently confused with nightmares. There are many differences from night terrors and night mares and one of those main differences is that the child has, “no evident memory of the night terror while nightmares …show more content…
Parents with children with night terrors obviously wish to comfort their children, or help them but it seems reassurance seems to be the best way to do that. Besides nightmares and night terrors sleepwalking seem to be in close relation, “night terrors and sleepwalking share many similar clinical characteristics” (Murray 1). If parents want to help their children who are diagnosed with this disorder they can do the following: “make sure the child is in a safe home environment because they may sometimes run around. Doors and windows should be locked and sleeping on the ground floor is encouraged” (Nightmares …show more content…
Scientists and doctors have been researching psychotherapy but there is not any knowledge of effectiveness for night terror disorder” (Szelenberger 2). “Night terrors are highly dangerous they can cause children to severely harm themselves causing disability and sometimes death” (Wilson 1). “Monitoring sleep through electroencephalography and electroculography has identified the different sleep stages in which nightmares, night terrors, and sleepwalking occur” (Murray 113). “The study of statistics shows that 6.9% of children around the ages of six through twelve commonly have night terrors” (Masters-Zaleski 7). “Sadly it seems night terrors can begin surfacing in children as young as eighteen months and slowly decrease as they age into their teen years” (Masters-Zaleski 7). “When it comes to the topic of night terrors there seems to be many causes of it; mainly it seems like it runs through family. It seems like when patients suffering from night terrors or sleepwalking have a family history of the disorder “(Kales, et al 400). “Genetic, developmental, organic, and psychological factors have been identified in the causes of night terrors, 96% of those with night terrors have family history of the disease” (Kales, Soldatos, and Kales 585). Although family history seems to be one of the main reason for night terrors there seems