Night Terrors & Nightmares

What are night terrors and nightmares? Night terrors and nightmares are two different things that both happen while we sleep, and it helps to know which is which. A nightmare is a frightening or upsetting dream. You usually wake from it, remember it, and often feel shaken for a little while afterwards. Nightmares can happen to anyone, at any age. A night terror is quite different. During one, a person — most often a young child — may suddenly sit up, cry out, thrash, sweat or look terrified, all while still deeply asleep. Their eyes may be open, but they are not really awake and are not aware of you. In the morning, they usually remember nothing at all. Both are common, and both are almost always harmless. They can be unsettling to live through or to watch, but they are a normal part of how many brains process sleep, especially in childhood.

What are the common signs and experiences of night terrors and nightmares? With a nightmare, you or your child typically wakes up frightened, can often describe the dream, and may find it hard to settle back to sleep. Nightmares tend to happen in the second half of the night, when dreaming sleep is longer. Night terrors look more dramatic but happen in a different way. They usually come in the first few hours after falling asleep. The person might scream, sit bolt upright, look panicked, breathe fast or seem confused and inconsolable. Trying to wake or hold them often makes it worse, and it can last a few minutes before they suddenly settle and sleep on peacefully. The key difference is memory and awareness. After a nightmare, there is fear and recall. After a night terror, the person was never truly awake and remembers nothing the next day.

How do I know if my child or I might be experiencing night terrors or nightmares? If your child wakes upset and can tell you about a scary dream, that points towards nightmares. If they seem terrified but "not there," don't respond to you, and have no memory of it in the morning, that fits the pattern of night terrors. Only a qualified professional can say for sure, and this page is here to help you understand, not to diagnose. For adults, frequent nightmares are more common than night terrors and can be linked to stress, worry, poor sleep or difficult experiences. It is worth gently noticing patterns — when they happen, and what the day or bedtime was like. Keeping a simple note of the timing, how long episodes last and what was going on beforehand can be genuinely useful, both for your own understanding and for any conversation with a GP.

What causes night terrors and nightmares? Nobody has done anything wrong, and this is not a sign of a troubled child or a weak mind. Night terrors are thought to happen when the brain is moving between stages of deep sleep and gets briefly "stuck" in a half-awake state. They often run in families and are simply more common in young children whose sleep is still maturing. Common triggers for both night terrors and nightmares include being overtired, unwell or feverish, having an irregular sleep routine, or being stressed, anxious or over-stimulated before bed. For adults, some medicines and difficult past experiences can also play a part. None of these "cause" them in a blaming sense. They are ordinary influences on an ordinary process. For most children, night terrors fade on their own as they grow.

Are night terrors the same as nightmares? No — and this is the most common mix-up, so it is worth being clear. Although both involve fear during sleep, they are genuinely different experiences. Nightmares are frightening dreams. They happen later in the night, you wake from them, and you usually remember them. Because you are awake, you can be comforted, and reassurance helps. Night terrors happen earlier in the night, during deep sleep. The person appears awake and distressed but is not conscious and will not remember it afterwards. Trying to wake them often prolongs things. Knowing which one you are dealing with changes how you respond — with a nightmare, comfort and talk; with a night terror, quietly keep them safe and let it pass.

How are night terrors and nightmares recognised? There is no special test. A GP will usually recognise night terrors or nightmares simply from a description of what happens — the timing, how the person behaves, and whether they remember it afterwards. That is why your notes on the pattern can be so helpful. Most of the time, no formal assessment is needed at all, because both are so common and usually harmless. A GP may just offer reassurance and simple advice on sleep routines. Occasionally, if episodes are very frequent, cause injury, involve unusual movements, or carry on into older childhood or adulthood, a GP might explore things further or refer on. This is not cause for alarm — it is simply making sure nothing else is going on and that you get the right support.

What support or treatment options are there? For most children, night terrors need no treatment beyond patience, safety and a settled routine — they tend to ease with time. Good sleep habits often make a real difference: a calm wind-down, regular bedtimes, and not letting a child get overtired. For nightmares, especially frequent ones, gentle reassurance, a comforting bedtime routine, and talking through worries in the daytime can all help. If night terrors happen at a very predictable time each night, some parents find that gently rousing the child a little beforehand can interrupt the pattern — a GP or The Sleep Charity can advise on this. If episodes are severe, frequent or distressing, or linked to anxiety or difficult experiences, a GP can talk through further support, which may include talking therapies. You never have to work it out alone.

How can I support myself or someone I love with night terrors and nightmares? During a night terror, the kindest thing is often to do very little: stay calm, don't try to wake them, gently make sure they can't hurt themselves, and wait quietly until it passes. In the morning, there is usually no need to mention it, as they won't remember. After a nightmare, comfort works. Stay close, reassure them they are safe, use a soft light or favourite toy, and keep the response calm and brief so sleep can return. In the daytime, a gentle chat about any worries can ease things. Look after your own rest too. Broken nights are wearing, and being patient with a frightened child is easier when you are not running on empty. Steady routines, less screen time before bed and a calm bedroom help everyone.

Where can I get help right now? If you are worried, you never have to manage this on your own. For trusted, practical advice on night terrors and nightmares, the NHS page at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/night-terrors/ is a warm, reliable place to start, and The Sleep Charity at https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/ offers guidance and support for both children and adults struggling with sleep. If episodes are frequent, causing injury, or you are simply concerned, contact your GP — and you can call NHS 111 for non-urgent health advice at any time. If someone is ever in immediate danger, call 999. If the nights are feeling overwhelming and you are struggling to cope, you deserve support too. The Samaritans are there free, day or night, on 116 123. Be gentle with yourself — this is common, it usually passes, and you are doing better than you think.