Fafa is a pro at Night Terrors.
The funny thing is, the only one who is effected by them is yours truly.
They are the most horrific thing you could ever witness in the dark of the evening when all is quiet. But she is unaffected, when they are over.
F used to have them often as a baby. We would always know when they were going to happen because her days would be filled with an abundance of stimulation and she'd be overtired at bedtime. She'd be cranky and fall asleep hard. Then, she'd wake up screaming and inconsolable within 10-20 minutes of falling asleep. Sometimes they lasted five minutes, sometimes 2 hours. It was that bad.
She'd scream and cry and stiffen up and punch and scratch and not be able to recognize us. She'd be petrified of BD where he'd have to leave the room because she was that frightened of him. Her pupils would be dilated and she'd stare past me and scream out. Just scream. That blood curdling screetch that you just can.not.stop.
Then out of nowhere, they stopped. For a while, it was smooth sailing at night. Full nights of full, comfortable sleep. I thought we were past it.
Then, they came back. She had three in one week to be specific.
The last one made me cry. It lasted about 15 minutes. She was stiff, fighting, biting and screaming but she softened as soon as she woke up. Popped her thumb back into her mouth and rolled over with her lovey, like nothing ever happened. She even has the nerve to ask me what I'm doing in her bed afterwards. Gah.
I am pretty used to these by now. I know what they are when they happen and I know that she won't remember them when she wakes and I know she is safe because she is in her bed and I am restraining her. I know it is because she had a busy day...but what I don't know is why the intensity?
Why are these terrors so extreme? What could her little brain possibly be dreaming about when she is looking into my eyes (but not seeing me) and screaming "Mommy I need you!" at the top of her lungs? Why is she so scared? What is she processing during the day that she's not telling me that makes her so scared at night? It is frightening. For me.
It's to the point now that she's bigger and it is more difficult to hold her down too. She punches and kicks and bites and scratches herself and I don't understand. Why the anger? Why the violence? What is making her dream this way?
She still can't remember the incident once she snaps to. But I do. It scars me. Deep in my soul. My daughter is that intense and it scares me. She's only three.
23 comments:
Have you google'd "night terrors?"
The poor little girl... I feel so sad for her.
She doesn't by any chance see the news or anything ... I know when I have the news on too too much ... I can't sleep and all I do is worry about EVERYTHING in the world... and I have bad dreams....
and for some reason, I worry more at night! Kids are so much more vulnerable.
I will ask around and see if I can help you... I also belong to an online support group for children w/ heart defects ... it's quite large ... I will see if anyone has suffered w/ this and find out what I can from them, too.
emily was big on the night terror. she hasn't had any in a really long time...so maybe it's an age thing? she scared the crap out of me on many occasions, though.
Hugs! I can only imagine how hard it is emotionally, even when you know the facts.
My Dad had night terrors as a kid, when he grew older he would walk in his sleep and freak out my Grandma! They would redirect him back to bed and he would remember nothing! He grew out of it.
I think once her brain grows and catches up with all her thoughts and processes, she will be fine at night. Talking and relaxation techniques are said to help.
It's just best to reassure her she's in a safe place. Make her tell you where she is; and that she is ok. They are scary night terrors.... I did that to my mom every night for I think 9 months. She said it was like clockwork.
That would be difficult to see. When Jacob is REALLY sad and upset crying and there is nothing I can do to console him I am usually crying right there with him. My heart breaks when I see him sad. He hasn't had a night terror before but I can imagine it would be difficult especially when there doesn't seem to be anything you can do except be there. My brother always had night terrors and even as an adult and living with me from time to time would sleep on the floor in my large room or keep a light on. He is 23 now but I think he still gets them from time to time. I am sure that is just an extreme case though. Anyway, it is kinda scary. I don't have any advice at all. I think the mind just chooses to have scary thoughts from time to time. When I was little I dreamt about spiders and snakes a LOT lol
My son had them as well, but neither of my girls. They pass. Who knows why they get them. My son and one of my girls still sleep walk. She won't be scarred, just you. They're horrific to witness and it was always after a busy day when he was overtired. Hang in there.
What a time you've had. I'm so sorry. I wish I had some wisdom for ya. Princess screams sometimes in her sleep, and sometimes she sleepwalks, but its never violent.
Hope you get some answers, and I hope your darling gets past this soon.
Holy crap. I can only imagine how scary that must be. I hope she grows out of them, for your sake and hers.
We have a friend who's daughter has had them since she was about 2. They're very rare now - she's 12 - and she still never remembers them.
omg, that's freaky! I watched a documentary on night terrors when I was pretty young and I still remember a lot of it becaue it stuck with me. I thought I'd be terrfied if I ever married a guy who ended up having night terrors. Instead I married a guy who sleepwalks and has Restless Legs Syndrome... *Ugh*
The Mayor used to wake up WAILING and be inconsolable for almost an hour. It would scare me to death and I couldn't do anything to calm him. The only thing that helped a little was to go outside and let him hear and watch traffic go by- but we live on a busy street. That seemed to help a little. But, oh. I hear you. So scary.
How scary. I can't imagine seeing my little one so frightened.
When I moved out of the house w/ my ex, I stayed with some friends of mine for a few weeks. They said I woke up at least 2 or 3 times a week with night terrors. I don't remember a thing about them. And they have gone away. I know that probably doesn't help much...
My husband and son both sleep walk, but not the terrors. I found out sleep walking was hereditary. My husband not so much anymore, I can usually catch him before he gets up,and lay him back down. The kid, he comes in our room at least.
I would honestly set up a camera, then take the footage to the doctor, and a sleep specialist. There may be something they could do.
Ohhh that made me want to cry for both of you. :( Poor mommy and sweety.
That is awful. I can't imagine what it's like - especially for you.
Hopefully it will get better!
My little boy hardly gets nightmares. Usually, he just chatters and talks in his sleep.
I hope your daughter's dreams turn sweeter soon. =)
Poor stink! I know it must be frightening. It happens to a lot of kids.I don't believe it's an indicator of a problem. Hugs to you and little sweet stinkie. I hope she'll soon outgrow them.
Still to this day my wife says that I throw punches in my sleep. Not superviolent or anything. Mostly when I am dreaming about fighting ninjas.
Sorry about poor little stinkfoot.
Steve~
Dawson hasn't had any night terrors that have kept him up or scared him, but sometimes in the middle of the night he'll let out a shrill cry and then it's as if nothing ever happened. Yet, my heart continues to race for a few minutes!
Night terrors are super freaky and scary. My oldest does that, but not to the extreme of Stinkfoot. So sorry!
I was going to leave a stupid remark from Coney, but I now fear my creepy character scares women. Ha ha!
It's just me. Flawed & Disorderly. Jennyhaha.
Night terrors are super freaky and scary. My oldest does that, but not to the extreme of Stinkfoot. So sorry!
I was going to leave a stupid remark from Coney, but I now fear my creepy character scares women. Ha ha!
It's just me. Flawed & Disorderly. Jennyhaha.
Janet,
Each time I visit this blog I start to realize, more and more, that your daughter and my son must be one of two things:
1. Secretly separated at birth
2. Actually the SAME person
Have you called your pediatrician? I got all kinds of information about it when Junior Mayhem started having them, especially at school. Did you know that you are not supposed to try and wake them? At least that is what the pamphlet I received said. ( You probably already know all of this) It has something to do with REM sleep and children who fall asleep to "hard" too soon. That is why most of them happen within an hour or two of falling asleep. I hope she will stop them soon. My doctor said it is not necessarily a sign of emotional issues.....it's more a genetic thing. Hopefully, they will end soon. The overtired thing usually triggered Junior Mayhem's worst ones.
I will keep her, and especially you, in my prayers.
Sister......you want to meet intense....COME ON OVER! :)
Oh janet, I just read this blog, it made me cry. I hope the night terrors go away, and SOON. That's terrifying, obviously not to SF, but to you.
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