Night Terrors, What They Are, Symptoms and The Benefit of a Weighted Blanket

Have you or a loved one experienced Night Terrors, most commonly mistaken as nightmares? They are the feelings of terror while you are awake, but not truly awake. Sleepwalking and screams of terror roam the halls of your home, and as a caregiver or parent struggle to take the fear away.  The question is WHAT IS A NIGHT TERROR?

According to Healthline.com:

"Night terrors are a form of sleep disorder in which a person partially awakens from sleep in a state of terror. A sufferer of night terrors experiences an activation of his or her fight-or-flight system.

Children may sit up crying or screaming.

Night terrors usually occur during the deepest stage of sleep, which is typically the first half of the sleep cycle. Night terrors are not nightmares, which are a form of dreaming. Because the person may still be partially asleep during a night terror, they can be inconsolable and unaware of their surroundings. They may have no memory of the episode when they awaken.

Night terrors are relatively uncommon and predominantly affect children under the age of 12, according to the Mayo Clinic. Children typically grow out of night terrors. Children with night terrors often also sleepwalk."

Commonly parents are awoken in the middle of the night to your little one having a night terror.  Your little or not so little one is so shaken and wants so much to be in bed with you.  They end up sleeping next to your bed or in bed with you for the feeling of safe harbor. You feel as you are helpless because you stay up with them rocking or holding them all night. Our customers have given us some very important insight to how our weighted blankets have aided their little ones to sleep even after they have an occurrence and have even slept longer than they ever have, according to their parents and caregivers, the children wake up refreshed and more alert and calm.

There are several components that factor into why Weighted Blankets are a source of help to those suffering with this Disorder and loosing much needed sleep.

The state in the dream cycle that it is found that Night Terrors occur in, this state is called NREM, researchers have found that is occurs in the late stages of Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep. Not to be confused with REM, Rapid Eye Movement of which is the dream and nightmare stage.

What then happens in NREM sleep?

Three stages are identified by the The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

• In the first stage, the sleeping experiences slow eye movement and what is known as thoughtful sleep.
• In the second stage, there is no eye movement.
• The third stage involves what is commonly known as ‘deep sleep.’

Because the night terrors occur during this point of the sleep cycle where the person should be engaged in a deep sleep, they then are fatigued, restless and have a huge reduction in their energy levels for the next day due to the nights unrest.

How do weighted blankets help Night Terrors?

Our Woobie Weighted Blankets and Wee Woobie Weighted Blankets:

1. Aide in Deep Pressure Touch Zones or DPT Zones. Deep pressure touch, such as squeezing, can calm the system.  Occupational Therapists have found that individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) respond well to deep pressure. According to Sensory Processing Disorder.com and can help reduce the sensory response due to night terrors. 

2. Stimulate Serotonin Release 

3. Serotonin can then be converted to Melatonin (Melatonin is a hormone made by the Pineal gland. That's a pea-sized gland found just above the middle of your brain. It helps your body know when it's time to sleep and wake up. Normally, your body makes more Melatonin at night. Levels usually start to go up in the evening once the sun sets.) as stated by Web MD.

Most importantly weighted blankets can provide the feeling of a hug resulting in your loved one being able to get a full night's rest. In turn offering piece of mind for their caregivers.

If you feel you or your loved one is experiencing Night Terrors it is recommended to contact your medical professional.  Make sure to keep an eye out for signs.

Possible symptoms of night terrors include:

• partially or fully awakening from sleep very suddenly
• screaming or thrashing
• intense fear or terror from an unknown source
• wide eyes with dilated pupils
• rapid breathing
• racing heart
• elevated blood pressure
• sweating

Stay safe and healthy and to purchase a Woobie Weighted Blanket take a look at our blankets here:  https://daisytheblanketlady.com/collections/wee-custom-order

as well as our ready to ship options available: https://daisytheblanketlady.com/collections/wee-ready-to-ship