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The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.
Is It Possible For An Adult To Have A Single Night Terror, Or Is This Likely Just A First One Of More?
by Carole
(Canada)
Two weeks ago, and one night only, I went to bed and fell asleep only to wake a short while later with what I would learn is a night terror. At least, could someone confirm that it was a night terror?
I do not remember falling asleep, like most people. Within what seems to have been 15 to 30 minutes, I experienced what I initially thought was a really messed up nightmare. I do not remember sitting up in my bed, or dreaming about anything at all (at least, when my eyes were closed). I only remember having my eyes open already when I woke up, and vaguely remember having been staring up towards my ceiling - while sleeping - and seeing some dark shape/person/thing in that general direction move and become immense.
I felt absolute, immediate and illogical fear (unlike anything I've ever experienced in any normal nightmare, ever, since I am usually very composed after waking up from those). I might have already been feeling that way prior to seeing things with eyes open, but I can't remember that far. I automatically screamed/yelled multiple times, non-stop, without holding back any loudness, waking up my whole house and scaring the crap out of my mother and especially my sister who happened to be walking in front of my door at that time.
There was no thinking it through before screaming bloody murder because I just wasn't really awake? It was like someone was about to end my life for real, and I felt that frightened for at least an hour after I woke up (COMPLETELY understand the night "terror" name). I woke myself up with the screaming, and was super confused as to why I was still screaming, but DID know I felt so effing scared and vulnerable.
I've never experienced this ever before, and I have not experienced this ever since. Should I expect this to potentially happen again in the near future, or is it possible to only have this happen once? Should I see a doctor even though it's only happened once?
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Sleep Disorders In Children: What's Keeping Your Child From A Full Night's Rest?
Attacks of Pavor Nocturnus (a.k.a. Sleep Terrors, Night Terrors, or Incubus Attacks)
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Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide
Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.
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