Many children have nightmares and night terrors, but most grow out of them. Some adults also can also have them.
Night terrors and nightmares are different and happen at different stages of sleep.
During a night terror you may talk and move about but are asleep. It's rare to remember having a night terror.
Nightmares are bad dreams you wake up from and can remember.
Night terrors are most common in children between the ages of 3 and 8, while nightmares can affect both children and adults.
Common causes of night terrors and nightmares include:
- being very tired or unwell
- sudden noises at night or needing to pee during the night (which can affect your deep sleep)
- something that's frightened you (such as watching a scary film) or made you stressed, anxious or worried
They can also be caused by:
- taking certain medicines, such as antidepressants
- conditions that affect sleep, such as restless legs syndrome or sleep apnoea
- mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- conditions that affect the brain, such as dementia
Night terrors are more common in people with family members who have had night terrors or who sleepwalk.
See a GP if:
- your child has night terrors several times a night or has them most nights
- your child has lots of nightmares about the same thing
- you're having regular nightmares that are affecting your sleep and everyday life
For most people, night terrors and nightmares get better on their own.
If your child is having night terrors or nightmares, there are things you can try to help.
Treatment for nightmares in adults depends on what may be causing them.
If you're having nightmares caused by a traumatic event, a GP may recommend psychological treatment such as counselling.
If you have a condition that affects your sleep, treatment will usually involve trying to manage the condition better.