Cause 8: Night Terrors
Night terrors aren’t just nightmares. They’re an intense sleep disturbance that can make horror movies look like child’s play. Picture this: someone suddenly sits upright, eyes wide open with fear, possibly letting out a scream, but they’re not truly awake. And when morning dawns, they have no memory of the episode. Spooky, right? This jarring interruption, though brief, shakes the core of peaceful sleep, making one susceptible to sleepwalking.
While both nightmares and night terrors can cause distress, there’s a stark difference. Nightmares occur during REM sleep and can be recalled, albeit reluctantly. Night terrors, on the other hand, occur during non-REM sleep, leaving no trace in the sleeper’s memory. This deep disturbance in the non-REM phase, especially if recurrent, can lead to instances of noctambulism.
The brain is a marvelous, complex organ, and it’s at the center of the night terror phenomenon. When transitioning between sleep stages, the brain can get ‘caught’ between deep sleep and a lighter phase, resulting in these terrifying episodes. Coupled with other factors, such as stress or sleep deprivation, it becomes a recipe for not just terrors but also sleepwalking.
While the root cause might be the brain’s intricate processes, external factors can exacerbate night terrors. Fever, medications, and even a late bedtime can be culprits. It’s essential to identify and manage these triggers. Because when night terrors are at bay, so is the likelihood of sleepwalking. (8)
