Question
When I was younger, around 15 or 16, I had my first night terror. They were extremely vivid and terrifying dreams, and during them I would actually get out of bed and try to escape by ANY means possible. These continued at least twice a week for several months before they disappeared on their own. I did take some sleeping pills (Ambien CR) to help, but stopped because they had some unwanted side affects. In the years to follow, I have had them a few time periodically, but I was always able to chalk it up to stress to explain them.
I am now a 21 year old male, active duty in the United States Navy as a Corpsman. I am currently undergoing a brief training phase where I feel relaxed and not under very much pressure. However, last night I had a night terror that embarrassed me in front of our whole platoon. Around 3:30 I woke up screaming bloody murder at the thought of being crushed alive by my rack (very similar to a scene in a movie I had seen the night before). Although it was embarrassing, the fact of the matter is that I can get kicked out of the Navy if it happens again and the wrong person hears about it. I must stop them.
I have been doing my own research on night terrors and have nothing to show for it. Everyone disagrees. Some say take sleeping pills, some say stay away. Some say to excessive, some say that is the worst thing to do. Please help me to understand the facts and maybe some ways to cure my self of this disorder.
Very Respectfully,
James
Answer
Usually one outgrows this however as an adult it usually can be a sleeping disorder, before you go to a sleep center. Try this 3 hours before bedtime stay away from caramel colored soda like coke and pepsi, ginger ale, root beer , tea, coffee, caffeine, chocolate and exercise all this make for restless sleep. l5 minutes before bedtime drink a glass of warm milk. Milk when heated contains tryptophan a natural amino acid sleep inducer. The sleep centers may prescribe antidepressants to hold back your rapid eye movement dreaming if its bothersome, you should get a note from the md to give to the navy explaining this is a disorder. feel free to email again, go to sleepnet.com click on disorders. if ambien cr worked for you, another one is lunesta, but i dont advise them as sleep pills are very psychologically dependent. feel free to email again, go to sleepnet.com click on disorders, sleep terrors, or pediatric sleep terrors. Have a happy and safe new year and thank you for protecting our country, god bless, karel
