Nightmares vs. Night Terrors

What is the difference between a nightmare and a night terror?

A nightmare is a scary or terrifying dream. It usually occurs in the later half of sleep and upon awakening you or your child will be able to recall what the dream was about.

Night terrors are also scary or terrifying dreams. However, night terrors usually occur in deep sleep and you or your child may be difficult to wake up from these dreams. Upon awakening, you or your child will not be able to recall what the dream was about.

Nightmares and night terrors are most common in children, though some adults continue to experience these scary dreams. Please see the post below on how to comfort yourself after having a nightmare.

Comforting Yourself After a Nightmare

I know that children tend to get nightmares more often than adults do, but many adults still get nightmares occasionally.

Here are some ideas you can use to comfort yourself when you wake up from a nightmare because no matter what age you are nightmares are quite disturbing and distressing.

1. If you have a cat or dog, pet him or her. He or she can be very grounding.

2. If you need to talk about your nightmare and have a partner or spouse who is supportive, you may want to wake him or her up to discuss your nightmare. Alternatively, you can write down the details of your dream to get them out of your head.

3. Get up and have a drink of water.

4. Read something soothing, such as the Bible if you are a Christian.

5. Concentrate on your surroundings in order to remind yourself where you are.