What Causes Nightmares and Night Terrors?
Although the exact cause of night terrors, nightmares and other sleep disturbances, is not understood, they are thought to be a result of waking up during a certain stage of the normal sleep cycle. Night terrors occur during the Stage 4 or non-REM sleep period. Nightmares, on the other hand, occur during another stage or during REM sleep. Do Nightmares and Night Terrors Ever Stop? Night terrors are generally infrequent and usually stop on their own without specific treatment. In rare cases where night terrors are frequent and/or associated with sleep walking, specific medications may be required. This occurs very rarely. Happily, most children outgrow both nightmares and night terrors.
