Nightmares
Medical Author:
Kevin P Connelly, DO
Coauthor:
Jessica B Johnson
Medical Editor:
Anthony M Murro, MD
Medical Editor:
Mary L Windle, PharmD
Medical Editor:
Carmel Armon, MD, MHS, MSc
Nightmare IntroductionNightmares occur from time to time in many children, but they are most common in preschoolers (children aged 3-6 years) because this is the age at which normal fears develop and a child’s imagination is very active. Some studies estimate that as many as 50% of children aged 3-6 years have nightmares that disturb both their sleep and their parents' sleep. Nightmare disorder involves frightening or unpleasant dreams that disrupt the child's sleep on several occasions and cause distress or problems with everyday life. When children wake up because of a nightmare, they become aware of their surroundings and usually need comfort. As a result, these children often wake up their parents. |
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Nightmares
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) »
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Overview
According to the American Psychological Association, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is
- "an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, such as terrorist attacks, motor vehicle accidents, rape, physical and sexual abuse, and other crimes, or military combat."
PTSD is a problem in which your brain continues to react with nervousness after you have had a horrific trauma even though the original trauma is over. Our brains can react by staying in "overdrive" and being hyperalert to the next possible trauma. Sometimes you might continue to "remember" the trauma by having "flashbacks" about the event or nightmares even though the trauma is in the past. After a traumatic event, we can also become "numb...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape
Sleep Disorder: Nightmares »
Sleep disorders occur in 35-45% of children aged 2-18 years.
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