night terror
"Night terrors" are sleep disturbances causing intense fear and physical reactions, mostly in children.
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Definition
C1Sleep Disorders
(medical, psychological)A sleep disturbance involving sudden episodes of intense fear, often accompanied by screaming and physical reactions, usually occurring during deep sleep.
Example
- The child experienced a night terror, waking up in a state of panic and screaming.
- Night terrors can be alarming for parents but are typically not harmful.
C2Parasomnia
(technical, medical)A type of parasomnia where the individual experiences sudden arousal from deep sleep with signs of panic, such as sweating and rapid heartbeat.
Example
- During a night terror, the person may appear awake but is actually in a state of mixed consciousness.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "night terror":