Last night, the strangest thing happened. Eden, who has never done this before in this manner, woke up screaming at about 11:30pm. She was inconsolable when I went into her room. She shrieked when I touched her, kicked at me, yelled at me to alternatively come to her and then get away. I told her “Eden, it’s Mommy! Mommy’s here!”, thinking she was just still in her dream. I patted her face. I brought her to the bathroom thinking she had to go. She was screaming still, was not answering my questions of whether or not she was ill or in pain. I tried to do a holding technique to calm her but I was holding a wild animal. I just laid with her in her bed then,thinking I’ll just be with her through this. I was wondering if this might be how it feels to be home with a child who might be grieving and missing his home. But, as if she didn’t know me at all, she wanted nothing to do with me and bucked uncontrollably until I got up from her bed. I called Gary to come home as he was still at his office (Friday nights are super late nights due to weekend events.) Gary came home and it was still the same, though slightly better. Finally, he brought her downstairs to give her a drink thinking something in her belly would change the pattern. At last, he put her in front of the TV to watch cartoons at about 1am where from a distance, I watched her watching the TV like a zombie, until her eyes fluttered closed and she slept. This morning she woke up completely normally — her happy smiley and lovable mushy self.
Wow Stephanie, I can’t imagine what was going through your mind. Not sure what could have been bothering Eden. Hope this is a one time only problem. Did she remember what happened?
Wow Stephanie, I can’t imagine what was going through your mind. Not sure what could have been bothering Eden. Hope this is a one time only problem. Did she remember what happened?
yep, ozzie had night terrors for about a year, from age 2-3 ish. several times a week, in fact. we went to a sleep doctor and thankfully, most kids outgrow it. ozzie did. it also happens more often when children are exhausted, after a very busy day, perhaps also dehydrated. they are asleep, so they don’t see you as mommy, but as whatever is in the dream- a monster, or something. best thing to do is try to wake them or talk to them while they are sleeping, to get into their subconcious mind. it’s scary, but ozzie never once remembered a dream. i would say try not to get into the habit of turning the TV on for her, but yu can try to wake her, shake her, pat her hair, rub her back. sorry this happened… (((hugs)))
yep, ozzie had night terrors for about a year, from age 2-3 ish. several times a week, in fact. we went to a sleep doctor and thankfully, most kids outgrow it. ozzie did. it also happens more often when children are exhausted, after a very busy day, perhaps also dehydrated. they are asleep, so they don’t see you as mommy, but as whatever is in the dream- a monster, or something. best thing to do is try to wake them or talk to them while they are sleeping, to get into their subconcious mind. it’s scary, but ozzie never once remembered a dream. i would say try not to get into the habit of turning the TV on for her, but yu can try to wake her, shake her, pat her hair, rub her back. sorry this happened… (((hugs)))
yep, ozzie had night terrors for about a year, from age 2-3 ish. several times a week, in fact. we went to a sleep doctor and thankfully, most kids outgrow it. ozzie did. it also happens more often when children are exhausted, after a very busy day, perhaps also dehydrated. they are asleep, so they don’t see you as mommy, but as whatever is in the dream- a monster, or something. best thing to do is try to wake them or talk to them while they are sleeping, to get into their subconcious mind. it’s scary, but ozzie never once remembered a dream. i would say try not to get into the habit of turning the TV on for her, but yu can try to wake her, shake her, pat her hair, rub her back. sorry this happened… (((hugs)))
I had that happen to me only ONCE as a child but I was older than Eden (10-11 yrs old) and I remembered it the next day and forever… My experience was that I was having a really bad dream about snakes being all around me in the woods. When I was terrified in the dream I realized it was only a dream and that I should wake up but when I was semi-awake I was hallucinating and could SEE the seemingly LIVE, MOVING, snakes all around my bedroom even with the lights on. I had to get up and listen to the radio for 2-3 hrs before I could go back to sleep. It was AWFUL! I feel bad for Eden and any child who goes thru that experience.
I had that happen to me only ONCE as a child but I was older than Eden (10-11 yrs old) and I remembered it the next day and forever… My experience was that I was having a really bad dream about snakes being all around me in the woods. When I was terrified in the dream I realized it was only a dream and that I should wake up but when I was semi-awake I was hallucinating and could SEE the seemingly LIVE, MOVING, snakes all around my bedroom even with the lights on. I had to get up and listen to the radio for 2-3 hrs before I could go back to sleep. It was AWFUL! I feel bad for Eden and any child who goes thru that experience.
I had that happen to me only ONCE as a child but I was older than Eden (10-11 yrs old) and I remembered it the next day and forever… My experience was that I was having a really bad dream about snakes being all around me in the woods. When I was terrified in the dream I realized it was only a dream and that I should wake up but when I was semi-awake I was hallucinating and could SEE the seemingly LIVE, MOVING, snakes all around my bedroom even with the lights on. I had to get up and listen to the radio for 2-3 hrs before I could go back to sleep. It was AWFUL! I feel bad for Eden and any child who goes thru that experience.
Wow. That must have been so terrifying. I’ve read about night terrors, especially in adoption materials, but never seen it first hand- though your description was really vivid. Hopefully Eden is having sweeter dreams lately. And there you go- when all else fails, cartoons 🙂
Wow. That must have been so terrifying. I’ve read about night terrors, especially in adoption materials, but never seen it first hand- though your description was really vivid. Hopefully Eden is having sweeter dreams lately. And there you go- when all else fails, cartoons 🙂
Wow. That must have been so terrifying. I’ve read about night terrors, especially in adoption materials, but never seen it first hand- though your description was really vivid. Hopefully Eden is having sweeter dreams lately. And there you go- when all else fails, cartoons 🙂
You described exactly what Serena has been through. It’s happened to her 8 times in the past 18 months. The TV will usually distract her although it takes a while for her to calm down to get to that point. I just stay with her but without forcing myself on her. It’s been about 3 months since this has happened. I’m sure it won’t last. Serena is 28 months old.
You described exactly what Serena has been through. It’s happened to her 8 times in the past 18 months. The TV will usually distract her although it takes a while for her to calm down to get to that point. I just stay with her but without forcing myself on her. It’s been about 3 months since this has happened. I’m sure it won’t last. Serena is 28 months old.
You described exactly what Serena has been through. It’s happened to her 8 times in the past 18 months. The TV will usually distract her although it takes a while for her to calm down to get to that point. I just stay with her but without forcing myself on her. It’s been about 3 months since this has happened. I’m sure it won’t last. Serena is 28 months old.