He's scaring me!

My 6 year old DS just woke up and came crying into the living room. He didn't really look like he was awake but he was hysterical so I thought that maybe he was still sleeping (I used to sleep walk at his age). He's been out here for 5-10 minutes and his eyes are still red and glossy, he's shaky, crying, and making no sense at all. He keeps looking around everywhere terrified. He was staring straight ahead and said "no I don't want to watch it! It'll give me nightmares!" and covered his eyes and started crying. I put him back to sleep on the couch with me and I got up to get something to drink and he immediately jumped up and was crying and begging me not to leave him. Do you think he's just out of it and having a bad dream or do you think it might be something else?

He might be having a bad nightmare and either A. He's still half asleep but seems awake or B. it scared him that bad.

My daughter used to get hysterical like that while sleeping when she was younger and I'm pretty sure it was night terrors

Sounds like a night terror. They suck but they do outgrow them.

It sounds like a night terror. Don't touch him, just let him be and put on some calming music, quietly remind him he is safe. But if it is a terror he'll wake up on his own. Trying to help will only make it worse. My son does it foe up to a half hour. When he's over tired usually.

Sounds like a night terror. My husband gets them and he does this kind of smurf.

It's so scary! He's done it once or twice before and I was terrified. I cried with him because he was just so distraught. But I will let him lay there and not bother him. Thank you all for your input!

Quoting *Tawni*:" It's so scary! He's done it once or twice before and I was terrified. I cried with him because he was just so distraught. But I will let him lay there and not bother him. Thank you all for your input!"

It is. My husband wakes up screaming at the top of his lungs. Like you would serioulsy think he was being stabbed or something then freaking out and getting up. Like part of me is waiting to be punched but he has never hurt anyone during a night terror and he communicates during it, not making sense most of the time but I can get him to tell me what he is seeing after he calms down a bit.

<blockquote><b>Quoting *Tawni*:</b>" It's so scary! He's done it once or twice before and I was terrified. I cried with him because he was just so distraught. But I will let him lay there and not bother him. Thank you all for your input!"</blockquote>




The first couple times I felt awful because I got beyond frustrated thinking he had woke up and was throwing a fit because he wanted to stay up. Now that I know how to deal with it, and I'm more prepared, iys a bit easier to deal wi th. It's very sad and scary ans all I want to do is hold him, comfort him, but I knoe better.

My fiance was the victim of severe child abuse. As a result he sometimes cries, screams, thrashes, and even says entire sentences in his sleep.
I just shake him until he is startled awake, because that is what he asked me to do in that situation.
Not sure about night terrors in children, but it sounds like some of the other ladies here have some experience and good advice to share.
Best of luck.

I have night terrors as well. It is the scariest thing on the face of the earth. Im not sure how to care for him but I do know that the more you make him feel safe with a security item such as a blanket or his favorite stuffed animal will help. My mom used to give me my blanket that I was attached to and rubbed my head to make me feel safe. Good luck and I'm sorry he is going through this. I know first hand how bad they are.