Jamesith Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 So let's just say there's girl A who seems to have night terrors for the past week i think not to sure. But how does one go about helping or better understanding what their going through as a person who cares about them. It's really odd I thought only kids could have night terrors until i looked it up and adults could get them to. Any advice on this would be appreciated I need some insight to this.
Star Gazer Posted May 13, 2009 Posted May 13, 2009 Is this a recent occurrence, or something she does often? Recently, I've been having some very weird, physical dreams and sleeping on top of my BF while grasping on to him for dear life. He's been calling me his little spider monkey because of it. We're both hoping it's just a phase.
Author Jamesith Posted May 13, 2009 Author Posted May 13, 2009 she had told me it just started happening as of the week, I'm really worried for her. She's an amazing girl and in her case its (in her words) kinda serious. As what she told me scared the crap out of me.
Author Jamesith Posted May 13, 2009 Author Posted May 13, 2009 Ok so 2 days ago she tells me that she had another night terror and tells me she beat a girl up, after the girl pulled an axe on her, she pulls a butcher knife on her. Then they locked her in a closet with carbon monoxide like inside the damn thing. I seriously am scared for her safety and her well being. I texted her on how she slept last night and said it wasn't a normal night for her again. I'm so worried I wish I was a psychologist already that way I could better help others.
Author Jamesith Posted May 13, 2009 Author Posted May 13, 2009 Little update things have not settled down they still seem to happen to her, So I'm hoping that something positive happens to her. I'm really not to sure what all I can do since I live so far away. Anybody know of anything that could be of helpful insight cause right now I'm stressing out over seeing her this way.
Okfine Posted May 14, 2009 Posted May 14, 2009 What's happening in her waking life? Night terrors are often associate with high stress times or underlying anxiety that could be happening in her subconscious. I went through a phase of having night terrors it was at the tail end of an otherwise pretty harsh breakup, the stress and unceratainty was following me to my sleep. As day to day life often does.
Author Jamesith Posted May 14, 2009 Author Posted May 14, 2009 Well she's lived a military life all of her life since her dad is in the air force. She goes to bed around 12oclock, she's been one to get straight A's like or else she'll get in trouble with her parents. And I think the stress of school is getting to her, also she said she wanted a change of scenario but she's gonna get that soon since she's almost on break. Those are just things I know about her, do you think this could play a key role in it?
Odyssey Posted May 17, 2009 Posted May 17, 2009 I remember i used to have a lot of night terrors in my teens, but somehow grew out of it now. I tend to get them if i have lots of recurring nightmares - always the same theme, either I'm being chased, attacked or both. Being ill with a high fever can trigger one too. The only thing that really helped was not being stressed or over-think about day-to-day stuff, just before I went to bed. Most importantly, don't even think about whether a night terror will happen or not. But long term, people eventually grow out of it. I can't really remember when i stopped. Oh one more thing that helped me, was totally look at the situation differently: I'd said to myself that it's MY dream and I'm in control. If 'they' chase me? So what - I'm not gonna run for once and just confront 'them'. Actually, I'd stopped having night terrors since then. Hope this kinda makes sense.
Author Jamesith Posted May 18, 2009 Author Posted May 18, 2009 Actually Odyssey that made complete sense. Wow those are some very insightful things especially the whole part about your in control. I just recently found a forum on night terrors. And the things you brought up were triggers for having a terror and the 2 I can plainly see is stress, man she's stressing herself out now that its nearing finals being over. Another trigger I saw was sleeping way late at night. She sleeps around 1 in the morning, at first I thought well maybes she's scared to sleep but I haven't got around to asking her why. But a little update since I had just recently talked with her a couple of days and ago, she had told me she hasn't had a night terror in what 2-3 days. That's not including last night so I thought I'd share that with you guys. Oh Forgot to mention she's 19 if anyone was wondering how old she is.
Odyssey Posted May 22, 2009 Posted May 22, 2009 no problem. I'm glad to help. I'm going through a very stressful time right now too (got laid off work and girlfriend broke up with me at the same time, and worrying about money), but i haven't had any night terrors or even nightmares.
subdued Posted May 22, 2009 Posted May 22, 2009 I've had nightmares in which I've strangled someone. I have them, because I hold my anger in. You mentioned that your girlfriend gets in trouble with her parents if she doesn't get straight A's. That's a lot of pressure to put on someone. She could be repressing her feelings and acting out in her dreams. That's what I do sometimes--thus the nightmares. The getting locked in the closet with carbon monoxide represents the punishment she will get if she either doesn't get good grades or she expresses her anger over being under so much pressure.
Author Jamesith Posted May 23, 2009 Author Posted May 23, 2009 No see the getting locked in a closet with carbon monoxide in it was real, it happened when her roommate or someone locked her in there, after she pulled the axe on my friend and she pulled a butchers knife on her. So that's how that came about I hope that clears that up. It wasn't in her night terror. Yeah she has gotten straight A's all her life and not so sure about her college grades now. I know she's lived a tough life, and has always moved around within each year because of her parents being in the military. So idk if that could play also in this.
SpanksTheMonkey Posted May 23, 2009 Posted May 23, 2009 No see the getting locked in a closet with carbon monoxide in it was real, it happened when her roommate or someone locked her in there, after she pulled the axe on my friend and she pulled a butchers knife on her. So that's how that came about I hope that clears that up. It wasn't in her night terror. Yeah she has gotten straight A's all her life and not so sure about her college grades now. I know she's lived a tough life, and has always moved around within each year because of her parents being in the military. So idk if that could play also in this. She needs some counseling if shes pulling axes on people did I read that right? Far as the night terrors there very real Ive suffered them my hole life mine is were I wake up and see shadow people near me. It hasn't happened for a few years now thank god knock on wood it got so bad I was simply not sleeping. It can be upsetting or frighting for a partner to see it happen as it can also be quite animated. I use to jump out of bed screaming tell her to go talk to some one for sure....
Sibyl Vane Posted May 23, 2009 Posted May 23, 2009 I get them, I've woken up every day for the last month absolutely terrified. I used to get them when I was a kid, after my sibling died. I don't remember what they are about this time around though. She needs to see a therapist. She pulled an axe on someone?!
Author Jamesith Posted May 23, 2009 Author Posted May 23, 2009 Thanks for all the input guys, Sorry I didn't make it clear. (she being the night terror suffer) pulled the butchers knife after the girl ( roommate I suppose) pulled the axe on her. I suppose it was her roommate as she shares a dorm with other girls. Believe you and me, it's hard to say whether she will go or not. Her mom has tried to tell her to see a therapist but no luck because she had told me she didn't want to. It's hard as SpanksTheMonkey said to watch their partner go through this, to even hear it has just as much effect on me since she is the one girl in my life I'm closest to. I want to help her out in any way. Its just suggesting it in a way that won't come off as you really need help or else I can't be around you, you know what I mean?
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