When a night terror begins, you'll appear to wake up. You might call out, cry, move around, or show other signs of fear and agitation. The episode can last a few minutes to as long as 30 to 40 minutes , though you typically don't wake up during it. Most people fall right back asleep after a night terror.

Are you asleep during night terrors?

Sleep terrors differ from nightmares. The dreamer of a nightmare wakes up from the dream and may remember details, but a person who has a sleep terror episode remains asleep.

What happens when you wake up from a night terror?

It's best not to try to wake kids during a night terror. This usually doesn't work, and kids who do wake are likely to be disoriented and confused, and may take longer to settle down and go back to sleep. There's no treatment for night terrors, but you can help prevent them.