Sleep Terror: Waking Up Yelling And Screaming

Waking up yelling during sleep can be a symptom of a parasomnia, a disruptive sleep disorder that affects your behaviour and causes abnormal experiences during sleep. One type of parasomnia is a night terror, which is when you partially wake up and experience fear and panic symptoms. Night terrors are more common in children and can be caused by fever, sleep deprivation, stress, or alcohol consumption. They usually don't require treatment unless they happen frequently and affect your quality of sleep. Another type of parasomnia is confusional arousal, where sleepers wake up in a state of extreme confusion and may cry or mumble. Nightmare disorder is also a parasomnia where vivid dreams cause feelings of fear and terror, and you are able to recall the dream in detail when you wake up.

Night terrors, a sleep disorder, are a common cause of waking up screaming

The exact cause of night terrors is unknown, but they are believed to be influenced by various factors. They tend to run in families, suggesting a genetic predisposition. Night terrors are also more likely to occur during periods of illness, sleep deprivation, excessive physical activity, emotional conflict, and heightened stress. Consumption of alcohol and caffeine close to bedtime can also trigger night terror episodes. Additionally, underlying health issues, such as head injuries, thyroid problems, encephalitis, or certain medications, may increase the risk of experiencing night terrors.

It is important to note that people experiencing night terrors are not fully conscious and may be difficult to wake up. Efforts to console or restrain them may be ineffective and even dangerous. Instead, gently guiding them back to bed and speaking calmly can help soothe them. While night terrors usually resolve on their own and are generally harmless, frequent episodes that interfere with sleep quality or cause safety concerns should be addressed by a healthcare provider.

If night terrors are affecting you or your child's sleep or causing distress, it is recommended to seek professional help. Treatment options may include addressing underlying conditions, stress management techniques, or therapy to cope with emotional triggers. In some cases, a sleep study may be recommended to rule out other serious sleep disorders or underlying medical conditions.

While night terrors can be distressing for both the affected individual and their loved ones, they are treatable, and with proper management, it is possible to reduce their occurrence and improve sleep quality.

Sleep paralysis can cause you to wake up unable to move your body

Waking up yelling could be a sign of night terrors, a sleep disorder that is more common in children but rare in adults. It could also be caused by sleep paralysis, which is when you wake up but are unable to move your body. Sleep paralysis occurs when your body is in between stages of sleep and wakefulness, and it can be a frightening experience.

Sleep Paralysis

Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It happens when your body is transitioning between wakefulness and sleep, and your mind and body are out of sync. During sleep paralysis, you may be aware of your surroundings, but you cannot move or speak. You may also experience hallucinations, feelings of suffocation, or a racing heart rate. Episodes usually last a few seconds to a few minutes, and you will wake up naturally as the occurrence passes with time.

Causes of Sleep Paralysis

The exact causes of sleep paralysis are not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycle. During REM sleep, your brain normally paralyzes your muscles to prevent you from acting out your dreams. However, during sleep paralysis, your mind is awake or half-awake, and you become aware that you cannot move. Sleep paralysis may be caused by a disturbed REM cycle, stress, or disrupted sleep schedules. It is also believed to have a genetic component and is more common in people with varying sleep schedules.

Managing Sleep Paralysis

While there is no treatment or proven way to stop a sleep paralysis episode once it starts, there are techniques to help you manage the condition and reduce its frequency. Improving your sleep quality by maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and practicing relaxation techniques before bed can help lower your risk of experiencing sleep paralysis. Additionally, during an episode, focusing on moving one body part at a time, such as wiggling your fingers or toes, may help you regain control over your body.

Parasomnias are disruptive sleep behaviours that can cause you to yell in your sleep

Waking up yelling could be a sign of parasomnia, a disruptive sleep disorder that affects your behaviour or experiences during sleep. Parasomnias can occur while falling asleep, during sleep, or upon waking up. They can be verbal or physical and can cause you to walk, talk, or make physical movements while acting out a dream.

There are three main categories of parasomnias, defined by the stage of sleep in which they occur. The first is non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep, which includes the first three stages of sleep, from falling asleep to the first half of the night. Non-REM sleep parasomnias involve physical and verbal activity. The second is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which follows the three non-REM stages. REM sleep is characterised by rapid eye movement, increased heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, and vivid dreaming. Parasomnias that occur during REM sleep are more likely to result in verbalisations or acting out dreams. The third category includes parasomnias that do not fit into either the non-REM or REM sleep phases.

One type of parasomnia is sleep terror, which involves waking up suddenly in a state of fear and can include screaming or crying. Sleep terrors usually last for a brief period, about 30 seconds, but can last up to a few minutes. They are more common in children and tend to decrease with age. Another type of parasomnia is confusional arousal, where one wakes up feeling confused and disoriented. Episodes can last from a few minutes to hours and are common in children.

Parasomnias can be caused by various factors, including sleep deprivation, stress, anxiety, negative life events, irregular sleep schedules, and certain medical conditions. They can also be linked to psychiatric disorders such as depression, PTSD, and anxiety, as well as neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and dementia. While parasomnias are usually not harmful, they can be disturbing and disruptive to one's sleep and daily life. If parasomnias are causing significant distress or impacting daytime activities, it is recommended to seek help from a healthcare provider.

Nightmares can cause you to wake up feeling anxious and upset

Waking up yelling during sleep can be a result of nightmares or night terrors. Night terrors are a kind of sleep disorder that is common in children but rare in adults. Night terrors are usually not recalled by the person experiencing them and are often mistaken for nightmares. However, people with nightmares usually wake up during the dream and are able to describe the dream in detail.

Nightmares are vivid dreams that cause feelings of fear, terror, and anxiety. They can cause you to wake up during the dream, and you may be able to describe the dream in detail. It can be challenging to fall back asleep after a nightmare. Nightmares usually occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, in the last few hours of the night. They can happen to anyone at any age, with about 50% of children and a majority of adults experiencing them. While nightmares are occasional occurrences for most people, about 20% of children and 2-6% of adults have frequent nightmares.

Stress and trauma are known triggers for nightmares. If nightmares negatively affect an individual's mental health, relationships, or ability to function, they may be diagnosed with a condition called nightmare disorder. People with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) may physically act out their dreams, making aggressive movements or vocalizations. RBD is more common in adults and individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.

If nightmares are causing distress or disrupting your sleep, it may be helpful to speak with a healthcare provider or a therapist. They can provide support and guidance to manage nightmares and improve sleep quality.

Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis can cause you to wake up paralysed and unable to move

Waking up yelling could be a sign of a parasomnia—a disruptive sleep disorder. One common parasomnia is a night terror, which is more common in children but can occur in adults, especially if they are working through trauma or another emotional upset. Night terrors usually happen in non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when you are in a state between dreaming and waking. People who experience night terrors are not fully conscious when they happen and don't usually remember them taking place.

Another parasomnia that could cause someone to wake up yelling is REM sleep behaviour disorder (RSBD). With RSBD, you act out, vocalize (talk, swear, laugh, shout) or make aggressive movements (punching, kicking, grabbing) as a reaction to a violent dream. This sleep disorder is more common among adults and people with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, or multiple system atrophy.

Frequently asked questions