Psychology is a broad range of ideas and theories in attempt to understand natural human and non human behaviour. Here on this blog I will post ideas of psychology, anecdotal experiences (non client related) and news relative to the world we live in. Writing is also therapeutic for me so I will be using this blog as a creative space to explore experiences and ideas.
First topic as it happens are night terrors. The night after a big bump to his head, my 8yo son began the experience of night terrors. These are episodes of heightened fear and flight reaction when the child is asleep, and usually within the first sleep cycle after they have fallen asleep for the evening. The flight reaction is in full swing, with rapid heart rate and the body running up and down the hallways, voice shrill and crying out, searching for safety or as my son would say, "I can't do it". The eyes can be opened or closed.
As one can imagine this is highly distressing for parents, siblings or other carers to witness. The immediate response in the parent to is to get close to calm their child down, however the child reacts to this with further flight response, completely unaware that their parent is infront of them. This then creates pressure and urgency in the parent to find another way, such as restraint, which is only further anxiety provoking. It takes time for the parent to learn to calm their neuro-system and be patient and wait for the episode to end. The child has no memory of the event, however I often wonder if there is a correlation with anxiety sensitivity and childhood night terrors.
It has almost been a year since hitting his head against the glass door, and the commencement of night terrors. The frequency and intensity in this case have dropped to about only once a week compared to nightly, and lasting for 1 minute of disturbance. Hope is on the horizon.
More info on night terrors can be found here https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Night_Terrors_night_time_wakings/www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Night_Terrors_night_time_wakings/
First topic as it happens are night terrors. The night after a big bump to his head, my 8yo son began the experience of night terrors. These are episodes of heightened fear and flight reaction when the child is asleep, and usually within the first sleep cycle after they have fallen asleep for the evening. The flight reaction is in full swing, with rapid heart rate and the body running up and down the hallways, voice shrill and crying out, searching for safety or as my son would say, "I can't do it". The eyes can be opened or closed.
As one can imagine this is highly distressing for parents, siblings or other carers to witness. The immediate response in the parent to is to get close to calm their child down, however the child reacts to this with further flight response, completely unaware that their parent is infront of them. This then creates pressure and urgency in the parent to find another way, such as restraint, which is only further anxiety provoking. It takes time for the parent to learn to calm their neuro-system and be patient and wait for the episode to end. The child has no memory of the event, however I often wonder if there is a correlation with anxiety sensitivity and childhood night terrors.
It has almost been a year since hitting his head against the glass door, and the commencement of night terrors. The frequency and intensity in this case have dropped to about only once a week compared to nightly, and lasting for 1 minute of disturbance. Hope is on the horizon.
More info on night terrors can be found here https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Night_Terrors_night_time_wakings/www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Night_Terrors_night_time_wakings/
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