Adult night terrors- why don't the doctors listen?

butler_helen

Does anyone else suffer from a sleep disorder? I'm struggling to get a doctor to take it seriously now I am over 18. When things get even slightly stressed at work, I end up getting more stressed because I spend all night either paralysed or having terrors (i.e. no quality sleep for days on end).

The doctor seems to think I can just go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day - it makes little difference.

I'm not sure what I want them to do but the internet says that counciling could help... but the doctor won't refer me until they're really bad... but they have pretty much always been the same and will always range between 'quite bad' and 'really bad' until treated - is that quite bad not bad enough? they're now driving me nuts, I'm so tired and eventually my work will be affected. Surely I don't need to be falling asleep at work before someone will listen?

I've been googling and found quite a bit of information but nothing which I haven't already tried. So I thought I'd ask the millions of people to read MSE.

If anyone is wondering what a terror is like - put 'night terror' into youtube... tis scary and you can't even see what the sleeper is seeing!

whitewing

My DH has nightmares when he is stressed (only sign that he is stressed usually) and it really startles me. I know it's not quite the same.

The trouble with stuff that other people can't experience with you is it is hard to communicate.

Can you jot down exactly what is happening and what the impact on you is? Then take that to the doctor?

I will look and see if I can find another thread that I read recently which may help give you an idea of the level of detail - it wasn't about night terrors though.

Torry_Quine

Don't have an answer but know only too well what they are like as my husband has had these though thankfully not recently. He has been screaming in abject terror and thinks that all kinds of things are really happening. On occassions he has thumped me and even been strangling me as it's not me he sees!! The only advice from the doctor was to sleep apart.

I would suggest going back to your GP or even another one in the practice as you need help. Counselling is definately a possibiity as stress is a factor. Hope you get the help you need

butler_helen

That'd be useful, as to be honest I am sick of each doctor dismissing it... I don't think sleep disorders are widely known about. Which is frustrating, especially as you can't see it.

Whitewing- nightmares can be very scary and probably very scary for you to see your child distressed, I'm 24 and can still terrifiy my OH and mum!

butler_helen

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Don't have an answer but know only too well what they are like as my husband has had these though thankfully not recently. He has been screaming in abject terror and thinks that all kinds of things are really happening. On occassions he has thumped me and even been strangling me as it's not me he sees!! The only advice from the doctor was to sleep apart.

I would suggest going back to your GP or even another one in the practice as you need help. Counselling is definately a possibiity as stress is a factor. Hope you get the help you need

Ahhh mine haven't been bad enough that I've attacked my OH (yet). However the cat has had it a few times... because he doesn't understand that I'm not 'awake' and I'm not 'playing'.

Sleeping apart shouldn't be the answer - did you get one in the end or was it luck? I get some weeks with none and others where they're constant.

poet123

Can you not ask to be referred to a sleep disorder clinic?

mrbrightside842

I have a weird one, which I don't really tell people about because it sounds weird! But if I wake up during the night, which I often do, I get some sort of paralysis. It only last for a maximum of 2 minutes, but I'm completely unable to move during it. And I can hear a high pitched ringing during it. No idea what it is! I used to be scared of it, but am used to it now and know it will pass.

whitewing

Here we are - see post 11 by Hannah_10. It's a different disorder for a different purpose but you may find it useful. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2593165

(It's my husband, not my child, which is better in a way but usually feels bad as if it happens it's because I've been putting pressure on him rather than helping him de-stress)

PasturesNew

There was a telly programme about that, about 2 years ago. From memory (which can be flakey), I think there's a sleep disorder unit that is trying to find an answer, based in (maybe) Papworth Everard (or thereabouts), Cambridgeshire.

People on the programme slept there and were videod and they take all these readings from sensors stuck onto you.

Edit: Memory not as flakey as I thought... here it is:

Our Respiratory Support & Sleep Centre (RSSC) was recently featured in the highly successful BBC documentary series "Sleep Clinic".

Source: http://www.papworthhospital.nhs.uk/content.php?/our_services/

poet123

That was what I was thinking about too.

butler_helen

PasturesNew wrote: »

There was a telly programme about that, about 2 years ago. From memory (which can be flakey), I think there's a sleep disorder unit that is trying to find an answer, based in (maybe) Papworth Everard (or thereabouts), Cambridgeshire.

People on the programme slept there and were videod and they take all these readings from sensors stuck onto you.

Sadly (as I can't get that treatment) they're not regular enough.

I remember 90% of them, which is disturbing as I know that I am seeing things, but they're there, therefore I'm not seeing things, as they're there then I am right... but as I wake up I realise it's all in my head. However, it then happens again once I've tried to go to sleep again- this can go on all night, every night for weeks, then go away for a month. Then it can come back for two weeks, then go away for a week, then come back. (Obviously I've missed that the 'seeing things' is accompanied by crying, screaming, kicking and insisting that the house looks like a baleesha beacon).

I will google the telly programme

Mrbrightside - I only get the paralysis when I am extremely tired, so tired that I cannot keep my eyes open... then I end up 'trapped' and it can last hours... I only know they last hours because I got it on a coach trip back from france once and was physically unable to get out for the toilet stop and my friends thought I was being 'lazy'.