Q:

Old Hag Syndrome. Or Night terrors.

It happens to me, and it's terrifying every time.

I'm not an overly stressed person, my finances are good, my family is well, my relationships are healthy... the only thing I know I'm guilty of is suppressing negative emotion. I'm female, and I haven't cried for a long enough span of time that I can't remember the last time I did even when I felt like I needed to, I take aggravating situations calmly, perhaps too calmly and calculatingly. But for this I work out consistently 1-2 hours 6 days a week, and the exercise, along with some angry music, seems to take the edge off.

However, this night terror situation is bizarre, and I don't believe in the paranormal so I contribute it nothing to ghosts etc, but the feeling is straight out of a movie, the shaking bed, or being pulled from bed, static noises, being unable to speak, move, and labored breathing. But all while I feel I am perfectly awake and aware and believing the things I see and "think" I feel.

Is there a cure? Is this a phase? (It really has been only a year or so that this has happened regularly.)

Thank you

 

A:

Your symptoms could be due to other causes other than "night terrors" which in itself as many causes.  It is very important that you have this evaluated to make sure you don't have hormonal or metabolic imbalance or other issues that need treatment.  Typically we start with a good history and physical evaluation, lab work and then specialty consultation (generally a sleep study is in order) as needed.  Depending on your schedule this week, we have open appointments every day, or you can be seen at home over spring break.  You don't have to be trying to live with this!

~The Doc