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. Children usually don't remember anything about their sleep terrors in the morning. Adults may recall a dream fragment they had during the sleep terrors. Sleep terrors generally occur in the first third to first half of the night, and rarely during naps. A sleep terror may lead to sleepwalking. During a sleep terror episode, a person may:  Begin with a frightening scream or shout Sit up in bed and appear frightened Stare wide-eyed Sweat, breathe heavily, and have a racing pulse, flushed face and dilated pupils Kick and thrash Be hard to awaken, and be confused if awakened Be inconsolable Have no or little memory of the event the next morning Possibly, get out of bed and run around the house or have aggressive behavior if blocked or restrained  When to see a doctor Occasional sleep terrors aren't usually a cause for concern. If your child has sleep terrors, you can simply mention them at a routine well-child exam. However, consult your doctor if sleep terrors:  Become more frequent Routinely disrupt the sleep of the person with sleep terrors or other family members Lead to safety concerns or injury Result in daytime symptoms of excessive sleepiness or problems functioning Continue beyond the teen years or start in adulthood 
sleep terrors differ nightmares  dreamer nightmare wakes dream may remember details  person who sleep terror episode remains asleep  children don't remember sleep terrors morning  adults may recall dream fragment sleep terrors  sleep terrors generally occur first third first half night  rarely naps  sleep terror may lead sleepwalking  sleep terror episode  person may:  begin frightening scream shout sit bed frightened stare wide-eyed sweat  breathe heavily  racing pulse  flushed face dilated pupils kick thrash hard awaken  confused awakened inconsolable little memory event next morning possibly  bed run house aggressive behavior blocked restrained  see doctor occasional sleep terrors aren't cause concern  child sleep terrors  can simply mention routine well-child exam  however  consult doctor sleep terrors:  frequent routinely disrupt sleep person sleep terrors family members lead safety concerns injury result daytime symptoms excessive sleepiness problems functioning continue teen years start adulthood 
sleep terrors