Nightmares and adhd

Elizabeth - posted on 10/15/2012

My son has ADHD and he also has these kinds of nightmares. He would walk and talk and sometimes even yell. He is doing better now but when he was younger, we would sit up with him for 30 minutes to an hour trying to calm him enough to lie back down. He would seem terrified and would not let us hold him. He hardly ever remembered a thing when he woke up the next morning. He even wanted us to video him so he could see what he was doing. Of course video is the last thing you think of at the time.



My daughter has ADHD also and had problems sleeping from an early age. She would stay up for weeks and then crash. When she did sleep she would sleep walk a lot. Once she almost walked off of her bed. Another time she opened our front door in her sleep. Her sleep walking and sleep cycle got better when she started ADHD medications but now she has nightmares (she is a teenager now).



My son seemed to have more problems around 6 to 9 years old and has gotten better. He has changed medicines several times. It seems like they both did better while on Concerta, but it started causing my daughter anxiety and she had to change meds. My son is on Concerta now and doing better. He also takes Clonadine on nights he can't get to sleep. We have tried Melatonin with my daughter and it helps her get to sleep but doesn't help with the nightmares, which is her worst problems. They wake her up and her heart is racing and she can't get back to sleep.



I say all of that to make the point that, both of my children have ADHD and both have sleep problems. Doctors seem to blame it on the medications but they both had problems before they were even diagnosed much less taking meds. It is the same with my husband. He has ADD and has problems sleeping while on or off his medication. It makes for a lot of tired, ill and frustrated people when no one can get good sleep. Each person is unique and you just have to go through the process of elimination to find some relief. I don't know if the problems your son has means he has ADHD but I do believe it is the cause of the problems my children and husband have. The other issues your son has like not being able to sit still but doing great on the computer or puzzles sounds exactly like my son. You should definitely mention it to your son's doctor or therapist.

Aimee - posted on 03/12/2009

Quoting Teri:

Quoting Kathy:

Hi 

yes sounds like night terrors.. My son had them at age 4.. It was very scary..He would sit bolt upright eyes wide opening screaming.. I just read on here that they are associated with ADD?  I did not know that.. He was diagnosed at age 11 with that.  Ya learn something new everyday.. My DR. did advise that the terrors would pass but also not to wake the child, as they would be frightened by the circumstances.. (out of bed, in another room)  He said talk softly and direct them back to bed or back to sleep and they have no recollection..

My 15DD was diagnoses several years ago, she was my night terror baby. Also, yes what your DR said is what I was told too. Oh it was hard. It did pass thank goodness.

My son, who has ADHD had night terrors at the age of 5. His Dr did tell us not to wake him but to speak softly to him and comfort him quietly. When my son was a baby he was very ill and I would sing to him while I held him then.... so I tried this with the night terrors. At first I thought I was crazy up every night at 1am singing softly to my son who was not awake but screaming. I did not think he could even hear me over his screams.... but it helped every time. I sang songs he knew softly until he relaxed and laid back down. It did pass after a few months (thankfully). Hopefully this helps you.

Maribeth - posted on 03/12/2009

My son who is 8 now will just about every nite screaming somethings I cant understand. He will sometimes get up and walk around and then pee wherever he stops at . My son wont remeber it either when I ask him about it.

Amy - posted on 03/10/2009

My Son is Five and he Has ADHD and Also Suffers From Night Terrors. His Doctor said that they are of no Concern but not to wake him. I also Was told that sleep disorders are hereditary, so I started Checking around and all of his cousins have suffered or are currently suffering from them and His Grandpa Suffers from them.

Tonya - posted on 03/10/2009

I have 2 children - 14 year old Girl with ADD and an 8 year old Son with ADHD - My son has been on ADHD meds since he was 4 1/2 and has always had bad dreams and has shouted out but doesn't remember anything in the morning. Also, lately he has been sleep walking but doesn't remember a thing in te morning. Is this normal? We have an appointment with the ADHD Dr. Next week - just wondering if anyone else as already been thru this and if this is normal for ADHD kids that are being medicated for it. My daughter has never had nightmares or had issues with sleep walking...

Teri - posted on 03/02/2009

Quoting Kathy:

Hi 

yes sounds like night terrors.. My son had them at age 4.. It was very scary..He would sit bolt upright eyes wide opening screaming.. I just read on here that they are associated with ADD?  I did not know that.. He was diagnosed at age 11 with that.  Ya learn something new everyday.. My DR. did advise that the terrors would pass but also not to wake the child, as they would be frightened by the circumstances.. (out of bed, in another room)  He said talk softly and direct them back to bed or back to sleep and they have no recollection..

My 15DD was diagnoses several years ago, she was my night terror baby. Also, yes what your DR said is what I was told too. Oh it was hard. It did pass thank goodness.

Kathy - posted on 03/02/2009

Hi 

yes sounds like night terrors.. My son had them at age 4.. It was very scary..He would sit bolt upright eyes wide opening screaming.. I just read on here that they are associated with ADD?  I did not know that.. He was diagnosed at age 11 with that.  Ya learn something new everyday.. My DR. did advise that the terrors would pass but also not to wake the child, as they would be frightened by the circumstances.. (out of bed, in another room)  He said talk softly and direct them back to bed or back to sleep and they have no recollection..

Chrissie - posted on 03/02/2009

cheers for your info, kindy thought it was night terrors just wanted 2 know if other mums out there have experienced the same with their kids, luckly his is not 2 severe think it just depends how much his brain has been active during the day.

Teri - posted on 03/01/2009

Sounds like night terrors! They are the worst to have in my opinion. They kids look and sound alert but they are not. They dont remember them, they can be violent, throw object etc act  like a tantrum. Night terrors can be a trait of ADHD and toteh things. My daughter had these when she was younger it was scary and nobody beieve me until my MIL video recorded her. I audio taped her for the DR to hear.Sleep walking can be in it as well, but she didnt do it that much 1 or 2times. Nigh terrors  can be a pattern happening around the same time of night. Gosh all you can do is lt them go through it, it can be dangerous though. I tried lots of things before  Ifound out what was going on. I can go on with more experienced detail but this may or amy not help you. Good luck. :)

Chrissie - posted on 03/01/2009

It sure is my son came home with pupil of the week, never thought that would happen lol, hes doing really good at school the now

Donna - posted on 02/18/2009

Your welcome Chrissie! It is very nice to read all these posts and see that we are not alone in our experiences! I am learning a lot too! Good luck again with your son, from what you said, the OT seems like a very good outlet for your son. Take care.

Chrissie - posted on 02/18/2009

Hi thanks donna, luckily he doesnt sleepwalk n when it does happen he just sits up on the bed and its normally after a hour in bed, he attends OT therapy and we have been getting some home activities which we normally do 1 hour before bedtime which consists of crab walks, comando crawls, chair sit ups and this seems 2 have a calming effect on him so lately we have not had any. Its nice 2 know that other parents have experienced the same problems with the nightmares, and any advise given i will take on board, many thanks again for takin time out to comment

Donna - posted on 02/17/2009

Hi Chrissie,

My son is 11, but I remember when he was around your son's age, whenever he was stressed out, he would have nightmares and cry out. I would find him sitting up in bed shaking. Sometimes he would sleepwalk too, I would hear something downstairs (I am a very light sleeper) and go look and there he was. Alert as can be - but he was sleeping. I always would walk him to the bathroom to relieve himself and then back to bed where he would lie down and instantanously be sleeping! Perhaps some quiet time before bed (no TV, videogames etc) a bedtime story would help. I also used to sit and talk quietly with my son, in the dark, for 10-15 minutes and stroke his hair. I think that soothed, and relaxed him somewhat. Good luck!

Chrissie - posted on 02/16/2009

thanks molly yeah my son justs shouts no no no its a shame for the wee souls not had any recently touch wood lol

Molly - posted on 02/15/2009

I believe this is the same thing that my step-daughter is aflicted with. They are called night terrors. Gabby will scream terrifying things like 'no' 'stop touching me' 'get out of here' At first we were concerned she was being molested. We would wake her and ask her what she was dreaming and she wouldn't recall. The scary thing is she sounds so alert! She also has had an issue un the past with sleep walking and relieving herself in various parts of the house. The Dr. says there is nothing to be concerned about. Hope this settles your nerves a bit!



Molly