Putting Scary Dreams To Bed

Two local experts help unpack nightmare facts and explain how to make nights less frightening for kids

- Malia Jacobson

“But I can’t sleep. I just had a nightmare.”

When your pajama-clad child pads into your bedroom after another bout with the boogeyman, take heart: Nightmares are a near-universal childhood experience, and having intense, frightening dreams isn’t necessarily a sign that something’s wrong. But since these dreams can disrupt slumber — sometimes for the entire family — its worthwhile to try and minimize their intensity, frequency and negative impact on sleep.

Here’s expert advice on ending night frights from two licensed Charlotte psychologists who help children and adolescents struggling with nightmares and insomnia: Kristin L. Daley, PhD, of Southeast Psych, and Lisa Seropian, Psy.D, who runs a private practice working with children and adults.

Are there certain life events or developmental stages that make nightmares more likely?

“The majority of adults report having experienced a memorable nightmare at some point in their childhood, and nightmares are most common between the ages of 5 to 11,” Daley says. “Some research suggests that creative individuals may be experience more nightmares. Psychological distress is the most common trigger for nightmares, but this doesn’t mean that you should fear that your child has been through trauma if they have a nightmare. However, it may be helpful explore with them whether or not they have been feeling any increases in stress.”

What’s the difference between nightmares and night terrors?