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Uncontrolled behaviour during sleep
My daughter used to behave very weird during sleep. Some time it feels like she might had a bad dream. She screem and hit around her, slaying her arms and kicking. If she found me or anyone around her she hit continuously until the person get away from her. And she do not open her eyes means she is doing all this in sleep. The more we trying to calm her the more agressive she became. If we do not interfere her she calm down by herself after few minutes. But if we get into it she became uncontrollable. And by chance if she wake up she get frightened and start crying hugging me tightly. An year ago she used to behave like this sometimes but this thing is repeating again after an year approx. My mother instinct says that if we (family members) try to control her during day time, she is not able to express her resistance toward controlling behaviour of elders at this age. But this suppression of emotions comes out during sleep. Or may be something else..Please Help
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I acknowledge your worry and concern for your child, as a mother you can see your child's difficulty to deal with things and being a mother it becomes tough for you to help as well. There could be various reasons that are leading to this situation, it can be understood more rightly and deeply if you talk to a psychologist regarding your concerns and you find a solution to help your kid, do book a session for the same
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This sounds incredibly tough and your concern is completely valid. What you are describing seems like sleep terrors, where a child may scream, kick or seem scared while still asleep. They usually have no memory of it afterward.
Things to know and try:
Do not try to wake her during an episode, just ensure she is safe.
Emotional stress during the day, even if unspoken, can show up during sleep.
Keep bedtime calm and consistent.
Let her express herself during the day through drawing, free play or storytelling.
If the episodes are regular, try gently waking her about 15 minutes before the usual time it happens to break the cycle.
You are clearly in tune with her. A psychologist can help further
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Hi,
It sounds like your daughter's sleep behaviors are causing concern, and it's understandable to feel worried about her well-being. The actions you describeâscreaming, hitting, kicking, and not opening her eyesâmay be indicative of night terrors or episodes of intense dreaming rather than nightmares, which often occur during deep sleep and can cause children to react violently or seem distressed without fully waking. These episodes can be frightening for both the child and the family, especially since she becomes more agitated when approached. Your instinct that her daytime experiences might be affecting her sleep is insightful; children often process emotions and frustrations through their sleep behaviors, especially if they feel unable to express or resist controlling behaviors during the day. Itâs important to consult a pediatrician or a child sleep specialist to evaluate her sleep patterns and behavior in detail. They can help determine whether these episodes are night terrors, sleepwalking, or another sleep disorder, and provide strategies to ensure her safety and emotional comfort. Additionally, creating a calm bedtime routine, ensuring she feels secure, and encouraging her to express her feelings during the day can help reduce nighttime episodes. Professional guidance will be crucial to address her needs effectively and ensure her emotional and physical well-being.
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Hi, Consult a psychologist to find out the root cause
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It seems that she is undergoing psychological changes for sure.
It can be post traumatic phobia with other psychological issues.
It needs to be addressed asap otherwise it may get complicated.
It needs to be treated in a holistic approach for complete recovery.
It can be well treated with counseling sessions and homeopathic medicine effectively if required.
You need an expert Psychologist who is a good homeopathic physician.
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I have been working as a Homeopathic Psychiatrist and Counseling psychologist for the last 17 years. You can contact me through an online appointment for further assistance
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Ms. Rida E Noor
Counselling Psychologist
7 yrs exp
New Delhi
This could be due her feelings being restricted or misunderstood during waking hours.
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A psychological assessment is advised to understand any emotional or behavioral distress.
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Avoid waking her during that episode; ensure her environment is safe and try to create a consistent and calming bedtime routine.
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Mr. Gunjan Maithil
Psychologist
13 yrs exp
Bangalore
Hi...Try involving her in a sport or physical activity during the day time to channelize out all the nagative energy she might have accumulated. Also, try to be more accepting and encouraging towards her at this age. Kids at this age respond to how adults are dealing with them. If you let her be herself and be loving and accepting, she might reciprocate this feeling and feel secure. If this condition persists, you may visit a Pediatrician.
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Consult a Psychologist.
Parent/ Child Counselling is required.
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Mr. Gunjan Maithil
Senior Psychologist
Cell: nine six seven one three zero three one three four
Website: https://gunjanmaithil.wixsite.com/therapy
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Sanjana Purdhani
Psychologist
2 yrs exp
Delhi
From what you've described, it sounds like your daughter might be experiencing night terrors, which are different from nightmares. These episodes often occur in deep sleep and involve screaming, thrashing, and unresponsiveness to comfort. Theyâre typically not remembered by the child and may be worsened by emotional stress, suppressed feelings, or sleep disruptions. Your instinct about emotional suppression could be validâchildren often express what they can't put into words through behavior.
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Observe Patterns â Note if these episodes follow stressful days, overstimulation, lack of sleep, or emotional conflict. Avoid Interference During the Episode â Since trying to intervene increases aggression, allow her to ride it out safely unless sheâs at risk of harm. Create a Soothing Bedtime Routine â Gentle storytelling, dim lights, or calming music may help ease her mind before sleep. Emotion Coaching in the Daytime â Help her identify and name emotions ("Were you upset when grandma said no?" etc.) to give her healthy daytime outlets. Consult a Child Psychologist â A child therapist (such as someone from Soul Saveraâs child psychology team) can support emotional expression and sleep-related behaviors through play-based or emotion-focused approaches.
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Reassure her safety during the day without questioning her night behavior. Make time for one-on-one emotional connection where she feels heard. Avoid punishing or controlling language during the dayâoffer choices and allow space for her small decisions. Practice deep breathing or storytelling rituals at bedtime.
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Ms. Farheen Moulana
Psychologist
4 yrs exp
Bangalore
Please consider taking her to therapy where she can open up to a psychologist and talk about her fears and phobias. She need to speak out about these fears to a therapist who can treat her without any judgement and assure safely and confidentiality.
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Ms. Smriti
Counselling Psychologist
18 yrs exp
Bangalore
Thank you for sharing your concerns in such detail. Based on your description, the behavior observed during sleep—aggression without waking, intense emotional reactions, and episodes that subside without interference—could be suggestive of a condition known as sleep terrors (or night terrors). These are a type of parasomnia typically seen in children but can also affect some individuals at other ages. During a sleep terror episode, the individual may appear awake but is actually in a deep state of non-REM sleep and is usually unaware of their surroundings.
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Ms. Rizwana Parvin T M
Counselling Psychologist
7 yrs exp
Coimbatore
She needs therapy, take her to a counsellor
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