Terror in the night!

The fantasy of children, sometimes tends to make them spend bad times. An example are the night fears, that appear just when it's time to go to bed, almost always accompanied by anxiety or anxiety.

 

These fantastic fears are very common during childhood. They are usually presented between two and ten years of age, and are part of the growth of any child. In this sense, the suggestion is that parents are as informed as possible about the probable causes that originate them, "says the psychologist Lía Iñiguez, from the National Institute of Pediatrics (INP).

 

Terror in the night!

The specialist says that sometimes, fear is presented by something they saw on television or in a movie, and that made a strong impression:

 

It is likely that the observed images have caused an intense negative emotion. This is recorded in his mind in such a way that when it comes time to sleep and the possibility of being in the dark, this emotion invades them again and therefore, the images that impressed them so much appear again in their thought ”.

This mechanism, is part of the fear of the darkness that some manifest before going to bed, so they do not want to be left alone, for any reason, and they have a hard time falling asleep.

Although the absence of a peaceful sleep that allows them to really rest, can bring as a consequence an imbalance that is reflected in diseases, and symptoms such as bad mood, nervousness, lack of appetite, headaches and low energy, among others.

In order to respond to the problem and help the children to recover a peaceful and restful sleep, it is necessary to open communication channels, so that children freely express what they fear.

 

How can you help?

The psychologist Lía Iñiguez explains that by showing interest and respect for what they say, will help them to feel confident, and their parents to know how to intervene.

One way to convey security, is to reiterate that they are not alone. In addition, he recommends taking care not to fall into overprotective behaviors, as this can weaken them, when what is intended is the opposite.

There are some specific actions that serve to relax them, such as taking deep breaths together, giving them a warm water bath before going to sleep, allowing them to embrace a "Good friend stuffed" to be accompanied or to light a night light in your room.

It is also suggested to avoid as much as possible, sleeping in the same bed of their parents, this is not healthy for anyone.

It is important to provide the child with a safe environment, since this will depend on his sleep being restful and calm, which entails maintaining a good state of health; For this reason, help him to face his nightly fears.