Nightmares
Night Terrors
We Conquer Together provides care for individuals who navigate night terrors and nightmares. Our support team in Yorba Linda understands how these events disrupt your well-being and your ability to rest. We offer a purpose-built facility where you can find safety and support while you address the roots of your distress.
Our clinicians use interventions like trauma therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help you manage these conditions. We provide a setting that respects your history and your goals for healing. Individuals in our care receive a plan that targets the physical and emotional aspects of their sleep disorders.
A nightmare and a night terror differ in timing and in how the brain reacts during rest. Nightmares occur during the rem sleep phase of the night and often involve images that you remember upon waking. You might feel a sense of anxiety or fear that lingers after the dream ends. These events allow a person to wake up and find comfort from their surroundings.
Night terrors – or sleep terrors – happen during the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stages of the night. This is a period of deep sleep where the body is hard to wake. A person might shout or jump out of bed without a memory of why the event occurred. This disorder of arousal leaves family members in a state of worry while the individual remains in a state of sleep.
The body shows signs of distress during a parasomnia event that signal the nervous system is in a state of alert. Our support team helps you recognize these reactions to understand the impact on your system. These signs warn that the transition between sleep stages is being disrupted by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The following signs often accompany an episode:
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Various elements in your routine and your health can act as triggers for night terrors in adults. Sleep deprivation is a primary factor because a lack of rest makes the brain vulnerable to a disorder of arousal. When the body is exhausted – it struggles to move through the sleep cycle correctly. Fever and illness also change the way the brain transitions into slow-wave sleep.
Substances like caffeine and alcohol interfere with the ability of the system to find rest. While alcohol might help a person fall asleep – it prevents the brain from staying in a state of deep sleep. This disruption leads to more frequent episodes of adult night terrors and nightmares. A person might also notice that their antidepressants or sedatives impact their dreams and their daytime sleepiness.
A lack of rest prevents the brain from processing the events of the day and managing emotions. When you live with sleep deprivation – you face a higher risk of depression and anxiety. The table below shows how different conditions impact the quality of rest for individuals.
| Condition | Impact On Sleep | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Obstructive Sleep Apnea | Breathing pauses | Frequent waking |
| Restless Legs Syndrome | Limb movement | Difficulty falling asleep |
| Periodic Limb Movement Disorder | Involuntary jerking | Interrupted deep sleep |
| Sleep Apnoea | Lack of oxygen | Morning fatigue |
A sleep specialist uses tools to understand the patterns of your rest and the causes of your distress. You might keep a sleep diary to track your habits and your levels of stress management during the day. This log helps identify if your symptoms correlate with certain behaviors or triggers. If the episodes are frequent – a specialist may recommend a sleep study to monitor your body.
Polysomnography allows the support team to track your heart rate and your brain waves during the night. This data shows which phase of the sleep cycle is disrupted and if obstructive sleep apnea is present. Identifying these factors ensures that your plan addresses the medical and the psychological roots of the issue. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests that observation is a part of finding a path toward healing.
Our facility provides therapies to help you manage your anxiety and your sleep disorders. We focus on the whole person to ensure your plan supports your stability and your goals. Our support team coordinates care between clinicians and a dietitian to support your health.
Our methodologies include:
Finding stability after a night of fear is possible with the support of our team. Our facility at We Conquer Together offers a space where you can focus on your recovery away from triggers. We understand that post-traumatic stress disorder and depression impact your ability to function. We provide the structure and the care needed to rebuild your relationship with your rest.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) emphasizes that integrated care improves the outcomes for those with sleep issues. We handle the clinical logistics and collaborate with you to foster independence and peace. Reach out to our treatment center in Yorba Linda to discuss your history and start your journey toward wellness. We are here to help you find a future where you feel in control of your nights.
Night terrors occur during deep sleep and the person often has no memory of the event in the morning. Nightmares happen during REM sleep and involve images that you remember when you wake up. A night terror causes a physical reaction such as sweating or a racing heart while the person remains asleep.
Yes – adult night terrors often stem from stress or untreated mental health conditions that impact the nervous system. Events like trauma or the use of alcohol can trigger these episodes in adulthood. Therapy helps identify the triggers and provides tools for stress management.
Post-traumatic stress disorder keeps the brain in a state of alert that prevents a transition into deep sleep stages. This leads to avoidance of the bed and a lack of a consistent schedule for waking and rest. Improving sleep hygiene is a part of managing the symptoms of PTSD.
This behavior is a sign of a disorder of arousal where the body moves while the brain is in a state of sleep. It often happens during the non-rapid eye movement phase of the night. A sleep specialist can help determine if this is a night terror or sleepwalking.
Certain medications – such as antidepressants or sedatives – can change how the brain moves through the sleep cycle. If your rest has changed after a new prescription – talk to your support team about your symptoms. A psychiatrist can help adjust your plan to support your sleep and your health.
A sleep study – or polysomnography – tracks your body during the night to find disruptions in your rest. It monitors your breathing to check for sleep apnea and your brain waves for a parasomnia. This information is used by the support team to build a plan that improves your sleep quality.
Dr. Kelly Gonderman is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in clinical practice, supervision, and program administration. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Biola University’s Rosemead School of Psychology and has developed broad clinical expertise in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, eating disorders, co-occurring substance use, and personality-related concerns.
As Clinical Director at We Conquer Together, Dr. Gonderman specializes in fostering supportive and structured therapeutic environments where clients can heal, build resilience, and develop lasting skills for long-term well-being.
