When James Ko was in elementary school, he would occasionally wake up from sleep confused, sweating and in total fear. There were other times when the Kansas University senior from Salina would wake up crying, but he had no idea why.

“What happened was 10 times worse than a nightmare,” Ko said. “You wake up frightened, scared. You don’t know what’s going on.”

Ko’s parents became concerned and made an appointment with a doctor where they eventually found out his symptoms were associated with night terrors.

A person with night terrors typically wakes up screaming, shaking, moaning or crying, but they can’t recall what the dream was about. A night terror is one of three subcategories commonly associated with parasomnia — things that go along with sleep. The other subcategories are bad dreams and nightmares.

People can recall bad dreams the next morning. Nightmares differ because they wake you up. Thirty-five percent of children between the ages of 5 and 12 complain that they have regular nightmares. That number decreases in adults, with only 5 to 6 percent of people commonly having nightmares, said Ruth Ann Atchley, Kansas University professor of psychology.

“Their heart may be racing 150 to 160 beats per minute,” Atchley said. “Basically, it’s like you just ran a long distance.”

Alek Joyce, who just completed sixth grade at Pinckney School, said he had nightmares at least once a month. When he is awakened by his dream, his heart is racing and he is sweating.

“I kind of get startled,” he said. “I’m just freaked out and paranoid when I wake up.”

Alek’s nightmares typically involve falling off a building, but he said he didn’t have a fear of falling.

Quail Run SchooL sixth-grader Keil Eggers has nightmares just like the rest of us. Common nightmares include falling, not being able to move and being chased.

“Right before I hit the ground I wake up and yell,” he said. “The falling off the building has happened to me for quite a while.”

Common nightmares include falling, not being able to move, and being chased.

Both Atchley and Ric Steele, Kansas University associate professor of psychology, agree that nightmares are typical occurrences.

“For the most part this is normal and requires no treatment other than supportive parenting,” Steele said.

Treatment for night terrors could be as simple as an earlier bedtime or even a daytime nap, Steele said.

After elementary school, Ko’s night terrors went away. He said there really was no cure.

He advises children who think they are experiencing night terrors to tell their parents. Parents can then give their children the emotional support needed to get through the experience.

“I don’t know how to put it in words the feeling I had,” Ko said. “I just know I wouldn’t want anyone else to experience it.”