Night terrors is a graphic name for an experience known as Nocturnal panic attack. It is particularly painful and difficult because you are in bed and alone and with no distraction. It starts as a rising tide of anxiety that semi awakens the sleeper and the thoughts descend into a cycle of fear and dread. It could be thinking of something that has happened to you, or a narrative that your mind is trying to work out and make sense of.
The mind seems to take up a self-destruct mode and the feelings of panic rise. The heart beat increases and the sleeper fights to escape the treadmill. This can last for some minutes and there seems nothing you can do to stop it, except ride out the storm.
“When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’ then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions…”
Job 7:13-14
Even the best of people suffer from this affliction and Job here shows his knowledge of this phenomenon. Job was a godly, righteous man and yet God required him to suffer terribly. Job survived because he trusted in the Lord and knew that Gods was just and would not let him suffer in vain. The Lord is the Lord of our waking and sleeping and is sovereign over all that we experience. It is difficult to know why suffering comes but we content our hearts to know that it is all in His plan for us. The experience of panic is traumatic and quite terrifying but the panic eventually dampens down and rest is restored. We must trust God in all circumstances and leave the fears in His especial care. It is not in our nature to trust God, but in the dead of the night we must cast our mind on what He has done for us and rehearse the truths of God and not the fearfulness of our own heart and mind. The fears are not the reality but the never failing Word of God is the reality for the Christian. We do not understand all the workings of the human mind, but God does and He is working all things for the good of His people.
Night terrors might not seem helpful, but they do throw us back on God and that is only good. That is the point. If you are suffering now, do not be discouraged but hold tightly to the never failing or changing promises of God. He will bring you through and you will praise Him. It is a good practice to learn some scriptures by heart so that you can recite them in the dark. Hymns are good too and help us to rehearse the truths of God.
Our night times can sometimes be painful experiences but the Lord of life is over all and will bring us through and help us to cope with the pain.
“In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me live in safety.”
Psalm 4:8
