My son's night terrors have left me traumatised

My son has been experiencing night terrors for approximately three months and I’ll be honest, I think I’m more horrified by the episodes than anyone else.

It’s like living with a ticking time bomb who has the potential to wake up and scream bloody murder at any stage between 8pm and 7.30 in the morning.

My heart flutters like a bird trapped in a cage and beads of sweat break out at the nape of my neck when I’m awoken by Joshua’s bloodcurdling screams and no amount of guidance can prepare me for what I find when I take cautious steps into his bedroom.

It’s the kind of sound that can make your blood run cold and it’s the type of sight that makes your muscles seize in terror.

Watching my son trapped in a world of horror, unable to break free and screaming for help is one thing. Knowing there’s very little I can do to help until the attack subsides is quite another.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been a mum for seven years so I’m fully accustomed to nightmares, monsters who live in cupboards and the inexplicable fear both my children have of the man who’s featured on my husband’s favourite box of muesli.

But these are different. Oh, so different.

When he experienced his first one just before New Year’s Eve, I thought I would perish on the spot as I watched him writhe in fear and scream himself hoarse.

The second time he experienced one, I wanted to ring an ambulance, phone a priest or do whatever I could to placate him.

Watching him stare transfixed at an invisible entity in the corner of the room and scream until he passed out was enough to leave me rattled for days.

The only thing that’s helping me through my latest mum meltdown is the knowledge that my son’s terrors have absolutely no effect on him or his day-to-day routine.

I’m grateful that I’m the only one affected by Joshua’s nocturnal disturbances because I can’t bear to think he’ll have any memory of the terror he endured.

“How did you sleep, pet?”

“I don’t know. I was asleep, mum.”

Thank God.