Night terrors are a type of sleep disorder that typically occur during deep sleep, often in the first few hours of the night. They are characterized by sudden awakenings accompanied by intense fear, screaming, or thrashing. Unlike nightmares, which occur during REM sleep, night terrors usually do not involve vivid dreams and the person often has little to no memory of the episode upon waking. These episodes are most common in children but can also affect adults. Factors such as stress, sleep deprivation, or certain medications may trigger night terrors. While they can be distressing for both the individual and their caregivers, most children outgrow them, and treatment is rarely necessary.