Sleeping-a Little Fearful After Big Storm

Updated on November 30, 2010
P.G. asks from San Antonio, TX
4 answers

Hi Moms. About 2 weeks ago we had a HUGE thunderstorm roll through - the thunder was SO loud it set off car alarms. Of course, it boomed right over our house in the middle of the night and woke up my 3.5 year old son. Normally, he likes storms and isn't bothered by thunder, but this was REALLY LOUD - even I jumped - and it woke him out of sleep so I'm sure it was even more scary.

Since then, he's been a bit needier when it comes to going to sleep. I do sit with him as he falls asleep most of the time, but that's never been a problem before - he just falls off to sleep. Now he falls off to sleep but then wakes up looking for reassurance several times (not every day, but much more than ever before). He seems half awake when he's doing it.

Is this normal after a scare like that? Any ideas to help him stay down? Thanks!

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S.H.

answers from New York on

Yes it's normal. He will work through it and I wouldn't change much, only because he will then need new ways to soothe himself whenever things change. Keep things as they have always been and he will soon be reassured that things are fine and he will forget all about it. He may not even be aware that he is waking. My son is a sleep walker and started right around 3. Now we just walk him back to his bed and in the morning he doesn't even remember that he was up. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

A.F.

answers from Miami on

Hi P. :-)

Wow... your poor little one.. and you, too!

When there is an acute crisis, such as this storm, the brain actually goes into a state of "shock".. our brains literally go in and out of shock often due to the big stressors we have to deal with daily.. so there has probably not been a total recovery from this traumatic event.

There is a VERY simple thing you can do right now to help your son, and yourself. I offer instructions on how to do an Energy Medicine technique called CORTICES, which is very simple to learn and can be implemented in as little as 30 seconds!

This technique helps to calm the brain and get it back "on line" so it can be fully present and aware and able to scan the whole body to keep updating where the areas of concern are that need healing.

You can find this technique on my website www.amyfreundbodytalk.com Just go to the tab that says Dr. John Veltheim teaches CORTICES and you'll find the first two videos with all of the information

The first video talks about how STRESS affects our brains so much! And the second video is the actual demonstration of the technique. Do the technique on yourself, first, then go ahead and Tap out the CORTICES of your son. You can do this as often as you like, but I would suggest that you tap out his CORTICES as you are laying next to him while he falls asleep. If he awakens during the night, go ahead and tap out his CORTICES again so he can restore the calm state to his brain.

Helping him understand about how nature is beautiful and powerful and allowing him to vocalize how he feels will also validate that you are there for him and understand.

Have fun tapping!
hugs,
A. R.N., Energy Medicine Practitioner www.amyfreundbodytalk.com

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

We went thru this a few months ago with our 2 yo and we lost power and trees during a storm. We just reassured him it was okay and explained that thunder was just clouds bumping together but as long as he was inside during a storm he would be okay. We told him if he needed to hold our hand or his teachers hand during the storm that was okay. It went into why there is a roof on the house and how the roof stops the rain from getting us wet. He talked about the trees and the storm for WEEKS and now it's gradually tapering off. Every so often he'll ask if it's going to rain or he'll talk to his Papa about the trees that fell (and since been removed so that's a big thing too) but he's much less stressed about it. Just give him extra reassurance and explain what a storm is in simple terms and he'll be okay!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.G.

answers from Dallas on

At his age maybe it would be helpful for you to help him understand what is making him uneasy. Im sure he remembers the storm, maybe you can talk about it with him, and that it is not dangerous even though the loud noise can be a little scary. Talk about the weather and tell him that the next time it is supposed to storm he can sleep with you, but there is nothing to worry about in the meantime, and you can promise him a quiet night.

1 mom found this helpful
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