My Daughter Having a "Nightmare", as She Calls It, While Awake on the Playground

OMG!!! My younger daughter also had nightmares while awake. Unfortunately, the psychiatrist thought it was part of "mental illness" (see http://www.ItsNotMental.com ).

There are many different things that can cause this that are biomedical - ie physical - not "mental". Seizures are one such thing. Hormonal issues. Nutritional and food-allergy related as well (look up gluten and Celiac). These things can even happen with Guillion-Barre.

A new GP years later looked over her records and was stunned that even though her earliest problems in life were sleep-related, nobody had ever ordered a sleep study to be done. Turned out, for my daughter the "nightmares while awake" really were exactly what they looked like to us - REM - She had a form of narcolepsy. We came to learn narcolepsy is not necessarily anything like it is portrayed in the movies - which is usually cataplexy.

So, YES - it can be imagination.

And YES - it can be a medical problem.

My son used to say this too, now he is 8 he says that instead of nightmares they were just scary thought, and they would happen when he missed me, or when he was alone in his room.

sometimes he would just cry about something like someone dying, or a sad occurence like our house burning.

he is and always has been very emotional - and probably your daughter is too, it means they are very sensitive and empathic - not mentally ill!

.

J.:

I've read the other responses but here's what gets me NOT just the dream/day-mare.

The teachers NOTICED her crying by the door? That tells me they did NOT do a count to ensure all the kids were out on the playground. That's a red flag for me.

Children can have night-terrors during the day. I would have her checked by your pediatrician. Is her breath sweet smelling? Reason I ask is if she has pediatric diabetes - her blood sugar could've been out of control - causing her to have an hallucination - a VERY VIVID one.

I would NOT take her to McDonalds if you pick her up early from school - she could see that as a "reward" and try it again.

This may also sound far-fetched but I do believe in these things - she could have some psychic ability and something bad happened on the playground at one time - I know, some think it's crazy talk - but I do believe that God gave every one of us powers - whether we choose to use them or not - they are there.

Bottom line? Get her checked out by your pediatrician - blood levels, CAT scan - ensure she doesn't have epilepsy, a tumor, etc. - get her eyes checked - ensure she doesn't have cataracts or Glaucoma - or other eye issues - just because it doesn't run in your family doesn't mean she can't have it - especially if something like this happens again....

My best to you!

Cheryl

My daughter had a seizure and saw bright colors before whe went unconscious. There is nothing medcally wrong with her and it was a fluke thing.
Or
She could have had a panic attack.
Or
With Halloween coming it could be her little four year old imagination is running overtime.
I pray it's just something she outgrows.

My neice has absence seizures, she 'zones out' or is mildly unconcious for a very brief period of time. She recalls darkness and dreams, even though it's just for a second or two. She is also an extrememly imaginative, artistitic, bright child.

I would probably discuss this episode with her ped on her next visit.

How old is your daughter Mom and how many hr and days /wk you have her in her preschoo? If teach young children and if she is only 3, I would only do 2-3, 1/2 days a wk. It sounds like she is just remembering a vivid and upsetting dream she had that may have had recently and it may be reoccurring. At school the thoughts many have been brought on by her upset from separation anxiety since she is new to preschool. I have seen a number of preschoolers with separation anxiety when they start but this dream-like experience seems unusual, maybe she is just too young for preschool. Watch and see if it contiunes to happen,and if so where? and when, preschool may not be for her yet if it is this this thing keeps happening there. Did she mention this bad dream to you that morning b4 she went to preschool ? If not would would sit down with her over the weekend and talk calmy with her about the whole htings and what she thinks may have caused her to think of this scary thing. Talking with her may help since it would allow her to explain it more to you then you can reassure her andand explain that it was not real. Has she been exposed to any scary movies or shows on TV recently that were not appropriate for her age? She should not have been left crying on the playground without a teacher there to comfort her and help redirect her and change her mood to a more happy positive one. Does she say she wants to go bk to preschool next wk? If so, you may want to plan to be there at recess time assuming your can and prep the teachers on how to help her if you can't and this thought comes up again. It may be nothing but her vivid imagination too, but you and they need to help her through it. If this thing continues again, I would call my Pediatrician and ask about it., I do know toddlers and young children can experience what are called "night terrors" and they can be very upsetting but they usually occur when they are asleep. You might want to read up on these on the internet . I hope this is a one time thing for your little girl. Hope this helps.

You might want to let your daughter know the next time this happens, you will need to bring her to the doctor for a check up to make sure she's okay. Treat it like an urgent medical problem. While I understand your trip to McDonald's was to help calm her down and feel better, you might want to reconsider when having to pick her up from school early, to avoid such excursions. You do not want to associate mommy picking her up from school early with a Happy Meal reward. It's been known to happen. It would probably be better to just bring her home and call the pediatrician's office.

nightmares while awake ? something is wrong here, does she have these nightmares at any other time?how long was she upset? has there been any changes in her life lately? is she being picked on, or abused by someone
at or near the school ? are you certain? do a background check on everyone who comes into even casual contact with this child, because she is trying to tell you something that could be ugly.
K. h.

Please take her to see your pediatrician to have her evaluated for possible consult to neurologist. What is seemingly a nightmare to your daughter, could be a visual disturbance brought on by neurological issues which only a doctor (not a therapist) could diagnose.

Ok I do not want to freak you out but I feel compelled to tell you this:

I had a friend whose son had some day-mares. They took him to the doctor and found out that what was causing them was a brain tumor. It was benign, they took it out, he's fine.

However, when a child has a TRUE hallucination it can be medically serious. Take her to the doctor to be sure.