So i think it's like 2% of adult population has night terrors, a lot of kids have them it's kind of the norm for kids, but you usually grow out of them when you reach adult hood. In order for a label to be made you have night terrors you have to go through various sleep studies. Persoanlly maybe becasue of the low percentage i don't know why but curious as to why a psychiatrist would be so quick to rule it out, although you should go to a reg. doctor and tell them about your issue as well. psychiatrists don't do sleep studies!

That being said. I am 28 and have night terrors, and the nights i don't have them i have nightmares...yeah fun to be me. makes one a bit of an insomniac

So i find myself with my heart racinf about to explose out of my chest dripping in sweat so bad that my clothes are soaked the sheets are soaked (obviously have to get in the shower) a bit disorientated, because i don't know whats wrong or why i amthat wy but i have this feeling like something bad has happened and i'm scared but i don't know what i'm scared at... i have this deep despair feeling that my whole world has just caved in and i'm lost and alone in the dark. i feel like i'm a little kid and want to hide under the covers.
My partner is the one who usually wakes me he says it takes awhile but who wants to leave the crazy girl screaming in bed which i faintly remember upon waking,it's like i hear myself screaming but i'm not..i dunno its only like a seconds worth he has learned to put a body pillow in between us since i have given him a many black and and shoulder and foot jabs to sertain places. at times i feel really bad because it happens so much that he barely even remembers when he wakes me up he's so used to it he goes back to sleep. no more consoling i mean would you want to stay awake make sure your partners ok when its been happening almost every night for 4 years.....
so whats worse nightmares or night terror....it's a toss up cause the nightmares you remember the nightterrors you don't but they disturb your sleep none the less. the nightmares i still wake up screaming my heart is still pounding, the only thing is i can't go back to sleep after a nightmare, it usually touches to close to home and it won't leave my mind...so insomniac again. the meds i used to take some made them worse and some helped but only for a time. This is something thatmaybe of years of therapy it tmight get better, who knows...i just deal when my partner is around during the day i lay down and close my eyes for almost an hour and daydream that's all i need that's my rest and i'm fine with that.....i know it's not real sleep but that's how i deal and it works for me

i used to not being aware of my terrors but after most of your life going through it your very aware