I understand how James Corbett’s 3-4 year old might react the way he did.
ANECDOTE – Back in the very early 1950’s when I was 3-4 years old, I had two reoccurring terrifying nightmares. One was “clowns”, a thin tall one and a short round one, the images of which came from a children’s book. My younger brother would not get out of bed at night because a whale was under the bed. He also got the image from a children’s book.
My most terrifying, sweat causing nightmare was that I can’t move while a laser beam starts to go through my pillow into the back of my head. Keep in mind, I had no idea of the concept of laser beams nor any exposure to such during this era. At this age, I could not communicate well nor even define the concept. I did not talk about the nightmare. My Mother was so alarmed that she was trying to coerce me to see a Psych. I would say “no” and keep on playing. Eventually, the nightmares went away.
NIGHTMARES & B1 – Sugar or coffee or alcohol or lots of white rice can deplete Vitamin B1 (thiamin). Taking Vitamin B1 often resolves nightmares (or sometimes depression). Vitamin B1 balances with Vitamin C and Magnesium…so if one gets a nose bleed, do Vit C …or if one gets leg cramps, take Magnesium in some type of citrate form. All the B complex vitamins are important, helping with mental and other body processes.