it sounds like night terrors!
all three of my girls have them, and believe me it's been going on for years now so there is nothing you can really do except hold her and try and stay calm, make sure there is nothing around that she can hurt herself with meaning she will not be with it as she is still asleep even though she has her eyes open and is screaming, try and sing to her anything really that may help to calm her down as it is very frightening for them to have these night terrors and most of the time they won't remember them in the morning and you can't wake them up either, it's not nice but after 3 girls suffering with them you kind of get used to it lol, but it still does seem cruel at the same time
all i can really do to help is give u the advice i have given and wish you all the luck that it soon subsides, take care and try to relax, i know it's hard but it's the only way
nikki

Could be night terrors or nightmares.  My daughter has these as well.  I have noticed, however, that they increase in frequency and intensity depending on what is going on at home.  For instance, she suffered from them more when we moved house, when I was hospitalised for a week following a dog attack and at the moment that I'm about to go into hospital for my next baby.  I don't think there is any cure other than just being there to comfort her whether she accepts it or not.  Some times it literally takes forever and it seems that nothing will work.  But persevere and try to target anything in your life that might be upsetting her.  Some things you may be able to change, others you wont.  Just have a think about it.

Yes, sounds like night terrors. My DD1 had them just before & after she was 3 - mostly nightmares but a few night terrors. With Night terrors they're still asleep and fight you off so you cant comfort them, just make sure they're not getting into danger. With nightmares, you can comfort them as they've woken up.

yes like the other mother said sounds just like night terrors , she might not be even awake when shes screaming thats why its hard to still settle her ,when my twins where small before they went to bed i used to read or sing to them before they fell asleep so that they would hopefully dream of that and not something they either saw by mistake on tv or herd etc,, that could make them dream about it , but help them to dream and sleep about something nice ,

i honestly doubt shes awake while shes doing these things , mine has night terrors and they where sleep walkers and talkers i went to a sleep clinic before i knew and understood what was going on with them ,they where the ones that told me to sing talk read to them before bed to change anything that might of scared them during the day ,, this worked after a little time , all the best

Hi darl it sounds to me like your little ones is sufferein from night terrors. they are really scary and not nice my son suffers them here is a link for an advice post i made.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5354/Night-Terrors-in-Children/

My daughter has done that before.  I made sure she was completely awake and told her to talk to me about what was making her sad.  I would take her into my bed and stroke her face to calm her down and when she could tell me what the problem was she seemed more settled.  But you'll have to really listen to her and not say anything like "Oh, is that all?" because what she's going through is very real and frightening even if it's just in her head.  My daughter thought there was a crocodile in her room and I Had to take it back to the wildlife sanctuary.  Believe me, I felt like an idiot but it worked. The monster under the bed came out one night too, so I used the "Magic Water" that transports monsters to their own Monster Land. All I used was a little lavendar oil in water in a spray bottle.  It made her room smell like lavendar and it got rid of the monster! Good luck with it, but try to get your daughter to talk to you even if it's the next day when she's calmed down.

i don't know what to tell you, my 18 month old son has been doing the same thing lately. Hopefully we'll get some helpful advice/answers here

Have a look here  I hope this helps my little man has only ever had one so I have been lucky but I know of people who have this problem all the time.

 Lexi xxx