Panic Attack while sleeping?

Bogeysmom,
Well, just to relate, I am also 30 years old and have panic attacks almost nightly. I've gotten lucky a few times and didn't have one but they are almost nightly for me. I have woke up from a panic attack and experienced the same symptoms as you. I'm just telling you this so that you don't feel so alone. I know I did when I first started having them until I found this forum. I suggest, if you haven't already, is to get a hold of your doctor so that he may prescribe something for you to help you more through these situations. You are not a weak person at all so please don't feel that way. It's just something that happens. As for getting out of it quicker than what you already do, (15 minutes as you stated), I don't really know how to either because mine last anywhere from a half an hour to 2 hours. It's complete horror for me. I just try some positive self talk and I have started seeing a counselor for my problems. It has helped some. Preventing them I really couldn't tell you either....I mean, I cut back on caffeine and any other kind of stimulants that may add to the situation and like I said earlier, that has helped also. I don't have them nearly as bad or as long anymore. Just take a deep breath and remind yourself that your anxiety will not get the best of you. I hope this made you feel....Not so alone. You do have control of yourself you just need to find out how to take control....as do I. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing. Take care.

Hi Aurora,

Thanks so much for your encouraging words. I feel better knowing that other people have experienced them at night too, although my hope for you is that yours get better! I cant believe you have them every night. Thats horrible. Im just wondering, did you start getting them after something traumatic happened in your life...thats what I am thinking could be my problem, within a few weeks of each other last year, I had a major death in my family, a small stroke, got married, and found out i had a brain anuerysm, and that my dad had cancer...it was too much to deal with, and I am still having anxiety from it all. I feel like I go to sleep in a good mood, but maybe subconciously I am still thinking about all the things that are going on, and I freak out in my sleep.

Do you get the sweats, and shake too? Feel like you cant take a full breath in. I think the worst is that it feels like my heart doesnt beat right during it.

Well, I made an appointment to see my doctor on monday, and i am finally going to mention it to him, up until now I have been to embarrassed. But thank you for your reply. I feel alot better knowing it isnt just me and Im not all alone.

BOGEYS MOM

Bogeysmom,
I would like to say that it happened shortly after a tragic situation, (as much as that sounds bad), because at least then I would know why I'm having them. My counselor just says that it's probably subconscious and even though I'm not thinking about them upfront, I guess my mind is still thinking about stuff and causing my attacks. I have had very many people pass away over the years and most of them were younger. Nothing recent though....and by that I mean in the last year. Anyways, I do get the shakes and sweat alot when I go through my attacks. My heart just feels like its skipping all over the place. So yeah, you are not alone. Here recently, I've been having a "dreamlike" state come over me and I just feel weird all the time. I'm going to tell my doctor that at my next session. I keep thinking that there is a whole bunch wrong with me, even when I've been to the emergency room like 4 times in the last month. They've done EKG's and MRI's and blood work and everything and tell me everything is okay but it's hard to believe that when I feel this way. I just keep telling myself that I'm going to be okay and after a while, I do feel okay. Everything will be alright for you also. I believe that. Let us know how you are doing, okay? You take care and if you need to vent or talk....we are here for you.

BOGEYS MOM

Hi there, this is Kitt, I used to wake up and have panic attacks before I ever got out of bed but that was when I was at my worst time of depression.  Since therapy I will still feel down in the mornings but can usually work through the anxiety by staying in the moment and talking to myself........Hey, I answer myself too.

Sorry to hear your having these problems.

Take care
Kitt

hi people its my first time on here i have also suffered from panic attacks when sleeping, mine started at work one night when i went  to sleep , i must of just droped of when i woke with a feeling of a rush in my chest and my heart was going so fast , it was horrible i didnt want to go back to sleep. It started happening once every week at work , i only work one night a week and its that night it gets me , i think it because its a strange place that causes this and i also suffer from panic attacts, iv had cbt treatment last year . but i still get the panic attacks.

It all started after a accident i had in december 2005, when i was working on a vehicle a steel platform fell down on my head and pushed me down to my knees, i was checked over at hospital all ok. later that night i started to think about my accident and thought i was looky i didnt break my kneck or spine, thats when i started to shake and felt horrible, didnt know what was happening, i went back to hospital to be checked over again on heart machine, all ok.

since the accident i have suffered from a lot of different things all related to the panic attacts,even after cbt

anyone need to talk please contact.

Hara said...

I have a technic that I use on occation when things are getting to stressful for me. It sometimes works for me. I think to myself "In through the nose out through the mouth","get oxygen to my brain", "You can handle only one thing at a time the rest will have to wait".."F---- them or it"....

Hara - Fibro, MD, diabetis, anxiety, sleep apnea

Dean and Rose,

I have something similar, although it's a reflux issue that wakes me, choking, and then I am panicked for minutes to hours, fearing for my health. Know that you are not alone in dealing with these nighttime panics - deep breathing does help me, or sometimes I just get up and go on the computer to web surf or play a mind-numbing game - anything that will distract me from thinking of the fear.

percycat

Dean and Rosegarden,

Welcome to HealingWell and thank you for your input. It is good to see new members sharing.

We do have a welcome thread for new members to do an introduction if you wouldlike to.

I will bring the thread up for you.

Again welcome,
Kitt

hey!! I know how you are feeling. I am 20 years old and I have panic attack almost all day long, and sometimes at night. I'm not on anything to help them, but I found a way that helps me to stop them. One when it comes to night time I take like 2 hrs of relaxing before I go to bed. That seems to help me. And when the breathing gets hard and the heart goes crazy I tell myself there is nothing wrong. That I am making myself freak out over nothing, and usually in about 5 min they stop. My panic attack started when I was in high school, and now I have a 5 month old baby, and the stress from that makes it worse. And if me telling myself that I am ok doesn't work I call someone and talk with them or I go outside and walk around trying to keep myself busy. I hope one of those work for you.

Jamie

Welcome to HealingWell and the A & P Forum.

I am so sorry to hear you are having these awful panic attacks.  Have you tried anything besides medication?

There are many different therapies available as well as self help online programs that you can work through.  Also joining a support group like HW is a wonderful way to find people that understand exactly what you are going through.

Stick with us and know we care.

Again a warm welcome.

Kitt

Jamie,

One of the best remedies for anxiety is to talk about it. Here's where good friends and family can come in. The old adage "A problem shared is a problem halved" comes into its own here, and while you may dismiss it as nonsense, it may surprise you how anxiety alleviating it can be to just talk to someone.

Obviously when you're feeling at a low ebb, the last thing you tend to think about is the things that are good in your life. But to do this is a sure fire mood lifter and anxiety buster.

In all situations that fuel your anxiety, whether they be job related, family related or otherwise, try and think about all the things that you have done right. While its true that it is a good thing to acknowledge things that you can improve on, beating yourself up over mistakes you've made will only increase your anxiety.

Another trick is to find yourself a diversion that pleases you. Sometimes all we need is a diversion, or a hobby that we enjoy to ignite the pleasure in our lives By challenging yourself and enriching your life with interests outside of your daily routine, you not only participate in a rewarding and pleasurable pastime, you can bring back the zest into your life and divorce yourself your anxiety.

I wish you a wonderful day and I wish you peace ,

Kitt