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Night time anxiety / panic attacks

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Posted 10/21/2014 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Anyone experience night time anxiety that turns into a panic attack? Every so often I wake up feeling anxious. It turns into a panic attack as All I can think of is something bad is going to happen to me health wise. Doesn't help that everyone in the house is sleeping so I feel so alone. My heart starts beating fast, I get light headed and start sweating. Feels terrible!
Posted 10/21/2014 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
yes ,happens to me so often .Sweating and palpitations are worst !!!!
Posted 10/21/2014 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Ahhhhh...night time anxiety. I had a horrible time with it a couple years back. I'd wake up and pace the house. Panic. Go outside. Come back inside. I think it was so bad, because like you said, everyone is sleeping. You feel extra alone. And then you feel crappy in the morning from lack of sleep, so youre more prone to having an anxiety filled day! Vicious cycle. Do you take Xanax or any other kind of medication? Have you looking into finding a coping mechinism that might help you calm down if you do wake up? If I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep I listen to guided meditations on YouTube.
Posted 10/21/2014 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
It used to happen to me, omg, it was soooooo bad........ I highly recommend listening to some very relaxing music: Gregorian chant is amazing for panic attacks; those chanting monks saved my life!!!!! I would go from a full-on panic attack to SLEEPING, after just a couple of songs on that cd..... I listen to Enya to relax, too. I would never have survived those panic attacks without my music....!
Posted 10/21/2014 8:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Iused to get this a lot. It may be bacause of having a nightmare, this excites your nerous syetm bringing on anxiety. Also because you may not have eaten for a few hours your energy levsl are low. I recommend you eat a small snack to help combat it!
Jon
Posted 10/21/2014 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
Eating before bed makes me have more anxiety and vivid dreams. Also, when I close my eyes before sleep, vivid crazy imagines come floating at me....I'm not hallucinating because I know they're not real but theyre like scarey pictures. I attribute these to my stomach being acid filled from just eating so I avoid it after 6pm at night and always notice a big difference.
Posted 10/21/2014 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the support. I'll try some of those suggestions. I currently have been prescribed lorazapam but I don't want to rely on meds to help me through this.
Posted 10/21/2014 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Yes I have experienced night time anxiety and it can play havoc with your sleep and as we all no less sleep usually means more anxiety.

Have you ever done any talking therapies? Such as cbt as they can really help us manage our anxiety better.

Hibee
Posted 10/21/2014 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I had it every night for about 8 weeks. It was awful, I would awake with my heart racing, left arm tingling, chest pain, sometimes felt like I was struggling to breath. I would awake thinking I was dying, went to the ER twice. I didn't sleep more than 3-4 straight for 8 weeks which made it worst. I got to the point I could not even fall asleep in a bed, had to sleep on the couch. There were weeks I had 20-25 hours of sleep, for the entire week.

I've been on Zoloft for a week now and I'm sleeping more because it makes me so drowsy. A step in the right direction I guess.
Posted 10/21/2014 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Moose,

Once I started to recover from the attacks that I was having during waking hours...I started to suffer nightly attacks! ;/

So a postive spin on this could be that you are starting to get a handle on your waking A/P...

However, waking and going into a panic is also no fun.:( The good news though, is that there are some great coping skills to use to help get you through these noctural attacks.

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I

 

Practicing these before bed, and using them as needed when you awake and have symptoms should really help.:)

Best wishes and remember to practice these regularly.

S.C.

Posted 10/21/2014 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Yep! Especially lately. I get the morning anxiety jolt that so many of us here get. It eventually passes.

But, because I covet my sleep so much, I notice every night before I get anxious because I'm afraid I won't get to sleep (in time,...enough,...undisturbed,...flying monkeys...)

I also wake up from what I thought was a sound sleep in that full fight-or-flight mode. That's been my newest demon-friend that's accompanying me on this new journey.

We can compare notes, eh?





M.
Posted 10/21/2014 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
Oddly enough, my anxiety is heightened during the day and I am usually able to find peace and rest in the evenings.... Possibly because the business day is done?

My doc changed my sleep med to ambien and it has been knocking me out! I have been waking up and reading a bunch of posts that I don't even remember writing! I drew a picture for my daughters school project and had no recollection! It was a beautiful pic, though :) If it persists, I will discontinue use!


As always,
God bless

Cornell

Post Edited (Cornell) : 10/21/2014 2:27:15 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/22/2014 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your stories and continued support. I've been resorting to taking gravol as it calms me down and makes me feel great before I go to bed. I get a good night sleep as well. I don't want to take meds anymore though. I'm heading to the doc's tomorrow to get a check up. Maybe that will make me feel better and put some of my worries to rest.
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