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Dreams & panic attacks

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Posted 3/20/2014 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
I dream a lot, not nightmares or even bad dreams, just dreams. But lately I wake up after dreaming & immediately have a panic attack. It happened 3 or 4 times last night & I've been on edge all day. There's nothing in the dreams that should cause panic but it's happening anyway.

I take .5 Klonipin at bedtime & 20 mg of Lexapro in the morning.

Does this resonate with anyone? Any suggestions?

PPim
Posted 3/20/2014 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm,...good question.

I'm not sure I have any suggestions, but I can share with you that yep, sure, and yessiree, I have had that happen to me...and definitely more than just a few times.

You bring up a good point that these early morning panic attacks after dreams do not necessarily correlate to nightmares, but simply the remembrance of dreaming.

My guess,--and that's all it is,--is that we happen to wake up at such a point in our dream-state that our conscious minds are confused as to which "reality" we're experiencing (the dream state or the awake state), and years of evolution calls for a jolt of adrenaline to spike us into getting moving. That jolt, for those of us who are already high-anxiety candidates, may just be enough to trigger an attack?






M.
Posted 3/20/2014 11:59 PM (GMT 0)

Hi PPim,

I can't comment on medication as I do not know if this is having an impact or not, and I can't comment on the panic attacks either as I'm not sure what is causing it, but I can speak a little about dreams!

I've been remembering quite a lot of my dreams since the weekend. I had one at the weekend which was very disturbing for me, I can't even talk about it here, it was that disturbing, but guess what! It was a dream, and it isn't reality, at least I hope it's not! ;)

I had a few other dreams about different senerios, I've realised I have several dreams relating to a past time, people from my past, though 2 of my dreams on different nights this week were somewhat about the mundane, my everyday life, some relating to situations in my everyday life.

This week, I've had some late nights, and 'excuse me' if this is too much information, but having caffiene or needing the loo and not necessarily immediately going (I'm a lady, it is sometimes possible for me to think about going, but not go), before bed or whilst semi-asleep, could be contributing to some of 'my' vivid or being 'more aware of' my dreams.

It could be worth talking to your GP/doctor about having memory of dreams and panic attacks to see if the medication is having an impact and also to see if anything else is impacting on the panic attacks/ memory of dreams.

My best wishes!

HB

Post Edited (HappyBean) : 3/20/2014 6:28:43 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/21/2014 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I have very vivid dreams and remember many of them. Alot are anxiety provoking. I think I am trying to work things through that I am experiencing during waking hrs.
I wish I could just get some peaceful, restful, blissful sleep.
Sometimes I doze off in my chair before going to bed and it's such a peaceful sleep but then I awake with a jolt and pounding heart.....
Posted 3/21/2014 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ppim,

I am sorry that you are going through this...I know how miserable it can be.

It used to happen to me a lot, but has phased out as I have gotten along in my recovery.

Do you practice coping skills regualrly such as breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and/or meditation? If so, have you tried doing these just before bed?

Are you able to get back to sleep again after you awaken, or are you too keyed up at the time?

Post back with a little more info on what you are doing for anxiety management coping skills, and we can better advise with some possible new ideas for you.:)

S.C.
Posted 3/21/2014 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Ppim,

I had a similar experience last night - I woke up from a dream (I don't remember it very well but I believe it was about work) and for about 30 minutes I was confused and kept thinking I had to fix something at work and I kept struggling with how to fix it and wondering why I was having trouble and so on. It was almost an hour later when I realized very suddenly that I didn't have to do anything. All I had to do was lie in bed and sleep, and not do any work.

Tonight I'm going to write myself a note that says "There is nothing wrong with your work - you don't have to do anything or think about anything right now, just lie down and relax."

I know this isn't the same situation as you are having but maybe you could try something similar? Just write a reminder next to your bed - something like "You've just woken up from a dream. There is nothing for you to worry about, take a few minutes to breathe and calm down and then go back to bed." Sometimes we need a reminder from our relaxed selves to calm us down when we're anxious.
Posted 3/21/2014 5:49 AM (GMT 0)
GREAT input Morag!!!

S.C.
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