HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

HEART RACING WHILE SLEEPING

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/10/2007 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
eyes  Hello. has anyone expirienced heart racing while sleeping?while i am sleeping, i just wake up out of nowhere, and i notice that my hands are sweating and that my heart is racing.Its scares the heck out of me.What could possibly giving me these feelings while i ma sleeping? i was not having any dreams or nightmares as i can recall.It happened to me this morning 4:30 am. i got out of bed and tried to stay calm. i drank a cup of warm milk, and tried to relax. fell back asleep and didnt wake up until 8:30. that is very unusual for me i am usually up at 6:00am. any adivce what it could be. does it sound like anxiety or panic attacks? thanks. God Bless
Posted 3/10/2007 6:52 PM (GMT 0)

could be many things, see doc about it

may be a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, do you snore? tape record yourself if you sleep alone

Posted 3/10/2007 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have never experienced this myself but I have a friend that suffers with anxiety and he tells me that almost every night he is waking in the early hourse with sweats and palpitations and feelings of anxiety. He doesnt know why he is waking like this but knows what he is experiencing is anxiety. I would talk to your doctor about it and maybe he could suggest a sleeping tablet for a short period just to try and get you into a normal sleep pattern again. Take care.
Posted 3/10/2007 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've seen it written in a number of places that panic attacks can occur while sleeping. It could be a nightmare that triggered it. I've also read that people typically only remember a small fraction of their dreams.

If my stomach problems are indeed panic attacks like the doctor said, I've experienced it, too. It's not common for me, but it has happened.
Posted 3/11/2007 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
I used to have this alot when I drank alot of caffeine. Sometimes I get it and it's probably from dreams I can't remember.

God bless you.

Posted 3/11/2007 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

 

I wake up alot with a racing heart.  I have read that it is very common when dealing with anxiety and panic.  It can be very scarey!!

Posted 3/11/2007 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
yes it could be nocturnal panic attacks which I think happen from dreams, so try to remember if it was a dream that caused it

Posted 3/11/2007 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I had this happen almost every mornign for me it was the impending doom feeling I had about what day would bring and /or Nightmares dreams I had had
Am getting better but some things have opened and resurfaced so am dealing with major a/p and nightmares and a/p attacks upon waling
Take care
LYN
Posted 3/11/2007 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
I have had this occour a lot it`s best to see your dr in my case it was from having night mare but i cant remember them thank god but the continual effecton the heart isn`t good the dr has put me on a medication to slow down my heart as it was beating at 165 bpm and was really freaking me out
Posted 3/12/2007 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
This happens to me a lot - I find that sometimes I experience a racing heart and anxiety symptoms the most when I'm laying down and trying to fall asleep. I too often wake up in a state of panic having no clue why or how. Its frustrating for sure, and I too worry about long term effects on my heart, so I'm really glad I always have my klonopin on hand to calm me down.
Posted 3/12/2007 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
It is so good not feel alone in some of is going on with me. Nights can be bad for me sometimes. I awake scared and don't understand why. It has been better lately. I don't like sleeping pills but don't like not sleeping either.
Posted 3/12/2007 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
You're definitely not alone. I've had this happen too. Sometimes as I'm trying to fall asleep and sometimes I wake up this way. I have sleep apnea along with the panic attacks, it definitely doesn't make me feel any more comfortable falling asleep knowing I may stop breathing. And sleeping pills scare me too. The doc prescribed them, but I haven't taken a one just because I'm afraid I'll sleep too deeply and not wake up if something goes wrong. BUT if I'm feeling even slightly anxious before bed, I take a klonopin and lay down on my side or stomach. It seems to keep me calm through the night and gives me that little boost into falling asleep.
Posted 3/13/2007 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
It is great to be able to open up and share our experiences isnt it .........
Hoping all a better day tomorrow
LYN
Posted 3/14/2007 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds very familiar from stuff I've read about. Also, personally, I tend to wake up with an elevated heart rate - not to an alarming rate, just as if I gone for a short run or something. Also been having a few unpleasant dreams recently, which I've never experienced in my life before. Ironically, most of the other symptoms I've experiencing have been gone for some time now.
Posted 12/12/2009 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
about a month ago I had an episode that scared me half to death. I was walking home late at night and i started having symptoms which I thought was to be a heart attack.. I grew incredibly dizzy (to a point of almost passing out multiple times) i was disorriented short of breath and was going slightly numb. After going to the emerg and seeing the nurses I waited to see a doc the night passed and it was almost lunch before i saw the doctor who looked me over briefly to tell me it was a flu, that i should go see my family doctor. But ever since that night i can't sleep every time i try my heart races and i get weak and shortten of breath .. just about 20 minutes ago i tried to get some sleep and my heart raced incredibly fast which scared me enough to jump back out of bed to grab my now ritual of calming myself down with a glass of water. I'm finding that every week i'm getting less and less sleep, and when ever i am awake I always get chest pains and feel tired and weak hands are always shaking. I have sleep apnea had it all my life, but its frightening how this jumped on me all of a sudden.

I've participated in sports where i'm running around and my lungs are fine.. I don't drink cofee and i've been sober from drinking for alittle over 3 months now.. and sober from tabacoo over 3 weeks now and pot a week now. I am a large man but i've always managed to keep track of my weight even though technicly i'm obese just a mobile one I guess...

I've talked to my family doctor about my symptoms and his reply was it had to do with my weight.. I'm thinking of seeing another doctor as its always the answer from him. As I really want to know what this is and how it can be fixed, I don't want a heart failure . Its bad enough i have heart desease, thyroid problems and diebettes in the family.. I just don't want it to add to the list.

I want to sleep again.. I want to be healthy
Posted 12/13/2009 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
When I was having symptoms like that upon awakening during the nighttime, it turned out I had severe sleep apnea. You say you've had sleep apnea all your life - are you using any kind of sleep therapy (jaw splint, cpap machine) to alleviate it? Sleep apnea can cause pulmonary and cardiac symptoms, can make you tired and disoriented. Sleep is important to good health. Like you, I had apnea for a long time (though I didn't know it - just knew I snored loudly). At some point it became bad enough and my body became tired enough that the symptoms were extreme. If you are not using anything to alleviate your apnea, it might be worth trying a cpap machine. That can make an immense difference.
Posted 12/14/2009 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone! I am new to the site but wanted to thank you all I have been reading numerous threads about anxiety. It seems I am not alone... My situation is this i have been feeling like this for a few months. Sometimes i awaken with my heart racing i thought i was having a bad dream. I got up to get something to drink and felt chest pain more on the left side. I pray to GOD that i am not going into cardiac arrest. I just try to relax and it goes away. During the day i feel chest pains, tingling throughtout legs, head and neck aches, shoulder pain. Sometimes it feels like im in a haze? I have also noticed when i am around large groups of people like stores and such, i start to sweat and my heart starts to race and i always feel down in out like tired? I went to the local college and have had about 5 ekgs taken it rules out normal arrythmias and bpm's.  I have spoken to my brother he tells me that he has also felt like that its "STRESS"! I tell him are you sure? I dont like to feel like this. I excercise 3x times a week eat healthly or try to. Sometimes i feel very good after a workout then the next day its back? I do drink beer and smoke cigarettes to try not to feel like this sometimes it helps sometimes not? My question is how do you seek help if you don't have insurance, I have been laid off for 8 months and cant go to the Public health office because they do not accept adult patients! Only children and expectant mothers. I understand. I just dont want to pass away without a fight! "God allow me to seek refuge under your wings" 

 

Posted 11/20/2012 9:08 AM (GMT 0)
hi , i just had that happen to me, i just woke up and my hands where sweaty and my heart was racing really fast, i got really scared and my arm went numb for a bit then cleared up. i had it happen even during the day time when im awake and doing something. it feels like heart palpations, -- and know its 4am and i dont want to go back to sleep im scared to --and the places that i had them before i dont want to go back to either, i think i need help with trying to get my life back in order again . And this is my first time on this site , and just like weldpool said it is very nice to have others to talk to about this , thank you all for shareing , and i hope we can all get threw this together and GOD BLESS all of you.
Posted 11/20/2012 9:24 AM (GMT 0)
i was wondering for all of you how long does your anxiety last for?
Posted 11/20/2012 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ILG and welcome!

I am sorry that you had a rough night.:( It is very scary to wake up to feelings and symptoms of panic!

Have you had a recent check up by your doctor just to rule out any physical cause? If so that is a good first step, then you can safely go on to treat the anxiety and panic issues that are bothering you.

You have responded to a very old thread, and I do not see any of the others members who have responded here posting with us anymore...

So I am going to suggest that you start a new thread of your own if you feel comfortable doing so. In this way more recent members can recognize you as a new member and welcome you.:)

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply