Get the Support You Need

Learn from thousands of users who have made their way through our courses. Need help getting started? Watch this short video.

today's top discussions:

logo

Mother's Day is coming in a few weeks!

AABBYGAIL RUTH

2024-05-15 10:52 PM

Depression Community

logo

Addiction

Lynn123

2024-05-15 9:17 PM

Managing Drinking Community

logo

Challenging Worry - Worry Time

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-05-14 3:33 PM

Depression Community

logo

Fibre

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-05-06 5:05 PM

Healthy Weight Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Browse through 411.753 posts in 47.056 threads.

160,633 Members

Please welcome our newest members: GCAJULAO, RPABIA, TEBON, SJOLINE GEL, Duncan Brown

Panic attack while asleep


19 years ago 0 7 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
lyrics, that's exaclty what happens in my case!!! Well, previously at least. Now I usually have one big panic attack... wake up gasping for air... Before I used to have panic attakcs for the rest of the night until around 7 am when I was finally able to get some sleep. Now I usually just have one and then I'm able to relax enough to actually go back to sleep. So it's a big improvement already but I still would like to sleep through the night ;-) I don't take meds as I try to avoid them at any costs. So that can't be it. I also don't have a nightmare at least not that I can tell. It seems its "just" a panic attack. I have stopped watching tv at night (I always watched the news at 11 pm but I stopped to make sure I don't see something that might upset me). Instead I often read, have a cup of tea and/or do some knitting which helps me to relax and get my mind off things... But I guess I'll have to take it a step further... I'll try the relaxation and breathing exercises and hopefully that works. And obviously... If I'm tired I often feel ****py the next day... feel nauseous which then starts the whole panic circle... I'm getting better and better at it not to let it get started though so that's definately very promissing already. I'll keep you posted, thanks for the tips & feedback
19 years ago 0 125 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Redface, I was told by my doctor that the meds aren't causing the nightmares but it is in fact the anxiety. It makes sense to me becauase when I think back, I had the nightmares before I started to take any meds.
19 years ago 0 274 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I know that some will disagree with my viewpoint, but when I was taking some medications, I had horrible nightmares, or panic attack nightmares. When I stopped taking those medications the nightmares stopped. They were usually about demons or something terrifying. I wonder if it happens because the usual panic during the day is gone, and somehow it has to come out in our subconscious? Or is it just meds? I wonder how many of us out there have experienced the same thing?
19 years ago 0 1 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi, I have the same problem. It seems that when I just reach level 1 sleep, (on the fringe of falling asleep), I am woken up by a huge fright wave. Kind of like when you awake suddenly from a bad dream, only there is no dream. This panic will be accompanied by either involuntary twitches, or a gasp or just sitting up. This happens about 6-10 times over the next hour or two, and then I finally fall asleep. Once asleep, I usually stay asleep. I don't have any concious anxious thoughts beforehand and yet they still happen. Now I am frightened of sleeping and I used to love a good sleep. Also, when you are tired, it makes it just that much harder to keep myself in the state of mind to relax during daytime panic attacks. Does anyone know why the body or mind is doing this unconciously? Thanks :confuse:
19 years ago 0 12049 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Muddymutt, So glad you are doing better while on the program. You have already won half the battle by getting up at night to relieve the panic attack. How about before bed? Have you tried relaxation techniques? What about breathing techniques? For tonight, prepare by reducing your anxiety level as much as you can. A hot bath, some soothing music, a warm beverage can help. This ensures that you are totally relaxed before bed. Hope this helps! Josie
19 years ago 0 7 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Does anybody has an idea how I can prevent getting panic attacks while I'm asleep? I'm currently in week 3 of the panic program and I've had some nice success already. There were several situations where I used to panic that I was able to relax enough and break through the panic circle and so I didn't have an attack. And there were other situations where I did have a panic attack but there too I leared to relax and the panic attack was a lot shorter than usual. I'm really encouraged by that and I'm even more motivated. However lately I often have a panic attack while I'm asleep which then wakes me up. I'm now able to relax enough so that when I get up for a few minutes and do something whether it is make myself a tea, step outside in the backyard to get some fresh air or simply sit on the couch for a little while I can go back to sleep a little while after. Just weeks ago I would simply lay in bed for the rest of the night having one panic attack after the other. So I am doing better in that sense but I'm desperate for some uninterupted sleep. It's been a few weeks since I last was able to sleep through the night. I know this is part of the symptons but does anybody has an idea how I can prevent getting a panic attack while I'm asleep and therefore don't really have control over the situation?

Reading this thread: