For the past two weeks I've barely slept because I am so afraid of waking up to a panic attack since they're SO MUCH worse when they start in sleep (and complicated by asthma). What I find really helps me is to fall asleep with with dim lights on as well as with noise like the radio on and a book in my lap, I don't know why, but even though it takes me longer to fall asleep with the extra stimulus I'm less likely to wake up with a panic attack, or if I do, all the "normal daytime" stimulus helps me get out of it in a shorter period of time because I come to my senses faster. I don't know if this would work for you, but for me it somehow feels safer, or less final, to fall asleep in this manner. I hope it becomes manageable in any case.
