okay so im still very new to this whole anxiety thing, im only about 3 months in. so now im thinking im experiencing a "night" panic attack, or a panic attack in my sleep. so heres what i can describe as what just happened! i was sleeping like a newborn baby, in my dream i just remember having a convo about my anxiety and how bad it was, i also remember saying i was going to show them (whoever i was talking to in my dream) how upsetting my anxiety is... next thing i know im jumping out my sleep choking on my own saliva... it was the most bizarre, but definitely scary thing ever. i instantly felt myself about to go in straight panic mode because i felt as though that if i wouldnt have gotten up, would i really have continued to just choke?! like i honestly dont know how i remained calm when i woke up because inside i was terrified. now when i say this kind of story i must tell the whole truth. first thing is im currently on a family trip, it was a much needed getaway at the beach so earlier today (before i went to bed) i was getting anxiety about going home and back to reality. not sure if this had to influence what happened. secondly i fell asleep reading these anxiety posts and you know most of the time you dream about what you fell asleep to thinking about. lastly today i rode a bunch of thrill rides so im not sure if this too couldve affected me. idk if this is normal night panic attacks?? this would be my first. or if i was in fact choking in my sleep on my own saliva. i just recently took a pulmonary function test and the results show no sign of me ever being in the position to choke in my sleep. im saying all this to ask if you guys can share some of your night panic attack stories!!! or opinions about this! at this point im feeling personally attacked. please help me out!! because now im afraid to go back to sleep bc im afraid my body may forget to breathe.
hi
I had my first night panic attack just after my husband died i didnt know what the hell.it was all i could think was my daughters cant lose me as well. obviously now i know it was grief causing this .
I managed to get on track then 2.5 years after boom major anxiety attacks thinking i couldnt swallow etc .
But guess what i can your mind is a funny old thing just keep telling yourself u r fine take deep breaths in and out. Before u go to sleep think about how u would like to wake up in the morning make that your last thought it really does help. I use to listen to an end anxiety app which was great . I have been on citalopram for nearly 4 years now and im doing great so dont worry
i also suffer from acid reflux/ GERD. not sure if it was simply acid in my throat
so sorry to hear about your husband… my anxiety started after my grandma died… unfortunately i drank a year away bring in denial. now im feeling it
It could very well be to do with the acid reflux are u on any medication for the anxiety
Your body can’t forget to breathe as breathing is an automatic function so relax.
Hi BB, Yes, you can wake up in a panic for various reasons and it can be very scary!! Hypercat is right, your body will breathe automatically…you sound like you want to hear some examples of others?! For YEARS, I used to have terrible nightmares of drowning, I would hold my breath for extended periods of time, shoot up in bed, gasping for air, then I had insomnia as I didn’t want to sleep…In the end, I told my Mom and she said I had a near-drowning accident at 2 1/2, my birth father dropped me from the diving board & I went to the bottom of the pool(explained my fear of water) but at the sleep clinic, I was told EITHER, the dream makes me hold my breath or my n/o sleep apnea triggers the nightmare…I take sleep medication and am fine now!!!Yours may have been any number of things but, its really important to NEVER be afraid to sleep(chronic nightmares/insomnia, ask your Dr maybe a therapist? They will catch up to you, sleep is VERY important) But you need to relax and be low stress before bed, have good thoughts of the past day or look forward to the next, make a bedtime routine warm, quiet, cozy, happy place!! Kick anxiety out of your life, its not welcome, it can get better!! Take Care:four_leaf_clover:
