Night time panic attacks

Mental health
1

Anybody wake up at night with panic attacks, and have a way to stop or prevent that?  I get bouts every couple years, last year I was given sertraline, eventually stopped panic, I stopped sert, attacks returned, now ony taking 25 mg.  Working but makes me more anxious, don't want to take it forever.   

Without sert, I occas woke up feeling panic, as if house on fire and can't escape but telling myself that's ridiculous doesn't help because I know that.  Midnight walks help calm down but panic reoccurs when I get into bed ( bed-panic? )  Knowing that's a conditioned response doesn't help. 

I've had a mindfullness meditation class but sitting still makes me more anxious, and if panicky, that increases it,  walking reduces panic but walking all nite prevents sleep.

I've heard for some physical feelings like constricted breathing cause thoughts of panic or heart attack, which then causes a real panic attack. 

But I have no thoughts when I wake up, just the feeling of panic (only thought is, oh crap, another panic attack, I can't sleep with that.)  I've told myself it's a stupid attack soon to go away but I still feel panicky, can't sit still, feel like a volcano if I stay in bed, have to get up.  

Any ideas on preventing those stupid panic feelings?  Or is it just chemical, a night terror, any med help when that happens?

Thanks for any advice. 

Patrick

 

2

I don't know really medically that you would have to talk to your doctor about.

Maybe a psychiatrist they can prescibe you a mild tranquilzer to get you through these hadr times.

But other then that mediacally I don't know

3

Yes I just thought of something else there are psych/iatrist/otherapists who specialize in anxiety and they can help you in many ways.

4

G,Day pmnc Please dont take this the wrong way ,But your in your own home or flat why would you wake up and be frightend .Is there any one stalking you or is it just you i have been frightend many years ago when i was a fireman if you Google North Albury Book Shop Boobie trapped shop im the fireman on the roof and i oped the door and set off the Gun that shot 2 fellow fireman in 1982 in the middle of winter it was that cold here it Snowed but melted as soon as it hit the ground Please brighten up and think happy thoughts ok ?

5

The trigger is irrelevant, it matters not whether you have been a soldier in a war zone or are scared of purple tea pots... Its the mind's perceived threat to life, not the actual threat to life that creates the fight or flight response and its about training the brain to recognise what most other people know, purple tea pots, on their own, are not likely to harm you!

6

Try looking up ilovepanicattacks it might throw some perspectives, good luck 

7

Hi Patrick, it's very real, so don't feel silly, irrational, flawed.   Your right in looking for an answer.  Firstly, do you sleep alone, or do you have a partner? Is there additional stress in that your mindful that you're disturbing a sleeping companion? Secondly, I can't imagine what this must be like for you as my panic/anxiety related to day to day activities, which I was able to avoid, and subsequently compound the problem, how on earth do you avoid going to bed?!!  How awful for you.  However, in recovering, I think you may be able to find a quicker resolution than the rest of us have.  Avoidance is a huge element of anxiety and panic, therefore because you truly can't avoid going to bed, the good news is you can skip this middle ground of avoidance behaviour.  Indeed some live with anxiety and panic for life, because the avoidance behaviour enables them to do so.  I was nearly one of those people.

So coming at this in a step by step manner.   You know where and when your anxiety is triggered.   That's good.  Does it ever surprise you in any other situation? Do you work, are you able to catch up on sleep or are you struggling with sleep deprivation also?   Can you sleep on the couch, anxiety free for example? You say that just sitting still can bring it on,  is that during times when you're running a self check programme, listening to your breathing, watching for palpitations etc? Are you health anxious? Have you tried sleeping tablets before AD's?   if so, did sleeping tablets have any impact on night time panic?

What I m sure is utterly frustrating for you is, I'm asleep, how on earth can I be responsible for creating a thought induced panic when I'm asleep?    How on earth can I affect my sleeping thoughts?!!!   But certainly, yes I do think this can be fixed, and in a way, I think it can be fixed quicker than more classic anxiety disorders as it has to be fixed!  We have to sleep, every day of our lives, you truly can't avoid it.  So it's finding that fix.

 Things to help your body would be cutting out caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.  That in itself will take a couple of weeks to get out of your system, but all those are stimulants and the stuff anxiety loves to feed off.   Next is what they call sleep hygiene. Regulate sleeping hours, ensure your bedroom is relaxing and tranquil.  No iPads/iPhones or telly!  You could try relaxing sounds or quiet gentle music, think spas smile  I'm not saying these two approaches will fix your problem, but they will give you and your body the best chance of then tackling your anxiety triggers.  Also day time exercise, being active is great.  If you then tick these boxes that you've prepared yourself and your surroundings to heal, you can then dig deeper into what may be causing your anxiety.  There will be a trigger, but for now, it appears you're in the situation of fearing the fear, and that in itself is enough to trigger the endless anxiety cycle.  It may seem an awful lot to undo, especially when you've suffered for a long time, but I'm absolutely sure you can do this.  

Patrick, you say that it's like a volcano and you have to get up.  What happens if you stay in bed? What happens if you chain yourself to the chair?  Part of retraining is relearning that we're not going to die if we remain where we are.  

Anxiety is our friend. It's our body trying to protect us. "Thank you anxiety for trying to look after me, but I don't need you right now, I'm safe, but it's ok if you're concerned dear anxiety " xxxxxx

8

Agreed

9

Just wondering if you could go back onto sert for a while see if anxiety settles and no night panics? Whilst taking explore alternatives which you can practice whilst tapering off sert? 

All non medical alternatives such as relaxation, breathing techniques etc take practice to become fully effective. 

Mindfulness is about accepting the anxiety you feel when sitting still and accepting for what it is and exploring those feelings then re focusing on breathing, body scan etc, you need to discuss this with your class leader as that's at the core of mindfulness, taking away the anxiety power leads to it going away.

n

10

Hiya, I can totally sympathise with you, I couldnt tell you the last time I had a decent nights sleep, I've got 2 the stage that I try 2 stay awake as long as I can while im feeling not 2 bad as I know as soon as I fall asleep I will wake up after about an hour feeling all anxious and panicking then spend the rest of the night pacing up and down, im just so exhausted sad xx

11

Hi Patrick im sp delighted u ave brought up this topic. Ive stsrted getting these six wks ago whuch resulted in me goin t hospital by ambulance at 5am! I ave irregular heart but always sinus rythem had trsts done all fine yet again.. But i am like u i go t bed wake up god knows wat hr wit heart racing n if i start t think bout it it literally starts thumping out of chest i get sweat n need the loo n feel wobbly. I try t go bak t bed n do deep breathin n tsll myself theres nothing wrong but easier said than done.  My dr said its highly unlike to b panic attack during sleep but it can happen so im so glad im not alone in tthis situation either. I just want to live normal life again this is goin on one yr now n p*ssing me off! 

12

Thank you so much for all the supportive responses, you help me feel better.

I'm more vulnerable during stressful times but we all get those, moving, death of parent (both started attacks.)   Until last attacks I hadn't thought it's the same as agorophobia: a stressed, anxious person goes out, can't breathe, feels like heart attack.  Feels better at home but naturally fears going out (no reason it won't reoccur,) anxious, then panic:  a conditioned response, won't go out.  

Thanks, Chris for lengthy reply.  Agorophobics carefully desensitize themselves,  I'll try to see how I can apply that to my conditioned "bedpanic," (sounds funny, might help to laugh at it.)

I don't intend to take benzos regularly but have some, will try if it hits to stop it before I get conditioned. 

I know if I have a panic attack it makes sense to ride it out instead of give in (for me, going for a walk.)  I could just lie there.  But I really feel like a volcano about to explode, jump out of bed, then feel anxious but not exploding.  I don't like that lack of control but to me, lying there would be like telling an epileptic to stop shaking.  I know it's not the same, going to bed when panicky is more like pushing a panicky agorophic outside, just makes it worse.   Trying to calm down or waiting it out would be like ordering myself or others to calm down or be happy.

I realize I don't have a  bad life, job or anxiety ( Atlantic mag editor Scott Stossel has successful life and wrote on his incredible anxiety.)  But I have had stressful events.  Have seen counselors, there's always deep stuff and my thinking could be more positive but I don't feel thoughts precede panic and don't have irrational thoughts, I know it's a panic attack not heart attack, etc.

It's been frustrating they happen every few years or less, I'm sure it's worse for some of you, but I feel I'm not getting better with years.  I've probably heard most suggestions before but your support is motivating me to keep on trying them.     

A positive note, our pain makes us more compassionate, I do feel a love for all of you, thanks for helping.

Patrick

 

13

Lesley,

Thanks.  I feel for you.  Sounds like that's been going on a long time.  For me it was a couple weeks of 2 or 3 hr sleep nites, wired enough to get thru days but don't see how that can last long.

If you'd like to talk about it I'll listen.

Sounds like you need help, if it's just a couple hours sleep for a long time, maybe some meds, I've tried some, can discuss, also tried some of the suggestions others have offered.  Please let me know how you're doing.  Take care,

Patrick

14

I feel your pain! I'm not sleeping either and this upsets me so much! I can't function the next day and it makes me feel so ill! 

15

We can sleep when tired but not anxious or panicky, tired and anxious is enervating.    I get insomnia, if I get a few hrs sleep I'm tired next day, and next nite if no naps.  That helps sleep if no panic, in which case I can't lie in bed, have to get up and walk it out, after a few days I'm usually too tired to be anxious.  

Chris had some sleep hygiene helps that may help if not anxious. I think sleep hygiene says don't lie in bed anxious, do something till tired.

16

That's why I think it's biochemical, I can't think of anything that I'm afraid of that's causing this.   I feel for those who've had real tragedies like that bombing,  could cause PTSD which would make us vulnerable.  But if I survived a car crash I wouldn't be lying awake fearing a car will crash into me.

17

Hiya Patrick, thanks for your reply, have asked the doctor on numerous occasions for something to help me sleep but he says no ive also asked another doc at the surgery and she said no as well, I haven't asked in a couple of months so I might push my luck again when I go to my appointment in a couple of weeks time, in saying that I seem 2 be on quite a bit of medication just now so maybe something else might be 2 much, thanks again, take care and I hope you are well smile xx

18

Thanks.  Forgot an oddity, I have no fear of the dark but if I wake up in a pitch dark room I feel disoriented,  may panic.  More anxious trying to get to sleep if no light at all but no fear being in a room with no lights. 

I occasionally get migraines, dr. said it's best to prevent them, once started, hard to stop.  Same with pani.  If  I stay in bed knowing there's no harm, should get better: it increases, gets worse.

19

This is an older thread, but was hoping discussion was still  ongoing. Your comment about night panic attacks being a biochemical function caught my eye. I had suffered from night panic attacks for years. Was so tired of every one trying to give me psyche drugs and counseling.  Always the first question, "what are you anxious about".  Well, nothing, from a dead sleep, like someone pressed a button I wake up in a panic. During  that time  my husband , a nurse, suggested I take a thyroid blood test. Although I had no symptoms of hypothyroidism, that was my diagnosis.He had suspected hyperthyroidism. So I was put on Synthroid. That was 17 years ago. The panic attacks continued on the med. My husband passed away about 10 years ago. He was stationed in Afghanistan and while he was away, I suffered a daytime panic attack, which, I will admit, may have been brought on by stress. I drove myself to the hospital. All the talk of vallium, prozac, you know the drill.  I followed up with my family doc, who told me it was my choice to do the prozac. I chose not to, but as an aside vitamin d was becoming a vitamin of interest, and was suggested that I take it. That much I did. About 2 months later my husband was killed in action.  After about 6 months of terrible grief that would follow an event as this, I realized that I had not had a panic attack since taking the vitamin d. Over 10 years later, I have not had an episode. However, now I have been diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid with nodules. I am so grateful that the panic attacks stopped, but I do feel that since I had no symptoms of hypothyroidism, should have not taken the Synthroid. It never helped the attacks, as I continued to have them for years while on the meds. Did my grief change my brain patterns, did the vitamin d eliminate the attacks, I have no idea, but I will never be without my vitamin d.