topic Nocturnal panic attacks in Anxiety

Nocturnal panic attacks

AndyBB — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 07:47:46 GMT

Hello,

I was wondering if I could get some help or some guiding from people on this forum. I have been suffering with insomnia for the past 3 years and with GAD and panic attacks for the last 10 years. I have been experiencing for the past three to four weeks a thing that I have never experienced before. I keep waking up frequently during the night. Some night I wake up 3 - 4 times, other nights 6 - 7 times. On some of these wake-ups I experience palpitations, night frights, chills, I feel like running away. I believe these are nocturnal panic attacks. During the day I am OK, but I feel tired sometimes. Has anyone around here experienced that? Three years ago I was fearing sporadic fatal insomnia, a rare disorder that most insomniacs with health anxiety blame.

I just want to know your opinions on these nocturnal panic attacks. What do you think I should do? Need I mention I am seeing a therapist but with little progress.

Thank you to everyone who reads my post and to everyone who chips in and shares their thoughts.

Cheers,

Andy

Nocturnal panic attacks

PamelaR — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 11:21:12 GMT

Hi AndyBB and welcome

Thank you for sharing your story Andy. I'm no health professional and can only give you my own experience. I have PTSD, anxiety and depression. Yes, I wake every night at a minimum of 2 to 3 times. Often in a startled state - sometimes with palpitations. Sometimes it depends on the dream I'm having. I can live with this - I go back to sleep after I get up, go to the loo, have a drink of water. Lay down and start my breathing regime (slow breath in and out). 6-7 times a night seems a little much. Have you spoken to your therapist? By the way, if you're not making progress - it's okay to ask your doctor for a change if you think that would help.

While I have these night attacks, I also have day attacks. Currently I'm working with my doctor to see if this is from too much medication I'm taking for another issue I have. Since I've reduce this medication I seem to have reduced my anxiety a little - thank goodness.

Some nights I have difficulties going to sleep (insomnia) - generally this happens when I haven't had enough physical or mental activity through the day. I sleep better when getting at least 1/2 hr aerobic activity.

Hope some of this helps Andy. Feel free to browse our forums and to join discussions if you think they are similar to your situation. There is a thread Sleep. You can do a search using the search field at the top of the page.

Kind regards

PamelaR

Nocturnal panic attacks

blondguy — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 11:30:12 GMT

Hi Andy

Thank-you for the thread topic as many people have or used to have panic attacks during the night which would make sleep extremely difficult

Waking up frequently during the night can be a indicator that we have too much on our plate..so to speak. A good quality sleep is essential for our mental health.

I understand you Andy as I used to wake up frequently....had nightmares.....cold sweats...changing t-shirts....and it was horrible (understatement of the decade)

You are very proactive with your health by seeing a therapist Andy which is important..Good1

Do you see your GP for a 'talk'? The more frequent our visits the less impact the anxiety will have in our lives. I understand it can be expensive yet you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by engaging frequent appointments with your GP.

Making a double appointment with your GP can provide huge relief where anxiety is concerned 🙂

Any questions are welcome Andy....if you have any that is

my kind thoughts

Paul

Nocturnal panic attacks

AndyBB — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 12:01:08 GMT

Hello Pamela,

Thank you for sharing this. I have had every little symptom I could imagine and life is hell. If I can fix this sleep issue with frequent wakings I could then fix other issues. Thank you for your reply. I do not take medication, no coffee, no smoking, only occasionally drink beer. Have you heard about sporadic fatal insomnia?

Nocturnal panic attacks

AndyBB — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 12:02:31 GMT

Hello,

How frequent did you wake up? What did you experience? How did you get over it?

Any insight might be useful. Thank you for your reply.

Cheers,

Andy

Nocturnal panic attacks

blondguy — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 12:35:21 GMT

Hi Andy

used to wake up every 2-3 hours after going to bed....I was 23 at the time and didn't see my doc or a therapist so my panic attacks became more intense as I thought I could self heal..and I was wrong (I was fit and eating well)

I woke up with heart palpitations and cold sweats.....and was exhausted when I went to work...so my career performance started to go backwards....and I still refused to see a GP or counselor....(denial on my part)

I had panic attacks in traffic....meetings....elevators. I was only seeing a psychologist every six months thinking that would work.....It didnt

After 13 years I had two GP's telling me know that I will lose everything.....career...house....well being....if I didnt start a basic low dose anti-depressant. (just for my own anxiety levels Andy...as everyone is different)

End result.......my anxiety reduced by approx 70% during the day....and my sleep improved too

The meds were never a 'fix all'....They did provide me with a solid foundation on which I could heal more effectively in conjunction with weekly visits to my GP and increased my psychologist visits to every 3 months

Can I ask if your anxiety/panic effects your day to day well being Andy?

you are not alone AndyBB......

Paul

Nocturnal panic attacks

AndyBB — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 10:30:24 GMT

Hello blonduy,

I can manage daytime panic attacks. I rarely get them. I imagine myself in a calm place and I explore that place. I meditate whenever I can. That helps. I also exercise as much as I can and I think of a bright future. I keep bringing hope into my life even if it's just a little bit.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Andy

Nocturnal panic attacks

blondguy — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 09:14:02 GMT

Hey Andy

Its really good to have a fresh look at anxiety and thank you for the heartfelt help too 🙂

How are your nights going? (with the GAD and waking up?)

I havent heard of 'sporadic fatal insomnia' before...Can I ask if you have diagnosed with it?

Great to have you as part of the forum family Andy!

my kind thoughts always

Paul

Nocturnal panic attacks

White_Rose — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 20:34:22 GMT

Dear Andy

I used to have night time panic attacks. Not nice at all. I think we are most vulnerable at night when these things happen. Coping when all we want to do is sleep appears much harder than in the day.

I see you meditate which can be very helpful. Have you tried meditation when you wake during the night? I used to do this and I have a friend who also finds meditation during the night helps her to get back to sleep. There are all sorts of opinions on what does and does not help, it is very individual.

My GP used to tell me to stay in bed and 'read' a book. That is go through the book in my mind keeping the story straight and not skipping over parts. I think anything that requires concentration will work as well as the goal is to get your mind to think of something different and get your body to relax. Until then I used to get up and watch TV which my GP said was too stimulating and would keep me awake for longer. Horses for courses.

We are prone to imagine the worst outcome when we are unwell. I had a quick look at sporadic fatal insomnia which is very rare as you said. If this is still a concern then it would be good to see your doctor and get it sorted out. I was the same with another medical condition and found my GP hugely helpful. She showed me a list of all symptoms etc and discussed how many I had. Not many. So rather than add to your worries do get it checked out.

I am not surprised you feel your psychologist does not help much. Six monthly or three monthly appointments does not sound useful. Was this your idea or the psych's? I find I need continuity and to be able to follow up with the previous session. If you are on a mental health plan you should be able to go almost every month without running out of sessions. Why not add that to your list of topics to discuss with both the psych and GP?

I see you have eliminated some of the things that may stop or interrupt your sleep. When do you exercise? I know many people go for a walk before going to bed but again it is stimulating and works against sleep. In this case it is better to walk in the late afternoon or early evening in order to relax before bed.

I hope some of this helps.

Mary