waking up in the night with panic attacks

[saviourseth]

Hi. I am fairly new here and posted about my depression yesterday. I had never had panic attacks before but have started waking up feeling like I cant breathe and having to pace the house to calm down. It feels like no matter how deep i breathe i just cant get enough air. Its also making me feel very claustrophobic. I try breathing exercises but sometimes its taking me an hour to calm down then i go back to sleep for a while and then i happens all over again.

Is there anything i can do before bed to help prevent these attacks.

Am going through some very difficult life issues at the moment and feel like i am losing it.

Any time i have to think at all is torture. I just dont want to think anymore. My mind wont stop and i cant eat or sleep which is ok because i have been through this deep depression many times and i know eventually the storm will turn to just rain...these panic attacks and claustrophobic feelings are a battle im not prepared for.

Help

[150lashes]

Hi there

I'm sorry to read about how you have been feeling. You aren't alone however and what you are feeling I have felt.

I suffer from anxiety and early on panic attacks. Particularly of an evening. One evening I thought I was having a heart attack and was taken to hospital to rule that out!

Lying in bed is when tend to think the most so the panic was often at its worst then. My GP put me on sleeping tablets for 7 days. This worked really well to settle me down so I could get rest and break the cycle.

In the meanwhile I learnt a lot about breathing which for me was so Helpful.

I stopped taking the sleeping pills but before bed woukd have a cup of warm milk honey and nutmeg (1/4 teaspoon only), I would read a good book. I also have a playing of rainforest music which I out ear phones in at night and listen to. The breathing I practice when I lag down to sleep whilst listening to the music. This routine has got me back to properly sleeping and has stopped the panic attacks.

I wake up each morning with anxiety and have a seperate ritual I need to follow before I start the day.

It gets easier, I'm still new to it all myself.

Goodluck and I hope you're feeling better soon 🙂

[pipsy]

Dear saviourseth. My name is Lynda. What a dreadful situation for you to be in. You mentioned breathing difficulties. Have you seen a Dr to discuss this? When you go outside do you have the same problem with breathing? Now, with the breathing do you 'wheeze' at all, I'm wondering if you 'hyperventilate'? Hyperventilation is when you feel anxious and you panic because you are in a situation you feel you can't escape. Claustrophobic type atmosphere can bring on hyperventilation. I'm going to make a suggestion. The next time you have this problem breathing, grab a paper bag (paper is better than plastic), breathe in and out into the paper bag for a couple of minutes. Breathe as deeply as you can. A claustrophobic atmosphere is when you feel the walls are closing in, you panic and have problems breathing, hence the hyperventilating problem. Sit down when doing this, close your eyes and concentrate on the breathing. If it is hyperventilation, you should start feeling better almost immediately. I would still see your Dr and ask if there's anything you could take to alleviate the panic feeling you experience.

Hope this helps. I would definitely see your Dr anyway.

[saviourseth]

Hi pipsy

Thanks for your reply. Its not so much a difficulty breathing as it is a feeling i just cant get enough fresh air. Going outside where possible or standing by the front door helps a little.

I definitely need to go see someone. It's just so daunting as having been through the finding a suitable therapist thing before. The last one I chose to pay was an esteemed psychiatrist who after seeing me for almost a year pretty much told me I am what I am and there was really nothing apart from meds that he could help me with.

That moment I started to accept that I was on my own.

Sometimes that is easy. Sometimes not.

These panic attacks have been a recent addition to my depression.

Life is sent to try us I guess.

Thanks for being there

Saviourseth

[pipsy]

Hi saviourseth. Thanks for getting back to us. Your psych certainly didn't help much, please don't let that stop you from asking your Dr for another referral. Some psych's pretty much 'tune in ' when we ask for help, some give us meds and tell us to return at a later date. Perhaps you could try asking for a referral to a psychologist. They're sometimes better at guiding when we feel so lost and alone. I really think you should see your Dr about your breathing difficulties. You definitely need help there. Please don't think you're alone, you're never alone. have you thought about ringing BB's helpline for a chat to one of our counsellors. They're trained to help you find the right person to help you. You could also ring lifeline, they have counsellors for talking too. The depression, coupled with anxiety, coupled with the breathing difficulties you're experiencing are all tied in and talking to a psych/counsellor might help you. You need to learn coping strategies, this is where counselling comes into it's own.

[saviourseth]

Thanks again Lynda

Think that you are right. I need a kind ear right now.

I will definitely take your advice.

Bless you.

[pipsy]

Hi there. Best wishes. I hope you get the help you need. I'm just so sorry you had such a bad experience when your psychiatrist basically didn't listen. Thinking of you and hoping everything goes well for your future.