Adrenaline rush when trying to fall asleep

[Sweetpea0290]

Hi, my partner has been having terrible trouble falling asleep, he complains of feeling a huge surge of adrenaline just as he is about to drift to sleep, this can continue for quite a while until he is so exhausted his body has no choice but to sleep.(this feeling is not associated with any physical twitching or jerking of muscles or limbs)
He has fairly recently stopped taking citalopram which was prescribed to alleviate anxiety which he was diagnosed with many years ago.
Could this problem he is experiencing when trying to sleep be SSRI discontinuation syndrome? If so, is there anything you could recommend to relieve this unpleasant symptom?

[JSGeare]

The answer is, "could be," and I'll be darned if I know what might bridge the gap into a normal sleep pattern. If the cessation was not with medical advice, I think it would be a great idea to get a medical opinion, which may well include what can help restore a comfortable sleep experience. Just remember, all the opinions you get here are ...just that ... opinions. So get a medical one.

[waspman1]

i've just came across your problem as i have been searching this symptom myself, i have anxiety but do not take medication, i have this feeling also, i would describe it as an adrenaline rush or the feeling that my body is seizing up, this does not happen every night but does happen quite frequently, i have just attributed it to anxiety, although i have not mentioned it to the doctor, but every other crazy symptom i have had has been attributed to anxiety

[Jennifer375]

That sounds REALLY uncomfortable. I have to agree with JSG,,, if his withdrawl from the medicine wasnt with a doctors advice and or was done abruptly without tapering... I would press him to immediatly go see his doctor. Its possible he has thrown some brain chemicals into 'shock' if you will (a sudden stopping makes this likely) and the symptoms he is now experincing should be checked out along with possibly some blood work just for precaution sake. *Best wishes and please do update!*

[Jennifer375]

just re-read my post and wanted to say , by "immediatly' I dont mean rush to an ER of course,, just that he really should get into see his doctor as soon as possible. Im sure if he cant sleep for any lenght of time he will decide to anyways, but just restarting the medicine may not help and seeing a professional is important in this situation.

[MomonElm]

I am up at a really late hour because of this very thing - trying to find out why this happens.  However, I don't take, and never have taken any medication beyond simple antibiotics.  Additionally, I don't have anxiety in the slightest.  I'm a very laidback person.  One thing I can add to this is that this happens right as I'm drifting off to sleep and I have the feeling like I'm physically falling and while I'm obviously not, my body reacts as if I am.  Also - it's never a part of any dream - I'm not dreaming yet.  It's right as I'm falling asleep.  The adrenaline rush is very real - and very lasting though.

[Pat1958]

It happened to me too and I have called my doctor for an answer.  I will let you know what he said.  I also have felt along with the adrenaline rush, almost like I can hear my blood rushing through my veins.  It was scary.
Pat

[ichthus]

I've had these types of symptoms on-and-off for 30 years.  Mine occur both as I'm lying down to sleep, and also when I awake, mid- or early morning.  Benadryl works well to get me to sleep without the surges, but I haven't found anything that helps at 3:00-6:00 in the morning yet...   They occur out of the blue - without my thinking or worrying about anything (other than the next surge), and usually don't stop on their own.  Two types of rushes:  (1) fluttering inside my head, then a warm flush over my head, (2.) adrenaline zap at the top of my sternum that radiates throughout my chest, upper arms, throat, jaw, head...  burning for 20-30 seconds, then dissipating to a mild discomfort.  Slight increase in heart rate...   Neither of these are heart related - - doctors think anxiety...  Been prescribed Paxil and various benzo's - - as well as Ambien...  The latter two leave me shaky, antsy, sleepy the next day....

[doeeyes]

Hello Posters,
I've felt much the same thing only mine tends to occur after exercise.  I avoid exercise for this very reason.  It's as if my adrenaline kicks in after exercise and doesn't wane until bedtime (sometimes late into the morning).  Often it feels like I might have a seizure at any moment (though I've never had one). I'm thinking of taking xanax for this.  This has been going on for a year now. It began after a 5 month stint of a heavy exercise regimen (which I never do) which I did to get over the depression I was having over a failed relationship. It usually (always?) happens at night. Can last for up to 2 hours after which I usually crash. Doctors have been unable to help thus far..it's absolute hell

[dmbfan07cb]

I don't get the adrenaline thing, I just feel like im dying, like i'm alipping away and I jerk myself awake.  i hate that.

[NightRush]

I have the same thing, repeatedly until I finially crash from complete exhaustion. I have had anxiety attacks years ago but I am not sure if this is related.  This started happening about 4 months ago and has been getting worse day by day.  I have started taking xanax to help fall asleep and it does give some relief from the symptoms by making them a lot milder and I seem to be able to fall asleep faster but it does not stop them completely.   Plus  I just hate having to take something on a nightly basis to fall asleep.  

I am really trying to link this to some cause other then anxiety, it just isn't the same.  I'm not thinking about anything when it happens and it is just as I am about to fall asleep.  I am thinking about getting my thyroid checked agian (my mother had hypothyroid) and this may be a symptom of the early stages... not sure though...  If anyone has any ideas please let me know..

[NightRush]

Any one else have these symptoms and take statins?

[RayRay8816]

Hey NightRush i have been experiencing the same symptoms..it started in the beginning of may.i actually was doing fine off my medication for 7 months and i was teaching myself to live off the medicine and go out for walks and enjoy life..but i noticed when i went to stores or was but under pressure or told to do so many things like go to the grocery store, i would get kinda lightheadness and dizzy but i thought nothing of it i was overwhelmed.

anyways, in the middle of march i had been taking diet pills...and it increased the rush of adrenaline, and i would just run around and do stuff constantly and feel good..but one day i awaoke and i noticed i feel anxiety and pressure and my heart was beating fast..i thought nothing of it but as the day went on and night time came my arms started going numbe my heart was pounding and i felt sick and i wasnt even thinking about anything that would prone me to an attack...it scared me it felt like i was having a stroke. ever since then my heart has been pounding and feel like a panic attack waiting to happen. i went to the dentist and i had a horrific experience and had to have my friend and the dental assistants talk me through numbing my gums "i hate big needels and that thing looked huge"!,but that was before my heart pounding and adrenaline rushes which i think caused it to happen like this cuz when i came out the dentist i must have been in such a tramatic situation cuz my heart was hurting.


i went to the doctor and he had check my thryoid,blood,urine,and even a ekg on my heart. everything came back good and NORMAL!  he prescribed me xanax which i have been taking and i felt so dizzy and light headed on it and i would even sometimes forget my place in a conversation and feel delayed. i stopped taking it for 2 days cuz i hated the feeling of feeling slow and plus my mom said it was a killer to come off and when u did it would feel like ur body couldnt function and u would start trembling...i know cause my mom was taking to the emergency room  after coming off of xanax.but on the 2nd night before i went to sleep my heart started pounding and i t felt like someone was choking me and i couldnt breath...all xanax does is calm ur nerves i wish  he would have given me a anxiety medication which he didnt and i found strange cuz that was my main purpose for visitng the doctor...i contuine to take xanax and feel a lil better but i feel so laggy and delayed. i hate it!..i heard that you could take a beta blocker which stop adrenaline rushes but i personally dont know.

IF ANYONE IS READIN THIS AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING DONT PASS THIS POST  PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU HAVE OVERCAME THE SAME ISSUE...and to all you other people who are experiencing this same situation i am deeply sorry cause this is just horrible i cant even freaking function!..

[stacey555]

I had this for almost a year and noone understood what I was talking about. When I try to describe it to my doctors they act like Im crazy.  I do think it is an adreniline rush, but  I think it has something to do with your cortisol dropping to low and your adrenals compensating.   It is really scary and if anyone knows what is happening and you could pass the info along that would be great.

[treeman]

Hi .    I don't know if this is the same as I was getting but when it happens I feel it my stomach area like a strong electrical charge that keeps me from falling asleep.

[stacey555]

Yes almost like when your on a rollercoaster??

[urdacrazy1]

I can tell you that I just experienced what you've described just last night. It was horrible. I was sitting just fine and suddenly I felt a surge of pressure or something go through my arms up into like the back of my head. As it decreased, it almost felt like my energy was going away with it. It only lasted a few seconds but it left me kind of dizzy and scared.
Then when I went to bed I felt it again. Like, a surge, pressure and like you said almost like someone was choking me. My heart started racing and I felt like I could scream. When it finally subsided I was left extremely shakey. Like my whole body would tighten up and I would literally tremble every few second. If I tried to relax my muscles I wouldn't tremble but if I tense them up I would. CRAZIEST feeling. I think I've experienced it before. Well to answer your beta blocker question, I take them when I'm having bad anxiety. I took it last night and after about an hour I was back to "normal" and able to fall asleep. Can anybody else tell me if they've experienced what I or should I say WE have? It was so scarey. So is that what they call an adrenaline rush?

[urdacrazy1]

By the way, I'm not on any other medication.

[femalesnoo]

I have gad this on and off for years. Just a t the point of sleep I feel a surge starting in my chest and it runs right up through my head, sometimes into my arms and my eyes roll up in my head. It really does feel like I'm about to die, but I haven't yet so will just have to live with it!
by femalesnoo

[arnoldzoo5]

It's 1:10am and I'm still up.  Just got through having another attack.  About six months ago I had a hysterectomy.  I've not been the same sense!  It has sent my body realing.  I've had terrible panic attacks, ER visists, bad reactions to almost all medications and every test known to man.  Everything has come back Anxiety.  I was put on Zoloft and Ativan.  At first these attacks were the heart racing, dizziness, take an Ativan then fall asleep...then in a couple minutes my body would be pulled out of sleep grasping for breath.  Then I experienced migraine headaches, muscle cramping.  Put on Lexapro and came off Zoloft.  Then had visual disturbance, dizziness, depression and more migraines.  Now I am off Lexapro and only on Ativan.  I tried to come off Ativan slowly over 5 weeks and my body is freaking out.  I have pain in the atteries/veins in my neck and ankles.  I have heart flutters and strong vein beating/popping.  I hate it.  I'm scared all the time because I just know there is something more goin on.  Is is my thyroid?  Test keep coming back okay.  Is it my hormones? Hormone levels are just slightly low.  Is it my heart?  Heart doctor says NO.  What is it and how do I get rid of it so that I can go back to feeling like my old self again? HELP!!!
Nancy

[LaneyJane]

I have been suffering from anxiety and depression for over 20 years.  This "surge" thing always happens to me when I go for long periods of time during the day without food.  If I am busy and forget to eat for most of the day and even have a large supper, I will still have these "surges" of adrenaline.  It is one the main reasons I have so much trouble dieting.  I would suggest that if you have just one attack, to get up and eat a snack.  That almost always helps me.  I really believe it has something to do with your calorie intake for the day, or if you are dieting, maybe you are not getting enough calories each and every day.

[JM71]

I have this too!

Right as I'm about to fall asleep, I get an adrenaline surge that makes me feel suddenly really wide awake. Then I try and relax and start to fall asleep again and suddenly WHAM it happens again. It feels like it happens at the very moment I am drifting off to sleep. To the point where I have half lost consciousness and my body sort of 'freaks out' and wakes me up. Like it is afraid to sleep. I stay very relaxed, and try to not let it bother me.

The best way that I can describe it is like the feeling of being embarrased. My face feels warm, and my head and chest tingles. It lasts for about 20-30 seconds and then subsides. Sometimes my heart beats a little fast, but only if it scares me. I have gotten to the point where it happens to me and I just take it in stride. I don't panic or get worried. It is really frustrating though, and will happen over and over so that I don't get good sleep. I have stayed up a full 24 hours because of it before.

It doesn't happen every night, it usually comes in episodes where it will happen for one night, or sometimes a number of nights in a row.

I personally think it is a nervous system imbalance. For some reason my body mistakes that moment of sleep as if it were stressful.

Lots of things can cause your nervous system to get out of balance. If you have problems with anxiety, panic attacks, fatigue, or other symptoms, it could be your nervous system.

Things you can do to help keep your nervous system balanced:

1. Exercise regularly.
2. Eat well balanced meals. Don't eat too much sugar.
3. Stay away from caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants.
4. Drink plenty of water.

I can't say for sure that this is our problem. If anyone else has any ideas, please do share.

[kyval]

i experienced this about 6 months ago, way before my anxiety kicked in, i was drinking alot of caffeine, same as always but alot, so i stopped, and those episodes stopped as well, i wish i had an answer that easy for my anxiety..
best wishes..

[KirstinMc]

The sudden jolt you experience whilst going to sleep sounds very much like anxiety and then when your body starts to relax you get a jolt. I get this alot and completely understand. Also you might try getting a warm (not hot) bath and have a cup of camomille tea 30 mins before bed.

[beenalongtime4me]

you are the only person i have found that has discribed the fluttering inside your head. i get this nearly every night just as i am on the verge of falling asleep. i also get like fluttering in my chest and it rises up my throat into my ears. it is the feel you get when somebody winds down only one window in the car while you are driving. i also have a feeling as though there is something stuck in my throat and pressure there, sometimes i feel i cant get oxygen into my lungs.

[cnote]

I get like this too when I have anxiety. If I start to fall asleep, I all of a sudden jerk awake right before REM sleep. It also feels like I'm moving too sometimes, like motion sickness. It's weird. If you suffer from anxiety here and there, it could be from that. Don't know though. Just an opinion.

[p0larb0y1111]

~~~~Part 1~~~~


PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME TO READ THIS~


Yahoo: Jack_Da_stranglerxxx***@****
MSN : P0larb0y_1111***@****
AIM: p0larb0y_1111***@****

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Kirstin I've had this problem for a couple years
now, I'll explain my sleeping problems first but I
want to tell everyone basically what anxiety has been
like since I've had it. The worse thing for anyone
with Anxiety is to have no one that can understand
things you feel and have similar problems. I Will
probably post this same post in a more suitable thread
over time, sorry for being a little off topic on this
one but Anxiety is Anxiety.

----ABOUT ME-------

Before I Explain my anxiety problems I want you guys

to know I am only 16, I am a male.

(PLEASE DO NOT SKIP THIS BECAUSE I'M 16, I KNOW WHAT
ANXIETY FEELS LIKE AND JUST BECAUSE IM YOUNG DOESN'T
MEAN I DON'T KNOW WHAT STRESS FEELS LIKE, I"VE BEEN
THROUGH VERY ROUGH TIMES  (I'll be 17 in january)
years old.

-----> I weigh probably about 140 and I'm 5"4 or 5"5
and I've had anxiety problems ever since I was 14 or
15. My parents have always called me a hypochondriac
because I worry about the littlest things and they're
right, I have been worrying about dieing ever since I
was 7, (OR YOUNGER!) I remember when I was really
little id always ask my mom every night if i was going
to die because it would always make me feel better, i
liked it when she laughed about it too because it made
me feel like i was worrying about nothing. But I never
had anxiety problems than I was just scared.

[p0larb0y1111]

~~~~PART 2~~~~

----------------SLEEPING PROBLEMS-------------------  
  
   Well for my sleeping issues this is probably the
biggest problems anxiety has ever gave me. I have a
hard time sleeping at night, I CAN'T sleep without
sleeping pills every night. If I don't take my
medicine(I've tried a few times) I get jerking
feelings too, it feels that the closer I am to just
dozing off the closer I am to just having to jump up
really quick, I always described it as it felt like my
heart twitched or something, and I also kind of have a
feeling it has to do with adrenaline. Usually when I
get these its not just in my chest, It usually shoots
down my leg most of the time, or sometimes through my
hole chest. I also get rapid heart beats that last for
like 5-10 seconds than just beat like normal, This
also happens after I yawn a lot of times too, but it
does happen randomly a lot too. And when this happens
I do not have to be thinking about anything that's
making me nervous(it is really bad when this starts to
happen). I've been feeling something new for the last
few weeks too, It seems like during night time when I
just relax and play on the computer and stuff I get
like random beats in my chest, and its not always in
my heart area a lot of the time its in my right side.
When I sleep I ALWAYS have to sleep on my right side
because when I sleep on my left side i always get
pains in my chest, and if i would happen to fall
asleep on my left side(after doing this a few times i
realized laying this way was causing the pain so i
never do that anymore) I would wake up with horrible
pain in my arms, chest, stomach it felt like it was
numb kind of but dull pain at the same time.
When I first started to have anxiety problems I
couldn't sleep for 2 days, on the 3rd day I finally
passed out(Thank god) but woke up less than 5 hours
later so I couldn't handle it anymore, I had went to
the docter a couple days ago before this and he gave
me "Buspar" for my anxiety, he said it would help me,
and it does, it just doesn't help me sleep. When I
went he could tell I looked horrible and needed sleep
so he gave me 1 prescription of xanxex until my buspar
started to work because it takes time for long term
meds like that to start working.
Right now I am doing better than I used to for sure
though, I am currently taking 2 Clonidines and 10 MG
of buspar right before i go to bed, I am trying to cut
down on my medicine becuase I dont want to take it for
the rest of my life. I asked him if he'd cut my 15 MG
to 10MG and hes going to go along with it for me.
After I take my medicine I usually HAVE to try and
sleep after about 15 minutes because once my medicine
kicks in and im not trying to relax it sometimes
doesn't kick in or sometimes it does but im trying to
do something and after it wears off after about 30
mins if I try to sleep I won't be able to and I end up
just staying up for the rest of the night.
I know most of you probably don't want to know this
but I'm sure someone out there knows what I mean.
Usually when I'm trying to sleep or something I put
one of my hands down my pants or something(MOST GUYS
DO THIS) And with these rush's I get now, The Rush
goes straight to my private area. If anyone else has
experienced this let me know please.

[p0larb0y1111]

~~~~~PART 3~~~~~

==================================================
-WHAT I THINK MAY HAVE CAUSED MY ANXIETY PROBLEMS-
--------------------------------------------------

I'm going to be straight out honest on this post, I
know a lot of you guys wouldn't say a lot of stuff
like this but Its all true and if you can relate to
ANY of this please contact me(I have messenger screen
names at the top)

1. I'm not really sure about this one but my counseler
seems to be pretty conserned about this But I think I
was -NEGLECTED- a lot when I was a little kid (my
grandma told him I was), I don't really remember a lot
of it but it may have happened. Even if I don't
remember it there are probably memories somewhere in
my mind that keeps reminding me. My docter seems to
think that as well.

2. When I was about 13 or 14 I started to -SMOKE WEED-
all the time, I was basically high every day all day
for like 2 years straight. Fun times. But now not so
fun times. My first panic attack was right after I
smoked weed, But I had smoked weed for like 2 years
before that day and been fine, before my major panic
attack I did kind of get chest pains and stuff for a
while though so I kind of had an idea. Ever since that
first attack I never touched weed for atleast 6
months, My chest pounded so hard on that attack I
thought it was going to explode, than it was really
sore and had lots of dull and sharp pains for a few
weeks!

3.Another major thing was that I never talked to a lot
of people. I had very few friends, and -BARELY EVER-
TALKED in school. Before I went in 7th grade I used to
be kind of popular, stronger than just about everyone
and pretty outgoing. I got in trouble though and it is
really embarassing(This is the only thing I don't
really want to mention) But anyways when I got in
trouble they took it very seriously, & I got expelled
for the year, but they let me in within 3 months
because they kind of knew im not a very violent
person, I try to be nice to everyone. But ever since
that happened I was the center of attention and that
botherd me. Than after that I never really knew what
would happen when I went to school & I would worry
about it.
4.Probably should put this was 3 but Its kind of
diffrent but another big thing i messed up doing was
just wasteing life. I didn't want to talk to anyone, I
was constantly worried about what people thought of
me, So I basically just said screw the world and I
played on the computer 24/7 EVERYDAY for about 3
years, and yes I mean litterly everyday, I would wake
up get on PC  Eat and go to bed and do the same thing
everyday, hardely ever went outside unless I was going
to school.
EFFECT OF THIS I THINK = I didn't really talk to
anyone for a long time(i talked to people but just
when somebody asked me something in school or
something, and ofcourse i talk to my parents) So after
3 years of not talking I kind of forgot how to
communicate with people normally. Whenever I try to
just make a decent conversation I stutter nearly every
time unless its someone im close to and am used to
talking to. I get nervous about what I say to people
because I dont want to say the wrong things.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
~~~~~~THE WEIRD STUFF I FEAR OR CONVINCE MYSELF~~~~~
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

#1.Sometimes I convince myself that I think my heart
is just going to stop beating for no reason.
#2.I worry about taking my medicne too because If I
have to take it for the rest of my life It will probly
eat up my liver eventually but If I don't take it I
feel uncompleted and wont be able to sleep
#3. I constantly think I have something wrong with my
heart because of the weird feelings I get in my chest

area.
#4. If something hurts on my body I think about it a
lot and I think of the worse things it could be.
#5. Scared to get cancer
#6. I worry about what people think about me or how
people judge me even if they are just thinking about
you in their minds.
#7. A lot of attention, I cannot stand a lot of
attention, when a lot of eyeballs are looking at me my
nerves go crazy because I cant stop thinking about
what they might be saying to themselves.
#8. People saying negitive stuff to their friends
about me.
#9.My fast heart rate
#10. SPIDERS@!
#11 sometimes I think I'm the only person in the world
who feels the things I do

[p0larb0y1111]

~~~~PART 4~~~~


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
@@@@@@@@@-DEALING WITH MY ANXIETY-@@@@@@@@
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


~Things I do(or used to) to help myself(THESE ARE

THINGS I DO OR USED TO DO TO DEAL WITH MY ANXIETY


#1. Avoid talking to people
#2. Avoid loud people who might yell my name or

something
#3.Use any kind of opiate related drug before I have

to read a speech or something to the class
#4. Do not ask questions in most classes
#5 Rely on my medicine

--SUPPOSE TO DO(Or I want to do)---
#1. ""IMPORTANT"" - TALK TO PEOPLE WHO CAN RELATE
#2. Join a group of people with anxiety problems
#3. Try alternative methods to get rid of Anxiety

before taking pills
#4 Try to focus on something fun or something that

keeps you from thinking a lot about bad thoughts.
#5 See a docter
#6 Exercise can help too

++++EXTRA THOUGHTS+++++

Hospital ********:
If you have something like what I have and you have

psysical pain from it and you are pretty sure it is

from stress and you go to the hospital, they might

just tell you to stop worrying so much, THIS PISSES ME

OFF EVERYTIME I THINK ABOUT IT.

My thoughts: GO SEE SOMEBODY ELSE, If a docter tells

you this, He doesn't understand what your dealing

with. Only people with Anxiety problems or people who

have had it before can truely understand how you feel.

My psychiatrist understands me pretty good because He

had really bad anxiety problems as well when he was

younger. Anxiety is real he tells me that all the time

and its true ANXIETY IS REAL.



======================================================
================PANIC ATTACKS=====================
======================================================

Everyones panick attacks are diffrent, Some people

cant breathe, some people have bad chest pain, Some

people cant sit still, and some people just go crazy

and start freaking out.

When I have a panic attack it was very painful, I dont

have trouble breatheing(Im talking about Major Panic

Attacks, Minor Panic attacks are not very bad compared

to these)But my chest hurts very bad. My first panic

attack started off with my heart beating really

hard,and fast, Than it was a heart beat I never felt

before, It was beating hard, but it felt like i could

feel every muscle move that was in my heart, it felt

like a stick was going in and out of my heart,

litterly. I was sweating really bad and my hands and

feet were going numb and I felt a sharp pain shooting

from my heart to my leg. After that attack(it lasted

about 2 hours and it was torture i seriously didnt

know if i was going to live after that day and

thinking about that just made it last even longer, and

when you try not to think about it, you think even

more about it, its an everlasting cycle, it is probly

pretty much the same thing as a heart attack pain

wise) my chest hurted for almost 3 weeks after that

probably because of how hard my heart worked during

that time.


If you read all of this thank you for taking your time

to do so this is basically my life of anxiety.


#####################################################
PLEASE IF YOU CAN RELATE TO THIS OR RELATE TO ME FEEL

FREE TO ADD MY YAHOO MSN OR MY AIM(SCREEN NAMES LISTED

AT THE TOP), IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO

UNDERSTANDS HOW YOU FEEL.
####################################################

[stamper1]

The adrenaline rush feeling might actually be...well adrenaline. Many times your adrenal glands work incorrectly releasing too much adrenaline as a result of daily stressors in addition it could also be your thyroid causing your sleeplessness, typically the thryoid releases more hormone at night if your thyroid is out of wack, or you have developed low or high thyroid function it often causes this feeling. Get both your thyroid and your adrenal glands checked. Both are fairly simple tests. IN addition when you feel the surge try feeling your pulse. If you feel like your heart is skipping beats you may have an arrythmia or PVC's which should also be checked by a doctor.

[JM71]

Just wanted to check back in.

It's been weeks now since this has happened to me. I like to come back and let people know that if this does happen to you, that you shouldn't worry too much right away. It always goes away for me.

Maybe it lasts one night, maybe a week. But it will go away. Let that bring you some comfort. Get up, drink something warm, and relax for a little while. Fighting it will only stress you out more. If you feel that you should see a doctor, then plan on making an appointment. But again, don't let it stress you out too much.

All the best.

[dubcek]

I thought I was alone on this. It is a very difficult thing to describe but adrenaline rush is close. I eat right, get exercise, don't smoke, etc. I do feel stress in my job but not any more than anyone else. I get about 6 hours of sleep a night and can't really sleep much more but I've always been like that. The rush usually comes just before I fall asleep and almost always when I'm on my back in bed. It doesn't keep from ultimately falling asleep though. I just change positions to my right or left side and go to sleep. I usually don't have problems going to sleep but every once in a while I do have difficulty. The rush also seems to come irregularly. I might experience 2 - 6 times a week for a couple of weeks and then go for a month without it happening. It is very strange. I first noticed it in spring-summer 2008 but I think I have had it before but just didn't pay attention to it. I've not asked my doctor what it is and from I gather on this site, those of you who have asked have gotten an inconclusive answer. Obviously, if it has been happening to some of you for 20 - 30 years, it can't be serious. It must have something to do with going to sleep because it never happens during the rest of the day even when I'm relaxing. If anyone has a definitive answer, i would sure like to know what it is out of curiosity.

[danielaa]

I get this too on and off.  I'm just about to drift when bang I'm awake by this rush.  It could happen 10 times in less than an hour.  It really scares me alot.  I can have it for a few nights in a row and sometimes it stops for months.  Do any of you have the medical name for it.
This really stressed me as I already suffer from anxiety and panic attacks.

Thank you.

[Gator77]

I get similiar symptoms as well. Recently, my doctor ordered a sleep study (based on other symptoms) to see if I have sleep apnea. I haven't gone yet.

As I understand it, sleep apnea happens when a person stops breathing during sleep and the body, as a result, kicks into panic mode. I would think this might result in the release of adrenaline or atleast a similiar feeling. I wonder if this could be the cause of the adrenaline feeling when drifting off?

[bensonl]

PROBLEM SOLVED!

******************************************************

Finally the doctors have worked out what i have, and it's curable!

Unfortunately it is a tumor, and requires surgery, but has a 95% survival rate if caught early enough.

It's called Pheochromocytoma, which in english means a growth on your adrenal gland.

This growth interferes with the adrenaline gland, releasing adrenaline for no reason, usually during various stages of sleep when muscles relax and the nervous system is in "standby mode"

[bensonl]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jan 02 - Measurement of urinary free metanephrines (fMN) is superior to other laboratory tests for diagnosing pheochromocytoma in adults, according to a report in the December issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Though pheochromocytoma is conventionally detected by identifying elevated urine levels of catecholamines, the authors explain, there have been several case reports in which such results were not abnormal.

Dr. James G. Boyle from University of Glasgow, UK and colleagues assessed the diagnostic efficacy of urinary fMN for the detection of pheochromocytoma and compared it with that of urinary free catecholamines, vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA), and plasma catecholamines in a retrospective study of 159 patients, 25 of whom were subsequently proven to have pheochromocytoma.

The sensitivity of urinary fMN for diagnosing pheochromocytoma was 100%, the authors report, compared with 84% for urinary catecholamines, 72% for urinary VMA, and 76% for plasma catecholamines.

The specificity of urinary fMN was 94%, compared with 99% for urinary catecholamines, 96% for urinary VMA, and 88% for plasma catecholamines.

"This study demonstrates that urinary fMN were superior to urinary VMA, urinary catecholamines, and plasma catecholamines and can provide a valuable test for diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in adults," the investigators conclude. "

[James123456777]

Well I guess there are more of us than we think,I have the same problem when I try to go to sleep the only thing that is different with me is when it stops I start sweating real bad!!!!

[AmandaPanda80]

I too suffer from this anxiety. It only happens once in awhile, but when it happens it's really bad. As I'm typing this I'm suffering now....1am and feeling like I should go jogging or something, but my body is so tired that it can't do it. Does anyone suffer any aches or pain? My joints seem to hurt pretty bad when this occurs. I do have other health problems...Pure Red Cell Aplasia and I'm diabetic. I'm going to ask my doctor about that tumor thing. Thanks to all! :-)

[DrEricLarson]

An adrenal tumor is an EXTREMELY RARE cause of this somewhat common condition.  It is called hypnagogia, or inability to lose consciousness.  I have had the condition for some time and tested negative for pheochromocytoma.

The underlying cause is LONG-TERM ANXIETY, but the anxiety leads to HYPNAGOGIA, which causes the "rush" sensation.  Certain parts of your brain are trying to enter REM sleep but the hippocampus refuses.  This can be a frightening experience and I know where you are coming from.

Exercise, diet, medication, blah blah blah. You know what you need to do.

[nora006]

Thank you Dr E. Larson for explaining this. I've always known it was due to excess adrenaline, but not that hippocampus was the part that refused to enter the REM-mode, always thought the amygdala was the culprit.

Nora

[Rynnifer]

Ok so my name is Rynn i am 23.This same feeling happened to me last night i have wondered in the past when it happened to me what it was.I remember having it when i was a little kid like about 6 or 7 years old i remember being asleep in my moms cars and she woke me up and i was trying to explane to her what was happening but didnt know how to explane it.Now i can explane it more because it happenes very often.Like every week a few times a week.It is very scary last night it lasted for like 10 mins or more.This is what it feels like to me feels like every thing is moving in really fast motion even when i open my eyes and i cant slow it down and my fingers feels huge dont know why.I just got off the phone with my mom and explaned it to her and she asked my Aunt witch is a nurse she said ANXIETY or drinking to much cafine before you go to bed but i have not drank alot of cafine in weeks.So it is prolly just anxiety.Dont know what about not strassed about anything i have no idea.

[Grrrowl]

This has been happening to me on and off for the last 3months - After about a 2 year depression, followed by a 3 month anxiety attack.  I feel I've overcome my depression, and have managed to reduce my anxity to what may be "normal", but now I just want to be able to go to sleep like a normal person!  

I spent 6 hours last night staring at hypnogogic images (Those dream like scenes you experience right before you fall asleep) and every time i was about to shut down and fall asleep - BAM, my body reacts as if someone has just shot of a gun in my room, or im about to be in a car accident.  This is Bull S#!t...

I have been told by two psychs that I have an anxiety disorder, but I have been very successful in dealing with it without medication (to the complete surprise of both of them, who try persistantly to convise me I will never be ok without drugs)-  But this... I don't know what to do about this.  I can get over the "surge" pretty quickly by ignoring it/ knowing that i am not at risk of anything and just relaxing, but as soon as im about to fall asleep again - BAM- some kind of fear response is triggered in my head.

To me, it is obvious this is an anxiety issue.  Also, It happens much more frequently on saturdays / sundays when I haven't done anything all day and I'm not really tired when I try to go to bed.  I hasn't happened all week, and then last night it was over and over and over.  Someone here mentioned they think exercising triggers it- I did go running yesterday afternoon, which I haven't done in over a week...  I really hope that isn't a contributing facotor...

[twicrazy]

i have this too, i guessed it was adrenaline rush in the middle of the night but i just want to know,.. what's the cause of the sudden axiety? some say it's stress related. Is that true?

[r9c]

Most of the time its caused by stress.i still remember how my 1st panic attack starts,i was so worried about my job,financial etc..then the next few days boom..my 1st full blown panic attack.When ur mind is overloaded with stress and tension..it let off all those stress by giving u panic attacks,all those symptoms.

[middlekid]

Call it weird or not, but for years I’ve had the same problem but I’ll be more detail but crossing my fingers I’m not the only one. I didn’t have these rushes often but I get them may 3 times a year and now that I’m a little older. It really got me thinking and wondering if I get them more and more, after reading everybody experience. But for me when I almost in a deep sleep, I get this adrenaline rush and the same thing like my hands get fat and its almost feeling numb and I don’t know if this makes any sense but it’s a fast adrenaline that I have to move something or put something in a small area, where clearly its not going to fit. Example the last one I had a couple of weeks ago, was when I was put by a boulder and no matter what I had to move it. And it was a rush I had to do just using my hands when feeling numb and fat. I could never explain it that’s why I don’t say much about it to family and friends but reading this and everybody’s input make me kind of tell what I went threw. Well please tell me there is somebody out there, that is in some what of the same boat.

[M4Y0U]

Try melatonin that you can buy at your local food supplement store.

''Melatonin, also known chemically as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a naturally occurring compound found in animals ( including humans ), plants, and microbes. In animals, circulating levels of melatonin vary in a daily cycle, thereby regulating the circadian rhythms of several biological functions. Many biological effects of melatonin are produced through activation of melatonin receptors, while others are due to its role as a pervasive and powerful antioxidant, with a particular role in the protection of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.''

''In humans, melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, a gland about the size of a pea, located in the center of the brain but outside of the blood-brain barrier. The melatonin signal forms part of the system that regulates the sleep-wake cycle by chemically causing drowsiness and lowering the body temperature, but it is the central nervous system (more specifically, the suprachiasmatic nuclei, SCN) that controls the daily cycle in most components of the paracrine and endocrine systems rather than the melatonin signal''

It's also a powerful antioxidant.

''Besides its function as synchronizer of the biological clock, melatonin also exerts a powerful antioxidant activity. The discovery of melatonin as an antioxidant was made in 1993. In many lower life forms, it serves only this purpose. Melatonin is an antioxidant that can easily cross cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier. Unlike other antioxidants, melatonin does not undergo redox cycling, the ability of a molecule to undergo reduction and oxidation repeatedly. Redox cycling may allow other antioxidants (such as vitamin C) to regain their antioxidant properties. Melatonin, on the other hand, once oxidized, cannot be reduced to its former state because it forms several stable end-products upon reacting with free radicals. Therefore, it has been referred to as a terminal (or suicidal) antioxidant.''

It is also known to boost your immune system and increase vivid dreaming at higher dose.

Please consider that I'm not a doctor and you should take to your doctor if you take any medications before trying melatonin.

Best regards,
M4