Suddenly jolted out of slepp

Hi,

Has anyone experienced being suddenly jolted out of a dead sleep?  I have had it happen several times over the past couple days.  4 times in total last night!  I am not having a bad dream or anything.  Its just all of a sudden I sit up gasping for air.  I am worried about sleep apnea although I am not tired in the day and I am not overweight and I don;t have any of the other sleep apnea symptoms.  But its the only thing I can think of that could jolt you out of a sleep.  
Could this be anxiety related??? ANyone else get this??  

[mia193]

I have been suddenly jolted out of sleep, but w/my heart racing and I absolutely hate it and hate to go to sleep for fear of it happening!  This could be anxiety related - I would keep a journal on it too- to see exactly when it happens and what you may have been thinking about before bed.

[Happy2girls]

Yes, I have experienced just what you described.  I am also very easily startled.

[BHP39]

It scared me because I thought i had stopped breathing although I had no reason to think that.  My heart wasn't racing BUT I had been worrying relentlessly about a heart test I was having done(came out fine BTW) I;ve had anxiety issues for a long time but I have never been jolted out of sleep sitting up like that!

[mia193]

I have heard of people w/this happening to them - I think it could even be from the past worrying (sort of like a post traumatic thing, maybe)  Are you able to get back to sleep, and what have you been doing to get yourself back to sleep? (meds, tv, book, warm milk, etc..?)

[BHP39]

Yes, I go right back to sleep.  

[llabtoof]

I have been having the same thing happen for about a week now. However, mine is normally a feeling of extreme pressure in the back of my head. Went to the doctor and told him about it and he thinks that it vould be the way I am sleeping or just built up tension and anxiety taking over. Come to think of it I wouldn't be typing this if I wasn't haveing theis issue. I unfortunatly cannot always go right back to sleep. Sometimes it will take 2-3 hours b/f I am able to go back to bed.