Panic Attack 30 minutes after sleeping

[Old Sufferer]

I've had panic disorder and depression for a long time and I am currently on low maintenance doses of Wellbutrin and Lexapro. I rarely deal with panic anymore during the day. I've learned techniques to calm down and know other strategies to help myself. What I cannot seem to help myself with is night panics. These happen infrequently and seemingly out of the blue. However, they are quite disturbing. I am able to calm myself and go back to sleep but I am left with the WHY does this happen? It always seems to happen about 30 minutes after I fall asleep and I wake in a state of panic, wanting to run out of the room. My questions are, Why does this happen? How can I avoid this from happening?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Panic attacks that come on like this are most often because you have been avoiding dealing with some issue in your waking life, and your mind wakes you up this way. In this case panic is a signal that some unwanted thought or feelings is trying to break through.  The best thing you can do for yourself is take an inventory before you go to bed of the things that you have been avoiding, and spend ten minutes thinking about them in a realistic and sober way....that should help.

[Mozartcowgirl]

The same thing happens to me as well.. around 20 minutes after falling asleep.. wham.. panic attack.. and to me.. they are worse than during the day.. because you wake up . with no warning.. and you are already freaking out.. i tend to have them MORE if i eat before bedtime.. OR.. if i am VERY tired.. and fall asleep immediately.

make sure that you arent eating before bed.. give your body about 2 hours to digest before sleep.. thats what I do .. also.. try some calming techniques when you are in bed.. even if you dont feel anxious or panicky.

good luck!

[Shannon Wyatt]

I get them when I first wake up in the morning -- like when I first wake up, I feel like I've been in the middle of a panic attack and am coming in on the tail end of it or something.  I have to breathe deeply to calm myself (and it works).

[RonnieVanZandt]

I also have some sort of episode normally occuring shortly after I fall asleep.  My neurologist seems to think these aren't panic attacks.  

My question is once you wake up and are in a state of panic, how long does it take for you to realize what is going on and to begin to calm yourself.  For my part, it usually amounts to 10-15 seconds.  I think my neurologist does not believe I am having a panic attack due to the short duration of the attack.  

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks