strange nightmares when awake?

[funkylady]

This is going to sound crazy but If I wake up in the night and have trouble getting back to sleep I get what I have named a 'nighmare attack'.  First most of my body goes tingley with pins and needles and if feels just like someone has sat on my bed behind me and then it feels like someone has their hands around my throat.  The strange thing is that my eyes are open and I really am choking!!! last time when I tried to pinch myself to be sure whether or not I was awake or asleep the grip on my neck tightened I realised that I was awake but not fully.  Other times if I wake up in the middle of the night I can hear what I can only describe as the sound of tin foil shaking and it gets louder and louder for about 20 secs and then its gone.  

I feel like such a crazy person when I tell someone this and my only hope is that I am not loosing my mind!!
I just wondered if anybody else has experienced anything like this or if anyone knows what might be wrong with me.  

[jnnmcneely]

In my frist comment I forgot to tell you thatI don't take anykind og meds.or drink alochol,I too feel the strange feeling and have felt hands on me, this is the frist time going on a blog to find out if others experinced it.

[funkylady]

Thanks for the replies, I found them very interesting and informative.  I am not on any medication, I don't drink alcohol and don't consume much caffeine.  I do suffer a lot with anxiety but would this alone be the cause of such exteme nightmars where I am being choked?  I am not tired during the day although I do have trouble waking up in the morning.

I had another one of my strange nightmares last night and I tried to remember everything that was happening.  I had just woken up at about 3:00am and was really tired and as I tried to get back to sleep the pins and needles started in my back and then arms and legs and then the strangling sensation came on.  I tried to think at that moment that it was not real and it's all in my mind and I tried to make it stop but I could not move any part of my body, I started hallucinating and seeing yellow eyes on my wall and a horrible insect on my pillow crawling towards my face.  It was an awful experience like being trapped in a nightmare.  About 2 mins later it was over and my heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going to die.  I really don't want to go on medication to get rid of this, is there anything else that might help?

[Dr_Smita_S]

Hello
The symptoms describe suggest some type of sleep related hallucinations. They are a type of parasomnia. They are mainly visual, but may also involve sound, touch and taste and smell sensations.They are usually seen in teenagers and young adults as well as in older people. They may be related to alcohol, anxiety, mood disorders, insomnia or some ongoing medication. In case your symptoms are associated with severe daytime sleepiness, then you may have narcolepsy.
Sleep related hallucinations however, tend to resolve with time, many a times requiring no treatment at all. You should maintain proper sleep hygiene (avoiding caffeine, alcohol and tobacco as well as stress reduction) and avoid alcohol. However, I would advise that you consult a sleep specialist. Based on your complete medical, psychiatric, and sleep history, he may prescribe you some medication which best suits you.
Do keep us posted on your progress.
Good luck.

[KatEyes]

There are sleep disorders that affect dreams and/or hallucinations and cause sensations not expected in "normal" sleep. A good sleep neurologist could hear your symptoms and tell if your patterns fit a particular category of sleep disorder.

Are you on any meds that could have this side effect?

Also, consider that sleep apnea can cause hypoxia and trigger hallucinations. I mention that because of your sensation of being choked. When my apnea was undiagnosed I had dreams about choking, and unsettling realistic dreams about floating above my body. I am not one inclined to mystical interpretations of dreams. I believe mine were all prompted by actual physical sensations.

At any rate, a consultation with a reputable neurologist or a sleep doctor may lead you to some answers.