Waking up in panic attacks

[Melb27]

Hi everyone! First I need to say thanks because without all of your encouraging words and insight I couldn't have done this! I am now entering in day 21 of being clean! I have had a ton of emotional stressors including a partner that I don't believe truly gets what I am going through. I have had panic attacks for years on and off and take Xanax as needed for them. Since my tapering I had experienced a few bad ones upon waking from sleep. This evening I would have to say has been the hardest! I woke up an hour ago feeling weakness in arm muscles not sure if this is from how I was positioned during sleep or from the anxiety attack itself. I hadn't taken any Xanax today for the first time since my withdrawals began but wanted to proof to myself I am getting better, and unfortunately this isn't the case! I have improved greatly in many ways but this anxiety is very hard to deal with. Is this normal so many days into recovery??? Any advice is much needed and appreciated thanks!

[Junip]

You are doing.great!   I just wanted to chirp in that I have suffered from panic disorder for over a decade and my attacks are not triggered by anything specific,  usually come out of blue when I am most calm. I only take xanax during attack. I have noticed though that I do get them occasionally during times of detox. Hang in there!

[NeverAgain127]

Congratulations on 3 weeks! I'm on day 56 and had a panic attack in my sleep yesterday....it woke me right up.

I think its just part of the recovery, although to be honest, I've had night terrors ALL my life.    I've tried to do research on it, but everything on the internet is about the occurrence in children.  I'm an abuse survivor, so I've resigned myself to the fact that I may have them all my life.  

BTW, I get the weakness in my arms also.   It always freaks me out.  

Hang in there...and BREATHE...
Hugs,
-R.

[weaver71]

Just because you don't feel better doesn't mean you are not getting better. Sometimes it takes the feeling awhile to catch up with the doing. You are doing the right thing, no matter how it feels. I went through panic, depression, irritation, anger, pain, all the things the opiates had prevented me from feeling for a long time. I ultimately went fully manic, I had a psychotic break. All that sounds so horrible and felt horrible at the time. Now I can say, quitting drugs was a good thing, haven a psychotic break was even better. All those feelings forced me to find the root of why I used and deal head on with those things. In early recovery, it was a lot of waiting for my brain to get used to not being drugged. I hope you are in some form of aftercare, the mental detox takes too long to do it alone. Hang in there, it keeps getting better. Sometime fast, sometimes slow, but the promises come true for those who work for them.

[Lilly1955]

I drink 2 tea bags of "calming" tea made by yogi. Also take valerian root capsule . You can find them at a health food store. Many supermarkets have the tea as well. It really takes the edge off they consist of non addicting herbs.

[jifmoc]

Hi, I just wanna echo what Amanda said- 3 weeks physically is still pretty early to feel good. You know how it's said, we didn't get addicted in one day we're not gonna feel better in one day. Or 3 weeks. Also, the xanax may be a separate issue depending on how long you have been on em. To get a true idea of your anxiety level, you're gonna wanna be off everything. Of course, xanax needs to be tapered. Again, as far as opiates, yeah, it's gonna take more time to feel "normal."

Get as much exercise as you can. Get the natural endorphins back. And it will help w/ your sleep, too!

[Amandag78]

Hey Mel, well in my own personal exp, yes, totally normal !!!
3 weeks is a long time for an addict to be clean, but not so much for the recovery period.
I dont think anyone has felt great or even ok at 3 weeks, better, but not feeling like dancing just yet : )
You may be detoxing Xanax and not realise, this will bring on anxiety as well.
But mind you, anxiety is one of the horrible withdrawal symptoms many people face, detoxing most drugs.
I was on my a/d 3 weeks before jumping subs and i only stopped almost 3 months ago and still suffer, but no anxiety anymore.
I only got anxiety from quitting drugs.
Our body and brain take a whipping from stopping drugs and likes to do all sorts of crazy things that are unpleasant for us.
Just to make you feel better, im still sluggish and unmotivated some days, which makes me feel like im 8 days clean again.
Hang in there, and you are like a lot of us on here, our partners just dont get it, unless they have detoxed themselves, we have to try and educate them.
Congratulations on 21 days, just hang in there, things do get better sooner or later : )