ANXIETY OR SLEEP APNEA

[boogie2]

Anxiety is bad this week.  So, I am trying to find reason for the way I feel.  I need reassurance from you all that I do not have sleep apnea.  I wake up from a sound sleep.  It feels like I have stopped breathing.  I don't know if I have or not.  I wake up with a hot feeling and my heart pounding.  Help me please.

[nursegirl6572]

I totally agree with all of the above posters.  It's always best to get the "thumbs up" from your doc when it comes to any new symptom.  While a LOT of times, they ARE related to anxiety.....it is always smart to rule out any medical cause first.

Like cj (HI cj!) said...once you see your doc and are given their impression...be confident in it....and then you can start to tackle your anxiety.  Don't get yourself stuck in the cycle of not fully believing that indeed there ISN'T something wrong physically, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

If it is sleep apnea, it is treatable in many different ways...if it is anxiety...it is also treatable...with some time and patience...some good "talk" therapy along with meds, if that's what you and your physician decide.

What you describe symptom-wise is actually fairly common with anxiety-sufferers.  Many people share those nighttime panic/anxiety sensations...and the startle response you explain is also very typical.  After you get the "all clear" from your doc....you can start addressing it and get back to a restful night of sleep.

Let us know how you're doing, okay?  Hang in there.

[cj29]

I agree with gentle here; why not get it checked out by your doctor.  In my opinion, it is always a good idea to express your concerns and symptoms to them.  But it is important to trust their evaluation; that is where one tends to get further into the cycle of anxiety when we tend to constantly question their diagnosis.  Keep us posted!

[bluelake]

i've been startled out of sleep with anxiety and its not only frightening its extremely frustrating cos i think, how could sleep possibly cause anxiety??  that gets me on to a whole new line of thinking some pretty negative thoughts.

gentle and peg make some great points, to check that out medically.  even if it's nothing the fact that you got it checked out could put your mind at ease should it happen again.  i've had those sleep shocks off and on for quite a few years so it doesnt scare me nearly as much as it first did, but it frustrates the heck out of me and that agitation does feed my anxiety a bit so i'm thinking i should take gentle and peg's advice as well  :)  

[peggy64]

Ask your dr to check your thyroid. I do just as you describe, and it is because of my hypothyroidism.

Be blessed..........Peggy

[gentle51]

Most important you should see your physician to insure you don't have something else besides anxiety. I believe this is #  Uno for all of us to check on.

When my anxiety is in high gear I wake up often with an extreme scared feeling. My heart pounds and my head feels like it is going to pop off. Then I feel like I have a gorrilla on my chest. I haven't felt like I have stopped breathing but my chest feels real heavy.I have learned to process my anxiety differently since I have been seeing a therapist. So keep coming to the forum to talk with us but please get yourself medically checked out.
Hang in there!!

PEACE