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Nighttime Panic Attacks?
Does anyone suffer from nightime panic attacks? Like, having nightmares and waking up feeling panicky every so often? Or just waking up nervous with your heart racing and body trembling? Some nights this happens multiple times per night, other nights (usually when I take Xanax before bed) it doesn't happen at all. It's very upsetting. I just did not know a person could wake up in the middle of a panic attack, I have enough of them during the day!
This is meant for people who wake up gasping for air an hour after going to sleep. After years of experiencing this and blank looks from my doctor, I found a solution: leaving the night lamp on! I still wake up but there is no panic. I hope this helps some of you.
I have the hardest time trying to fall asleep. Seems that as soon as I relax and my breathing slows down I start gasping for air. I get feelings of panic and anger and I cant sit still at all! I take in deep breaths and most of the time I have to start moving various body parts just to try to get it out. The day after my third knee surgery I was up all night pacing the floor in the living room. Sometimes I will go outside and walk up and down the road just to try to "get it out". The feelings are so intense it is really hard to describe. I have been put on valium, xanax, antidepressants, the whole 9. Nothing seems to help. Anyone have any ideas
I have panic disorder, and the most disturbing episodes are the nightime ones described so well here. I wanted to share something that's worked well for me, though it hasn't completely solved all my problems ;)
I've been doing mindfulness meditation every day for the past 9 months, and it has greatly helped my daytime issues, to the point where I rarely have issues. You can explore mindfulness many ways, through Buddhism, through various clinical techniques, like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, etc. It takes time and practice, and it's not the same as pure relaxation meditation techniques (which can be very helpful!). The result is to reduce the mind's tendency to "react" to negative physical symptoms, with I hope obvious benefits.
Good luck everyone!
I've been doing mindfulness meditation every day for the past 9 months, and it has greatly helped my daytime issues, to the point where I rarely have issues. You can explore mindfulness many ways, through Buddhism, through various clinical techniques, like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, etc. It takes time and practice, and it's not the same as pure relaxation meditation techniques (which can be very helpful!). The result is to reduce the mind's tendency to "react" to negative physical symptoms, with I hope obvious benefits.
Good luck everyone!
It is great to read about people experiencing what I have lived through for over 14 years. I will tell you what I have discovered, because, like many of you, I have been to ALL KINDS of doctors. Some have diagnosed me, after various tests, and some have drugged me (Valium and Clonazapam made them stop), but this is a bandage and will cure the root problem.
I discovered the root problem when I went to a nutritionist. She uncovered food allergies and a parasite in my system. I believe that the parasite (Blastocystis Hominis) has been destroying my digestion and wreaking havoc on my central nervous system for years. I came back from living in Venezuela in 1994 and I have had panic attacks at night until February of this year when I started an herbal regimen to get rid of the Blastocystis Hominis. After about 1 month, I saw this rash around my intestines, and then I felt so good that I stopped taking my medication at night. I slept through fine! No nighttime wakings at all. I often felt as if my throat was closing and I would wake gasping for air (with a racing heartbeat). So scary. In spending so much time diagnosing myself, I have ascertained that 1) drugs are not the answer, 2) there is something PHYSICALLY wrong with me that went undiscovered for years that has been impacting my sleep, and 3) it will be difficult to get rid of. I have tried herbs, Chinese medicine and many antibiotics, and I think it is still with me. I believe it is highly resistant after living in me for so long. My digestive system is trashed. When I am on something to kill it off and watching my diet, my sleep is good. Hopefully I will be fully rid of it some day!
I discovered the root problem when I went to a nutritionist. She uncovered food allergies and a parasite in my system. I believe that the parasite (Blastocystis Hominis) has been destroying my digestion and wreaking havoc on my central nervous system for years. I came back from living in Venezuela in 1994 and I have had panic attacks at night until February of this year when I started an herbal regimen to get rid of the Blastocystis Hominis. After about 1 month, I saw this rash around my intestines, and then I felt so good that I stopped taking my medication at night. I slept through fine! No nighttime wakings at all. I often felt as if my throat was closing and I would wake gasping for air (with a racing heartbeat). So scary. In spending so much time diagnosing myself, I have ascertained that 1) drugs are not the answer, 2) there is something PHYSICALLY wrong with me that went undiscovered for years that has been impacting my sleep, and 3) it will be difficult to get rid of. I have tried herbs, Chinese medicine and many antibiotics, and I think it is still with me. I believe it is highly resistant after living in me for so long. My digestive system is trashed. When I am on something to kill it off and watching my diet, my sleep is good. Hopefully I will be fully rid of it some day!
So glad to hear that others suffer from these nasty, sneaky, never know when their coming buggers!!! I'm a 35 year old female and I had my first one after working a stressful job about 4 yrs. ago and they've been with me ever since. I hate them, I used to be so carefree, no worries, take life as it comes...not anymore!! And frankly is pisses me off!! I know it's in my mind and it will pass but it controls me and I hate not being in control. I haven't been to the dr. but plan on going now that I've read everyones stories. It's funny how reading about anothers pains can make one feel better but it does. All in all I miss the old me....soooo much!!!
I used to get them alot through the day but I don't have as many through now. I have had quite a few recxently at night though and recently had a really bad one at night...all of a sudden...2:30 a.m I wake up....you know the rest, butterflies in my gut...feeling on edge, can't get back to sleep, I tingle all over...but really feel it in my arms the most, then the shakes start, like I'm freezing (but I;m not) sometimes I get a cold face cloth and put it om my forehead, with the fan on (I always sleep with a fan on) and I will shake like crazy but usually end up falling back asleep after trying to think about something other that the terrifying moment I am going through.
What gets me the most is how there is no way you can posibly explain to "anyone who has not had one" what it feels like!! I try to tell my husband and he feels so bad for me but really doesn't know what I;m going through. I actually recently resulted to taking a gravol at night, and it keeps me asleep, and if I do wake up to go to the washroom I can get back to sleep. Yet I wonder if this is good for me.
So for now I will make an app. with the Dr., and see what he suggests, it's just that I hate taking medications...I've yet to try Adavan (or however you spell it) but my friend swears by it.
Thanks for sharing your experinces with me, it was very comforting, and I have a few new things to try to help control things when they reoccur....take care all :)
I used to get them alot through the day but I don't have as many through now. I have had quite a few recxently at night though and recently had a really bad one at night...all of a sudden...2:30 a.m I wake up....you know the rest, butterflies in my gut...feeling on edge, can't get back to sleep, I tingle all over...but really feel it in my arms the most, then the shakes start, like I'm freezing (but I;m not) sometimes I get a cold face cloth and put it om my forehead, with the fan on (I always sleep with a fan on) and I will shake like crazy but usually end up falling back asleep after trying to think about something other that the terrifying moment I am going through.
What gets me the most is how there is no way you can posibly explain to "anyone who has not had one" what it feels like!! I try to tell my husband and he feels so bad for me but really doesn't know what I;m going through. I actually recently resulted to taking a gravol at night, and it keeps me asleep, and if I do wake up to go to the washroom I can get back to sleep. Yet I wonder if this is good for me.
So for now I will make an app. with the Dr., and see what he suggests, it's just that I hate taking medications...I've yet to try Adavan (or however you spell it) but my friend swears by it.
Thanks for sharing your experinces with me, it was very comforting, and I have a few new things to try to help control things when they reoccur....take care all :)
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