Anyone else ever wake to feel detached from body and scared?

[keonsmommie]

Every so often I wake up in the middle of the night, seemingly 4 hours after I go to bed, I use the rest room, and lay back down. The first thing I notice is that I start thinking really weird almost deranged thoughts that are blanketed in fear. Then my hands and my feet get very hot then this fades into complete nothingness NOT TINGLING My body is not asleep feeling, it feels like my body is just gone. Then I notice the only thing I feel is extremely shallow breathing in my lungs, and I feel my neck and feel a barley there pulse. Then I start just knowing that I am going to die. But I cant think straight enough to call for help. So I just lay there and wait to slowly fade away. Then about 10 minutes or so later I slowly start to feel my hands and feet again, then the rest comes back and I am freezing cold. I start to warm up in a few seconds, and then my mind seems to return to normal and only then can I fall back to sleep feeling completely exhausted. It is hard to describe exactly how it feels, but it is terrifying and very problematic. I am always afraid to go to sleep because I don't want to wake to this anymore. PS It is not sleep paralasis because I can move if I even think that deeply. While I know that no one here should diagnos me, I am more worried about seeing if any other people experienced these symptoms, and if they are because of my Bi-Polar , deppression, or paranoia? I have just aquired a blood pressure cuff to check my blood pressure when this type of thing happens. I figure the more I rule out the better I will feel. Thank you to anyone who can help!

[keonsmommie]

thank you for all of your help and advice. @ wineandroses It isn't sleep paralasis because, although I can't feel my body I can move it if it occours to me to do so. I am not ruling out a sleep disorder though. It always happens about 4 or so hours after I lay down. It also happens the next day, but not half as intense. I am becoming more and more convinced that it may be anxiety attacks. I learned that they are not always brought on by stress, infact it is rare. @ Deepie, I did have a stroke when I used to use drugs, I have been clean for about 6 years minus 6 months that I messed up. But I still think about the fact that the stroke could have cause a perminent problem. Catt scans say I'm fine but you never know I guess. I intend to go back to the doctor and talk about this again. He mentioned prescribing me Valium but I want drugs to be my absolute LAST resourt because of my history. Well, thanks again for youe help guys, I will be back to talk about any new findings I'm sure! Take care!

[wineandroses]

Does this happen as you are starting to doze off?  Are you able to move any of your body parts or speak?  It sounds like it could be sleep disorder.  I get sleep paralysis and I can't move my body or make a noise for a few minutes, it's like my mind is awake but my body is still asleep.

[Csandnugget]

Hello k,
I saw a program the other night about people that feel that a body part is foreign to them - they did tests which show that the brain can 'disown' the body part by sending less blood to it - therefore the coldness of the limb.
Aparrently, it is caused by damage to that area of the brain. I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of the illness or the area of the brain
- but the biggest thing is that people feel that their limb/s do not belong to them, and they try to get rid of their limbs themselves - doctors are starting to contemplate giving these patients what they want and amputate their unwanted limbs.

I know you said it's your whole body - and I would'nt obviously recommend any cutting off of anything
- but there just might be a medication that can help to restore the sense of balance?
Yoga, exercise, that kind of thing will help - being in touch with your physical body will be wonderful - go for a massage too.