Do I have a sleep disoder? Please help!

[LexyM]

I have been having the same sleep problem for months now. It starts just before I fall asleep, I don’t feel like I have gone to sleep although I do feel groggy and sleepy. It feels like one minute I am awake and the nest minute I am dying. I can’t move my body, but I feel dizzy, my heart feels like it is slowing down or stopping and I don’t feel like I am breathing. I get this huge sense of dread because I know I am going to die if I don’t wake up. I have to tell myself to wake up and sometimes I feel like I am thrashing my head to try and wake myself (even though I am not totally sure that I am asleep). . Sometimes I feel like someone else is in the room, last night I felt like someone was pushing my head into my pillow as my body was shutting down and when I woke I had a headache.

This happens to me at least 4 or 5 nights out of 7 and I am getting to the point where I don’t want to go to sleep. I think this happens more if I am sleeping on my back. The worst part is that I don't feel as though I ever moved from being sleepy to being asleep, one minute I am sleepy and the next I am having this horrible experience.

Can anyone tell me what this is and whether or not there is something physically wrong with me?

Many Thanks

[nini27]

I definitely agree with everyone in that you should go see a specialist, especially before ruling it anxiety etc. I dealt with something similiar though probably from a different cause. I was on bed rest at the time. Same symptoms except I wasn't always unable to move. A lot of times it lead to panic attacks where I was sure I was going to die if I didn't breath or move. I became so afraid of sleep that I avoided falling asleep. This made it occure more often when I finally did sleep. When I saw my doctor he dismissed it as anxiety because I have a history dealing with anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

What it ended up being was an overdose more or less. I'm pretty petite and I was being prescribed high doses of Percocet and Oxycotin. It depressed my breathing and heart rate and made it feel like all the things my body normaly did automatically had stopped being so automatic. Sleep deprivation made it worse.

I'm not suggesting yours is the same as you haven't mentioned any medications but I'm just stressing that you see an appropriate specialist before getting a wrong diagnosis.

[ggreg]

There was a thread at this forum within the last year, a bunch of people talked about this condition you have, so if you'll so a search for sleep paralysis or other similar words in the upper right-hand corner of this page, you might find the post I am remembering.

[wingnut19]

Hi

I suggest you go to a Sleep Disorders Clinic or doctor to get a PROPER evaluation.  I, too am appalled that a doctor would put forth a "psychological" reason FIRST....

I thought the general rule was that doctor's had to rule OUT anything organic or physical before mentioning psychology or stress/anxiety in the first place!?!?

I'm sorry I'm so angry, I just want to make sure that you get PROPER advice....

Take care, hon...I hope you feel better soon!

Tammy :)

PS--I have been diagnosed with CENTRAL Sleep Apnea and it's horrible....I have not once had a "doctor" tell me that it's stress, anxiety, etc......Good Luck!!

[LexyM]

Thank you wishforchange,
I read up about sleep paralysis and its pretty much exactly what is happening to me. I really thought I was going mad because it happens so often. I am not stressed out or anxious about anything - apart from the horrible sleeping.

I hate going to bed now because I don't want to feel the fear again, I will try sleeping in another position and see if that helps.

Thank you so much, I had never heard of sleep paralysis, and I didn't want to visit my doctor because it sounds so mad when you say it out loud (or type it)!

Thank you x

[wishforchange]

Before you declare yourself as having a psychological problem, no disrespect to Dr Navneet MD, you need to understand that your symptoms are not necessarily psychological in origin.  There is a relatively common, yet poorly understood condition, which matches what you are describing closely.  It is called 'sleep paralysis'.  It is not a mental health problem.  What happens is the mechanism which sends you to sleep and/or wakes you up is faulty.  We all lose muscle control as we sleep, otherwise we would be acting out our dreams.  With some people as they enter this stage of sleep, where they are just starting to dream and cannot move, part of their brain remains awake.  The feelings or dread and paralysis and difficulty breathing are all part of you being aware of the natural changes that occur during dream sleep.  This is a very poorly understood symptom in medicine, which is a shame.  You need to understand while you are in this horrible state that it is always temporary.  You will continue brealthing, you will not die, you will recover movement - it is almost impossible not to feel trapped and panic but you need to keep at the back of your mind this is just a state between sleeping and waking.  There are some medicatons which may help, which any good sleep clinic can advise you on.  Try not to sleep on your back, as this can make an attack more likely.  Also being over tired, or sleeping with too much light in the room can exacerbate symptoms.  Research this condition on the web, and be reassured that it is neither a sign on mental illness, or dangerous, just extremely unpleasant.
Dr Navneet I respectfully suggest you look into this disorder too.

[DrNavneetMD]

Hello Dear,
Stress could be a main factor causing your problem.Psychological reasons,emotional events often cause sleep disturbances. It may be a symptom of an Anxiety or Mood Disorder it is generally advisable to consider getting a medical examination and/or psychological counseling if sleep disturbance persists. you should give some thought to what’s been interfering with your sleep. What’s been keeping you awake, or waking you up once you’ve fallen asleep? Who or what is involved? It might be readily apparent to you, for example, that your sleep environment is too noisy Depending on what’s been causing your sleep disturbance, you might consider one or more of the following:
Acknowledge your need for sleep. Allow yourself enough time to sleep.
Establish a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time every night, and get up at the same time every morning.
Establish a regular nighttime routine. Spend the hour before bedtime engaged in some relaxing behavior.
Avoid caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that can stay in your system for 8 hours or more.
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol can have a temporarily sedating effect, but it can also have a “kickback” effect and wreak havoc on the body’s natural sleep system.
Engage in regular physical activity. Lack of exercise can lead you to be “keyed up” and unable to relax at night.
Avoid physical exertion too close to bedtime. Your body needs time to settle down before sleep.
Avoid worrying or dwelling on problems too close to bedtime. Your mind also needs time to settle down before sleep.
Make your sleep environment as comfortable as you can. Make adjustments to sound, light, and temperature if necessary.
Learn and employ relaxation or meditation techniques. These techniques can help ease your tension and lower your frustration as well as help you sleep. Directly address whatever ongoing issues may be causing you stress or anxiety. You might find that discussing your concerns during the day with someone you can trust is surprisingly helpful at bedtime.


These may be helpful and  if still your problem persists, you should see an expert psychologist.You can refer http://www.villanova.edu/studentlife/counselingcenter/infosheets/psych_topics.htm?page=sleep_deprivation.htm.
Best