Panic Attacks in Your Sleep

[Airica]

Okay, I know this is weird, but does anyone take panic attacks in their sleep?
Happens to me when I'm just about to fall asleep sometimes, sometimes when I am asleep...wake up shaking and gasping for air.
Had no idea what was going on until I went to my Doc and he said that it's panic attacks.

[lekate]

Nope, I just get them the regular way, when I'm awake. I seem to be having them frequently again, I don't want to go back on my medication because, well I can't afford it, and it killed my sex drive (although I suppose I'm not with anyone right now...)

When you get them do you lose your appetite for weeks? I've only been able to eat about 1 meal a day, I just...am not hungry at all and the thought of forcing my self to eat makes me feel worse...

[abbasgirl]

I do wake up once in a while, feeling like I can't breathe. But I just sit up in a panic and take a deep breath and then I'm fine again. I've never really had a panic attack though, although I've had issues with anxiety for my entire life. Maybe for me it's just a little mini attack that goes away when I'm conscious.

[Airica]

Nope, I just get them the regular way, when I'm awake. I seem to be having them frequently again, I don't want to go back on my medication because, well I can't afford it, and it killed my sex drive (although I suppose I'm not with anyone right now...)

When you get them do you lose your appetite for weeks? I've only been able to eat about 1 meal a day, I just...am not hungry at all and the thought of forcing my self to eat makes me feel worse...

I do lose my appetite, but I think it's because I'm tired. I'd like to eat, but sometimes I'm just no interested.
I've been given some options for sleeping pills and something to make me relax, but there are so expensive. Is there anything else you've been trying to deal with your anxiety?

[abbasgirl]

The most effective ways that I've found for treating anxiety are exercise and retraining the way that I think. Cardio exercises burn off tension and yoga/stretching exercises help me relax. My anxiety is caused by negative thinking and worry. So over the last couple of years I've been very conscious about retraining myself to think positively. Taking pills would have been WAY easier. But for me, exercise and thought conditioning have been a lot more permanent and effective.

[lekate]

I do lose my appetite, but I think it's because I'm tired. I'd like to eat, but sometimes I'm just no interested.
I've been given some options for sleeping pills and something to make me relax, but there are so expensive. Is there anything else you've been trying to deal with your anxiety?

I was on medicine (Cipralex and Trazodone) but couldn't afford them, nor did I like the way they made me feel (loss of sex drive). It's almost been a year since I've been off them, and I had only been on them for 1.5 years anyways. I do find exercise helps and find I walk places the more I'm stressed instead of getting a ride/taking the bus. The walking helps a lot. In the summer I bike just about everywhere, didn't need a bus pass this past summer (which was awesome, saved lots of money).

See I'm not tired when I lose my appetite, I just have no will to eat. I drink liquids okay, so drink lots of water and fruit/veg smoothies and make sure the one meal I do manage to eat is high in protein.

[Thumpersmom]

I used to get these attacks most nights in addition to daytime. It was in response to childhood abuse. I take meds that specifically deal with the effects of PTSD. They are not very expensive and have really helped a lot! Clomipramine and Quetiapine

[SaveWaveRider]

I've battled anxiety and depression since high school. I had a roller coaster of a ride of medications. I did get anxiety attacks in my sleep (most likely the grown up version of a night terror). Finding your stress triggers and dealing with them with CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy (changing your way of thinking like someone said up there) and taking better care of yourself physically and spiritually as well will help. Maybe find a CBT group in your area? There's also a great work book called Mind Over Mood you could check out.

[matrix82]

I was diagnosed with "panic attacks" that happened during the night, but it wasn't until seeing the same er doctor 4 times within two weeks that a doctor ordered cardiac tests and sent me to a cartiologist. Turns out I actually had an arrythmia that was undiagnosed for close to 20 years. I had the surgery almost a year ago to fix the AVNRT and haven't had a "panic attack" since.

I encourage you to get your ticker check out, if one of your panic attack symptoms is palpatations.

Over 20 years ago my aunt had the same heart condition and was diagnosed as having an anxiety disorder and put on valium. Needless to say she saw another doctor who sent her to a specialist, she had a different arythmia and had surgery and a pacemaker put in, she never had another "panic attack" since that.

My advice is to make sure that your heart is working fine as well. You could very well have an anxiety disorder as well as a heart issue. It's always worth a check. I know that I was put on a pile of different anti-anxiety meds and it didn't help me, it only made me feel sluggish and not quite right and after years of taking them it took quite a while to be weaned off of them.

[JD in Van]

I was reading this and I think you need to go to a different doctor.

He should be screening you for, as mentioned above cardiac problems but also sleep apenia (which is when you periodically stop breathing at night). These are VERY serious issues.

He should also be doing blood work to check your white cell count and for thyriod problems.

Lastly if it is anxiety, it often comes with depression close behind and he should be screening you with that as well.

I know I had absolutely debilitating panic attacks for a while and it wasn't until my doctor realized that what I actually had was post partum depression that I was able to get treatment that actually worked.

[matrix82]

I agree, there can be so many underlying medical problems that can result in panic attack symptoms.