had my first sleeping PA last night

[chard22]

i went to bed around 2 AM (which is my normal sleep schedual) i felt completely fine before i went to bed. Around 4 Am i was having a dream, and the remote control for the T.V fell on my head, i sat straight up from a dead sleep feeling the dizziest i ever felt, and severe deperonalization. I thought that PA was the bad dream. The peak only lasted about 5-10 seconds, but i couldent get to sleep till about 6 after that since ive never expierienced a Sleepiing PA. that was the second most scary PA ive had, and im scared to go to bed tonite. i know i have to face the PA's in order to recover, but i would just really like some support or techniques for tonight.

thanks

richard

[Eveline]

Most of my panic attacks start right after waking up, especially if I had not had enough sleep. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night feeling the start of a panic attack. It makes you wish every night before going to bad that 'it will not happen tonight'... which of course only makes it more difficult to fall asleep at all....

I know I probably shouldn't, but I try to go to bed when I'm really, really tired, even if that means staying up until 3 am, and then I have my water bottle right there, my Back Rescue Remedy, tissues, strepsils (to prevent that 'tight throat' feeling), and the remote for the tv so I can watch some stupid sit com to take my mind of things if needed..

Good luck and have a wonderful, calm sleep tonight!

[honeybee3939]

Hi Richard,

Take a look at these posts they may help:

Night panic
Nothing like a panic attack at 3:30 am (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2701)
Sudden nighttime attacks (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=24)
Waking Up With A Panic Attack In The Night (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5211)
Bad Morning !!!!!!!!!!! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5692)
Panic attacks during sleep. (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5796)
It's Back! (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5769)
Waking Startled at Night (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5951)
Panic Attacks....During Sleep (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6385)
panic attack in sleep (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7118)

Love

Andrea
xxx

[Insomniac]

I've felt like this before if I wake suddenly. Even if I wake to go to the toilet. I have to give myself a minute or I feel really shaky and disorientated - which then makes me feel like I'm going to have a PA. Those thoughts can bring one on because you worry about having one and the symptoms start because of the anxiety.

But I have found I am able to talk myself out of it. I know in the past (before PAs) I was sometimes dizzy if I woke suddenly, like if my little girl shouted for me in the night. So I can rationalise and persuade myself that it is only the sudden waking and not panic, and the feeling WILL pass. Which it does. Especially if I concentrate on breathing properly instead of tensing and breathing shallow like I used to.

Have hope. Your brain is powerful, as the PAs show. But you have some control too. I was terrified after having a really bad night time PA. But even I have managed to do this. It takes practice but your belief in yourself will increase when you take time and remember that its just a normal reaction from waking too quickly.


Lisa.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

[sal]

No know how you feel here if you want to talk

Love Sal xx


Dont mess up the best things in your life, just because at present you are unsure who you are.


"Life is a distance and to travel that distance you were given the strength and guidance to do so".

[Helenas2]

Hi
Brnad new member - I have them too - those horrible dreaded panic attacks , and just reading some of your experiences i can somehow releate - and know i am not alone on what i can only describe and sheer terror.
My panic attacks occur whilst I am asleep or drifiting into sleep, I have severe ot and cold sweats, the feeling of being closed in - not being able to breath, nausea and sometimes worse! This all generally lasts for 5 - 10 mins - i find it reallyhard getting a grip - i always run out into the garden in my pj's to try to breath - it all happens so quick and its very fighteing. I have just come off 3 years worth of antidepressants which were origionally prescibed to me to control the attacks. And now I am off ( which i am very pleased about) the attacks are back.

I welcome any help and advice.
Thank you