Why do I get so stressed in my sleep?

[Konfuzzled]

I've had a tough couple of years with various health issues that has resulted in stress and anxiety. I'm usually fairly OK during the day and I do everything I can think of to manage stress - exercise, eat well, do yoga, meditate etc.

But any time I fall asleep I wake up with a pounding heart, shaking, internal tremours and clenching my jaw. I've just had an afternoon nap, was lying on the sofa all relaxed, fell asleep and woke up with my body experiencing all of the above. It's like my body panics while I'm asleep or something? I also get loads of ectopic heart beats when I wake up (have had full cardiology assessment and no issues).

Has this happened to anyone else and what can I do about it? I've tried mediating just before sleep and even when I'm really relaxed going to bed I still wake up with body in full fight or flight mode.

I'm not a doc, but I know there can be issues for some people relating to how the heart adjusts to the changes in sleep cycles during the night. I know of people who have been prescribed propranolol for this kind of thing.
You might also benefit from taking a magnesium/potassium supplement - one capsule of 50 mg potassium and 20 mg magnesium am and pm. That can help with the ectopic beats.

I've been going through a really stressful time over the last 6-12 months and have been experiencing similar, but mine is when I'm falling asleep - as soon as I start to nod off I jump awake with a sense of panic and all of the physical symptoms you mentioned. It's like a semi conscious panic attack! I have no answers but just wanted you to know that it's not just you.

Thanks @Cryingatthegym , sorry that you're going through this too but it does help to know I'm not the only one! It feels like my brain doesn't think I'm safe so when I'm asleep it wakes me up in a panic to deal with the non-existent danger.

I already take magnesium 500mg twice a day as it also helps with muscle twitches that I get. I haven't looked into potassium supplements but will do some research, thanks @Orchidacea .

I can't give a reference now, but read lately that two thirds of dreams are negative/unhappy/frightening and that is normal and a way our brain processes things. Many of my dreams are a bit stressful or really rubbish and that made me feel it wasn't a problem with me, it is just the way our brains work.

A different thing is a sudden shock when dreaming. I get this every week or so. I read somewhere this is from when we slept in trees and fell off a branch :). Not sure if serious but I really felt as if falling off something, a physical, frightenin jerk, but can usually go back to sleep.

Twice in my life I got the "night mare" or sleep paralysis which is truly horrifying.

I second magnesium, melatonin, herbal teas, ashwahgandha, warm bed, cold room, white noise machine, dark bedroom, etc etc

Good luck