Is this a panic attack?

[MerryMarigold]

I was getting these sometimes until I started anti depressants and then they stopped - which was great. Had another last night (I am on AD but going through a stressful period). Not sure if it is a panic attack.

• Middle of night from being asleep
• Wake up, heart racing
• Pins and needles in fingers
• Feeling faint
• Difficulty breathing

It's really the heart racing which is scariest. I didn't know if panic attacks could get you whilst sleeping. I sometimes get a bit jittery if too much caffeine, but it is a bit like this to the power of a hundred. It can take quite a while (15 min to 1 hr) to go away and often gets worse before better.

Sounds very much like a panic attack to me, and yes you can get them in the night after sleeping. This happened to my friend and she called 999 as she was convinced she was having a heart attack. She was sent packing from A & E pretty sharp!

Heart racing - same as palpitations I think and are not harmful but are distressing for the person suffering - that's what my GP said to me. You say you are on ADs - might be worth asking your GP if he/she will prescribe Diazepam (for anxiety) they don't like prescribing them because they can be addictive but are ok with a low dose (2mg) and taken occasionally.

Thank you. I did quite a bit of googling and recognised many of the symptoms. I may increase the AD dose. Thanks

Sorry to hear you're struggling with this. It does sound like a panic attack.

I used to get them triggered by AD's. Might be worth checking the side effects of your pills.

In the longer term, learn how to talk yourself down from it when you recognise the first signs. Daily mindfulness exercises can help...loads of free apps. And remember, don't fuel the fear.

Hope you're feeling better soon x

Yes, sounds like it to me.

I get these and also a cold sensation over body and tight feeling in chest.

I hope you feel less stressed soon.

Thank you. The ADs actually stopped it (Citalopram) for the past 10 months but the last week has been very stressful and so I guess one got triggered again. I used to think it was low blood sugar, but I think it is stress now, a build up in the day seems to set me off during the night somehow.