Night Time HELL!

[Skylab12]

I keep getting panic attacks in my sleep and it's starting to have such an effect on my life 😭 last night it happened at 11:30, 1:20 and 6:20. I wake up with a really rapid heart rate, dripping with sweat, stomach pains and nausea. I get them about 10 nights a month and it's making me scared to go to bed and obviously exhausted the next day because its hard to fall back asleep afterwards.

GP I spoke to just said try not to worry it's not life threatening!

Also thought I'd add that I think I've had generalised anxiety since a teenager but never diagnosed and I've always 'coped' OK with it but since the night time attacks started I've also had these waves of impending doom that come out of nowhere in the day too, always seems like there is no direct trigger so I struggling with how I can address it and help myself feel better and more grounded.

I feel your pain Op
I woke up to one a few weeks before Xmas the 1st time I'd been woken by one and the fear, doom, dread and panic I felt was nothing like I'd ever experienced before or wish to ever again. I've suffered attacks on & off for years but never been woken by one till that night. Sorry I've got no advice but fingers crossed somebody will come with some

Have you had any therapy? Sounds like something might be bubbling up from your subconscious mind that could do with being heard. If you are open to therapy I would go for that.

@Od130990 It really is horrific isn't it, my husband tried to help me through it but he really can't relate to how scary it is.

@coffeeisthebest - I definitely do agree with this, I think that I must not be coping in the day as well as I think to be waking up like that. I've self referred to online CBT so have been tracking moods/TBF cycles and working through the programme, you do get a supporter but they only review you every 2 weeks for a total of 12 weeks so I'm going to see how that goes and maybe I'll need something face to face.

I think my questions to anyone who has experienced it: what helped in that awful moment and did they eventually stop?

Mine eventually eased off. It was hideous at the time tho and I dreaded going to bed. Therapy and journalling has helped me significantly. As for what to do in the moment, I would say not to call it a panic attack as that sounds like a pretty charged statement but try and notice the panic and also notice that you are lying in bed, in the dark, and that you are ok, even with the panic thoughts and sensations you are experiencing. Not an easy task by any means but good luck!

@Skylab12 it's terrifyingly horrendous & I really hope you get it sorted soon, fingers crossed 🤞🏼 I've only experienced once being woke by a panic attack and hope & prey I never do again; it took me till 2 weeks ago to actually get over it 100% it left me completely disoriented for a solid month and a half.
I really wish I could be more help for you & I'm preying you get help soon

How old are you? Some if this sounds peri menopausal.

@OtterInDisgrace I'm unsure how old op is but I'm 40, I've been thinking for awhile I could possibly be peri menopausal; is it linked? I've had a few night sweats too but every time I've looked it up apparently peri menopausal means periods ( bleeding ) are more regular yet mine are at least 6 weeks apart some times completely missing a month or two

I’m definitely peri menopausal - you don’t realise you’re in it til you are - and I have increased anxiety plus broken sleep. Every time I wake up in the night I get so incredibly hot I have to strip off my clothes and position myself in front of a fan til it passes.

Not sure if this is the OP’s issue but it’s just a thought.

Hope yours improves.

Incidentally, the whole intermittent period thing can last for years. I’m entering my third year of broken periods. Sometimes I go for 4 months then I get another short one. Each time I think I wish they would stop already.

Are you of an age where it could be hormonal?
If not them ask the GP if you can try Amyltripine,it's being used as a sleep aid now ( it's an old skool antidepressant) and works very well without all the addictive side effect of sleeping tablets.

Definitely peri-menopause. I had this, having never had anxiety before, and it was horrific. Mine started at 39.

Thanks for all the comments everyone! Woke up again last night on the verge of things getting bad, pounding heart but it subsided with some deep breathing and reciting positive affirmations in my head, took a while to go back to sleep so tired and shaky today. I have a 2year old and a 7 year old and I work fulltime so this broken sleep is really having an impact.

@OtterInDisgrace - I was wondering if hormones could be a factor as anxiety and night sweats are definitely worse during the last 10 days of my cycle (although present at other times too) and I've always been like clockwork but things are a bit more unpredictable now 22days - 32days sometimes. I'm 34 so I'm hoping it's not peri!!

Hi how are you now? This is what iv been struggling with since march i was put on antidepressants that ended me in psych ward for 12 weeks as made me suicidal im home now off the Ads but mornings are dreaded last week i had 5 days woke up fine...nothing changed and last 2 woke up 5am shaking, sweaty, heart racing heaving....had all bloods done gp says anxiety....doing cbt but struggling as no trigger 😪