Night time panic attacks?

[Notcontent]

In the last year or so I often wake up shortly after I fall asleep, often feeling tight chested and like I am struggling to breathe (although I can breathe) and sometimes like I have had an adrenaline surge. When that happens I often have to sit up and read or go on mumsnet for a while before I can try to sleep again.

I thought it may be related to my acid reflux or peri menopause. But I have noticed it did not happen at all on my recent holiday or the holiday before then. I am starting to think this is stress related as I do feel a constant low level sense of stress about work. Has anyone experienced similar?

Peri menopause. I've had bouts of anxiety/panic attacks in my life but this waking up after just falling asleep in full blown panic was definitely related to peri as HRT stopped it.

I tried Sertraline first which made it so much worse and lead to the most awful insomnia I've ever experienced.

I also only had it a certain times in my cycle at first which is why it may not be happening all the time for you.
Also in peri my tolerance to stress has changed, something I would've been mildly stressed about before will now keep me awake at night. If you are peri age try HRT.

Yes, this happened to me, during a particularly stressful time at work. Exactly as you describe. I also had insomnia. I saw a gynaecologist but he was reluctant to prescribe HRT as I’ve had breast cancer. Instead, he suggested Setraline which has really worked for me. No more panic attacks and my sleep is so much better.

Thank you both for posting. Sounds like I may need to explore hrt. I was briefly on antidepressants about 10 years ago and I think they helped me at the time but I stopped as they were not great for my sleep.