Last night just as I was starting to fall asleep but not totally there just yet I'm startled awake by gasping for air. Now I've had the other thing wherer I'm starting to fall asleep and feel like passing out and that startles me awake but what the heck was that about last night???
A little scared 
Hi Donna,
I gotta tell you, again like me, I think I just 'forget to breathe! Or more like 'lazy' breathing. Sounds nutso but I really believe that. I've run that by some professionals and they tend to agree. So I get scared when trying to sleep, about the gasping too, but I think it's in my mind. So I just try to breathe calmly and slowly, and 'remember' to breathe. I can sometimes wake up startled and it feels like gasping, but I think for me, that is air pressure building up in the stomache and causing pressure in the abdomen. So I spend the next (what seems like) fifty years, usually a couple of hours belching all the air out. Then I can try sleeping again. Anxiety causes us to swallow a lot of air, called aerophagia. Have you tried some sort of distraction while trying to fall asleep, or some sort of relaxing drink? Oh yeah, another thing might be that as you're falling asleep, your mouth drops open and you start breathing through your mouth, which can cause swallowing of air. I got this chin strap thingo which holds the trap shut when you sleep.
So, try to analyse what is happening to you. Do you think it is actually gasping for air, like breathlessness? Because even non sufferers of sleep apnea can kink the airways a bit, depending on your sleep position. I sleep on my right side and try to keep my head slightly chin up, again I'm just nutso, but what the... I'm so sick of this condition that I'm just grasping for any hope of relief.
Geez, if it's not one thing, it's another with this hell of a thing and I'm starting to get more pissed off with it than scared. I'm trying to mentally turn it around on itself. It is so annoying.
It's good you getting that monitor. That should cause you reason to relax a bit, I'm sure the results will be positive. I might see if i can get one.... there's that HA again!
My anxiety has returned, but nowhere near where it has been in past weeks. I've seen the naturopath, who has heard my story all too often. She put me on some potions and pills (natural stuff), zinc supplement, folate, digestive enzymes, probiotics and a herb mix that tastes awwwwful. I feel like I've just been to see the witch doctor of the village. (looked more like Samantha than Dr Bombay or a hobbit!) The shop looks like a scene from Harry Potter! Pretty costly too, I'm not sure I could afford it long term. I'm open to the therapy, but I'll need to see some results to keep it up. I'm still trying to get in to see the psychologist, that takes a while. Chiropractor again tomorrow, looking forward to that. I'll let you know if I notice any results from all the potions.
I thought the Zoloft was having an effect because I thought I was feeling a bit better, and I am. But the naturopath said it usually takes about four to six weeks to kick in, I've only been on it a little over two. So I hope that means I'll get even more better when it kicks in. No side effects so far, though.
I hope you're feeling better. Talk soon.
Peter.
Hello Peter
I am so terrified and can't help but wonder what's going on with me.
I was sleeping well till I woke up to turn onto my left side then my heart did this weird fluttering thing then I felt nauseous then my heart starts racing so got out of bed grabbed a water feeling weak and like passing out sat down did my deep breathing got my heart rate down shivering like crazy and still weak at that point and my heartbeat felt irregular at that time. Is this all caused from anxiety???
Donna,
I'd be pretty sure it's the anxiety, since we both know that you and I do suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. That's exactly how my panic attacks were. Thankfully, I haven't had one like that for awhile, touch wood! ***touches head***
But I still get butterflies, or flutters and jitters. I think, although I'm not certain, that the butterflies are in the digestive system or maybe an air bubble in the wind pipe, but I get them too.
Maybe you could try not eating a lot at dinner time. That's what I do now, I try to have the bigger meal for lunch and only something light for dinner. If I go out for dinner and eat a lot more, I always pay for it later. I mean, suffer later.
Sounds like you're controlling the attacks, good. Just keep doing that. I know what you're going through.
How's the book? Are you still awake? If so, go back to bed and SLEEP!
Peter.
Hi Peter
I managed to get some sleep but it woke me again my heart doing the fluttery thing. It scares me.
I would love to stil be asleep as my lil girl is still sleeping but I just can't relax. I just don't know what to do.
I'm lying here checking my pulse and it's not regular. Does this happen with anxiety???
Hi Donna,
It's been a few days since we chatted, and even a couple of days since you've been on here, so I hope you've been ok.
Now, you know all these things happen with anxiety, so you have to stop checking your pulse and focusing on the symptoms. Look forward to better times ahead. I know that's easier said then done, and believe me when I say I know, because I'm going through this too.
I have a BP monitor and because I suffer and am on medication for high BP, managed by the way, I usually check my BP. Since I've been getting the attacks, I've been checking the BP more often. So the doc says to stop doing this, we know it's going to go up with an attack, then it will go down again. I also have diabetes type 2 and I check my BGL more often than before the attacks. I still do the BGL checks, I won't stop that for the anxiety.
The funny thing is, my BGL readings have never been better! They now are usually always in the normal range. So, I think for this anxiety, I've changed my lifestyle a bit, I eat less, watch what and when I eat, and that seems to be both helping the anxiety and panic attacks AND my BG levels. Also, my weight is coming back into the NOT overweight category. I'm 182cm and 85kg, which just sneeks me in UNDER the line, so that is good.
I have been taking the dietary supplements from the naturopath for a few days, and the Zoloft for about three weeks. Something is working but I don't know if it's any one thing or all of them working together. Because Zoloft is directed to the brain, the potions work on digestion, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and stress relief. So I suppose they all contribute, as well as breathing and walking.
I don't feel so jittery and I feel I'm on the path to recovery. I have been accepted for the CBT program at the local hospital and that starts in a few weeks. So feel hope that if you put in the effort, you can beat this thing.
How is the book course doing, well I hope?
Best wishes.
Peter.
Hello Peter 
It's been a bit since we last talked. I was away on a family camping trip and we had a blast I really needed that. Sure my anxiety would big me at night when I went to bed but other than that I felt great until yesterday when I got back home my anxiety and panic attack was so bad and even last night it was I kept waking up feeling like I was going to pass out. Happened off n on all night. It was horrible and still felt dizzy this morning for a couple hours as well
Could be sleep apnea, I used to get that all the time. Since sleeping on a foam wedge (like this: ebay.nl/itm/20-cm-8-Inch-Su..., which I put under the mattress (my husband and I have 2 seperate mattresses on our bed), it has never happened since.
Hi pink1181 , I'm laid on my bed propped up feel shocking , dizzy , wanna sleep so bad but scared gonna pass out it's the strangest feeling ever , I keep seeing spots in a dizzy way , had tightness in upper stomach , i have a water infection & do recall feeling like this a few months ago , guess what ! A water infection. I am defo awke now , don't wanna take sleep aid now gp gave me some zopolone to take on alternate eve for 2 week. Feel shocking. Binkynoo
Hi pink1181 , I'm laid on my bed propped up feel shocking , dizzy , wanna sleep so bad but scared gonna pass out it's the strangest feeling ever , I keep seeing spots in a dizzy way , had tightness in upper stomach , i have a water infection & do recall feeling like this a few months ago , guess what ! A water infection. I am defo awke now , don't wanna take sleep aid now gp gave me some zopolone to take on alternate eve for 2 week. Feel shocking. Binkynoo
Hi pink1181 , I'm laid on my bed propped up feel shocking , dizzy , wanna sleep so bad but scared gonna pass out it's the strangest feeling ever , I keep seeing spots in a dizzy way , had tightness in upper stomach , i have a water infection & do recall feeling like this a few months ago , guess what ! A water infection. I am defo awke now , don't wanna take sleep aid now gp gave me some zopolone to take on alternate eve for 2 week. Feel shocking. Binkynoo
Hi pink1181 , I'm laid on my bed propped up feel shocking , dizzy , wanna sleep so bad but scared gonna pass out it's the strangest feeling ever , I keep seeing spots in a dizzy way , had tightness in upper stomach , i have a water infection & do recall feeling like this a few months ago , guess what ! A water infection. I am defo awke now , don't wanna take sleep aid now gp gave me some zopolone to take on alternate eve for 2 week. Feel shocking. Binkynoo
I have this literally every night usually 6-7 times before I finally pass out. Its anxiety most likely your subconscious saying " wait dude im not ready to sleep wake up". lemme guess you had to take a huge breath and your heart was POUNDING?
Heart stopping when sleeping??
Out after work tonight...
I can't fall asleep at all..any answers to this please? My friend told me it's Anxiety.
Anxiety Before Bed 
