Waking up and being sent into panic attacks

[Flappy]

Hello, does anyone else experience this?

My nerves have been shot lately and i struggle to get to sleep, if I’m woken suddenly I’m sent into a panic attack - for instance my son cried at like 6am and I woke up with a back burning sensation and just all the symptoms of a panic attack. Took me a good while to calm myself down and I’m still not 100%, doesn’t help that I don’t have complete control of my thoughts whilst half asleep so I automatically think the worst eg there’s something wrong with me and I’m dying.

It’s so frustrating..

[italiancookie]

What are your symptoms when you wake up?

[Flappy in reply to italiancookie]

Feeling like static in my eyes, burning feeling, tingling in my hands and lips.. dry mouth.

[1uglychild]

When my anxiety was at my worst I had that too. Waking up with a sudden shock thinking I was dying. It happened all the time during that period. I talked about it with a friend who was suffering from panic attacks a few years later and she would get them in the middle of her sleep too.

I don’t really have any proven tips on how to beat it but I’d suggest trying to de stress as much as possible before bedtime. If it’s possible for you I would try working out in any way you can close to bedtime. You need to burn off the adrenalin that the panic causes, it’s sitting in your system and causing you to sleep badly. Also try to do some deep breathing, or meditation as you lie down to sleep. This should help clear anxious thoughts and maybe calm your body a bit.

Good luck!