strange sleep symptom

[Will2015abc]

Hi I write this a year ago and have had little reply. Here goes again. Fingers crossed. hi all. Hope all are well. I have anxiety disorder and have had for years to varying degrees. lately I’ve been getting a very odd symptom. I fall “asleep” for a brief period and when I wake up I feel awful / palpitations / exhaustion etc. I was talking to someone who mentioned it could be a Vagal reaction? (Fight,flight, freeze). It tends to happen when stressed and I can feel it coming on - I just get that I can’t keep my eyes open (definately not fainting or seizure etc) and I have to succumb. It can last 10 minutes to an hour but it feels like a deep sleep. No one can tell me anything and I’m really really distressed when it happens. (It’s not narcolepsy as it doesn’t occur when I’m active or driving or anything like that - and with narcolepsy I’m told you can feel somewhat refreshed after an episode - and that’s the opposite of how I feel) anyone at all with any insight???Thanks

[Agora1]

Hi Will, I use to get the same thing years ago. It only happened while I was

watching tv in that I would fall sound asleep and then wake up suddenly in

intensive fear and crying. I was on benzos at that time which I believed caused

me immense drowsiness. I also needed a nap during the day which also put me

into a deep sleep only to wake up frightened beyond belief and crying and shaking.

Once I got off the benzos, it never happened to me again. Just wondering if

you are on any medication that might allow you to go into a deep sleep. xx

[Will2015abc in reply to Agora1]

thanks so much for your reply Agora. I really appreciate it as this symptom has me just terrified. The “unconcious” part of it and then the awful awful feeling when I do wake up is just horrible.

I have anxiety disorder but have reduced the dosage (as per doc) last year so I’m actually on less than I was when I didn’t have this weird symptom ? (It didn’t start when I reduced the dosage of benzodiazepine though either).

I really do appreciate the reply. It may very well be just another “new and exciting” symptom of anxiety and if it is at least I can recognize it as that and not worry it’s something else.

W

[Agora1 in reply to Will2015abc]

Will, I will say that being on medication can and will cause that drowsiness,

however it is the body's response in waking up that causes the fear.

The mind seems to catch up with all the "what ifs" of reality that we fear throughout

the day. When we go into that deep sleep, we go into a respite state for a while making

it a rude awakening of fear starting all over again.

I am a big believer of daily Meditation. Doing this upon awakening in the morning,

mid-afternoon and before bed can work on the subconscious mind while we are

sleeping. That is the part of the brain always rerunning the fears and events in our

lives. Bombarding the subconscious with positive reinforcement can literally remove

the negativity that makes us afraid. Of course adrenaline rushes can play into these

fears but we do have the power in retraining our brain while meditating.

More can be learned about this on YouTube which carries excellent videos on

Meditation and Retraining the Anxious Brain. I hope this helps some xx