Here we go again........fear of dying in my sleep

Well here I am again in same position as last time!!! Can't sleep cos of fear of dying in my sleep!!! I do so well for a while and then bang it hits me again!!! It's so flipping scary.

I'm trying to think positive but it's not working

[Hidden]

Well I'm alive!!! Haven't had much sleep kept tossing and turning and waking with a startle and now got work until 7pm as usual.

Can't wait to get back in my bed!!!

[Livguadalope in reply to Hidden]

I know how you feel when I was nine is when I started having this fear when my grandma died in her sleep. I have found that I just cant stop thinking that someone or something is gonna kill me in my sleep

[Tea--cup in reply to Livguadalope]

Same

[ellabella]

Glad you woke up! I'm guessing you will sleep tonight PB, I hope so for your sake. When fear finds a way in it can cause so much panic. I hope you feel much better soon. xxxx

[Parwex in reply to ellabella]

Am feeling a great weakness all over my body when i just to fall asleep n that make me fear n feel really very bad

[Hidden]

Hi PB1999. You will not die in your sleep because nature has given us a built in mechanism to prevent this. A part of your nervous system is out of your control (thank goodness). It is what keeps your heart pumping, your lungs breathing, all your internal organs working without you having to do anything. It's called the Involuntary Nervous System. If you TRY to think positively it will not work in your present state. GO WITH THE FEELINGS. Do not fight,or try to think positively (because if it does not work you will get more frustrated) get scared, or do anything that creates more tension. Just drift, float along with the feelings there. Now this is not easy and I know it. But it is the only way to get out of the fear-anxiety-fear cycle. The very thought of dying in your sleep creates more anxious thought and that is the last thing you need at the moment!! YOU WILL RECOVER believe me, although at the moment you probably think me an idiot for saying so. Do not despair. Despair drags you down. ACCEPTANCE, while it may not work immediately, does take the strain out of the problem.Do not be overanxious to get back to bed. With your head on the pillow nasty thoughts have a tendency to rear their ugly heads. Go to bed at your normal time.

All this takes TIME. Go with it. My heart goes out to you. Blessings and good luck.

[Chellse in reply to Hidden]

OMG. Just trying to respond to this I had to sign in to a bunch of things and it in itself was freaking stressful. Thanks for making that so easy (sarcasm)..

When I’m falling asleep and the part of my brain that says “stay immobile this is a dream” does not work correctly, it is freaking awful. My body goes numb and my mind freaks out and I’m scared and I feel like I can’t breath. Having to remember that it’s okay if you’re RANDOMLY incapacitated is terrifying.

My work life suffers and everyone thinks I’m an alcoholic. Truth is I drink as much as I humanly can to get me to sleep because I am scared of going to sleep.

It makes no difference if it’s going to bed or waking up. Both are equally terrifying. I’m scared I’m going to have a heart attack or a stroke from the fright of this experience.

[Candieann in reply to Chellse]

That numb and immobile feeling is called sleep paralysis. It happens to me occasionally and it’s flipping terrifying!! The more you struggle to move, the worse it gets. The best thing is that I have found to do is to tell yourself that it will pass and there’s really nothing you can do is to wait it out.

[Bambambella in reply to Candieann]

This happens to me A LOT! What helps me (and I don’t know how it helps but somehow it does) is I put all my attention on my toes and try to wiggle them, and then somehow I twitch and wake up

[Michcat]

I have the exact same fear, of dying or dying in my sleep! I've been writing a diary to give to the doctor to show them how bad it gets as I'm sure they don't believe me! Like you I have difficulty sleeping and the more tired I get the more anxious I feel! Hope you start to feel better soon x

[LexiLuthor in reply to Michcat]

I experience the same vicious cycle. Did you find a solution for this problem in your case?

[Jakeyb99 in reply to Michcat]

Is it worth going to the doctors about it because I don’t only get at night and about dying in my sleep I can be at work and it can happen just about dying in general I could be driving down the moter way and it could happen any ideas what to do

[Hidden]

Thank you all for your great comments they're always so helpful. I've had quite a good week.

All the best to everyone living with this horrid horrid illness

[kjm1987]

I'm petrified of dying aswell - obviously not everyone wants to die, but I thought I was the only person on earth that took this worry to another level! I don't have trouble sleeping - infact lately, I could sleep for days! But I do have it in my head that its not anxiety I'm suffering with, that its something more serious, which obviously makes me feel more anxious. Is there anything your taking to help you? I've currently increased my dose of citalopram from 20mg to 30mg. I've only been on this dose for about 5 days but I've noticed they make me really tired all the time. I'm taking the meds just before bed and getting a good nights sleep, although after about 2 hours of being up out and about I'm ridiculously tired again all day. I've got no get up and go, no interest in doing things, my house is normally tidy but lately I just can't be bothered doing the littlest jobs like washing the pots. I'm at my wits end with these feelings. I use to be outgoing and bubbly. It was my birthday yesterday and I didn't feel up to going out with my friends. Any advice with how you deal with this would be fantastic!! I just want to get back to my normal self, which I'm sure you do too. All the best xxx

[Hidden in reply to kjm1987]

Hi KJM, I'm sorry to hear you feel like this hun it's so horrible being in this situation and my heart really goes out to you!

I haves been given meds (citalipram 10mg) but I haven't taken them as my anxiety about taking pills has stopped me. But I'm sure they help others.

Only advice I can really give is what I have learnt from this site which is stay calm and understand that the feelings are all down to anxiety! It has helped because I know I'm not as bad as I first was a few months ago but still have my moments of fear.

I have no get up and go either but I think it's down to using up my energy on the panic and anxiety attacks but I do force myself to do things like go to my mums for dinner which had me in tears at the thought of going as I was having an episode, so I just went back in my front door Sobbed until I had no tears left (after about hour and a half lol) washed my face and set off! I had a great time with my family and then came home so was worth it in the end! Now this week going there was easier than that so I'm assuming next time will be easier than today!

I think my thoughts try to put me off doing things but I make a deal with myself lol and that is TRY whatever or wherever it is and if I feel really bad whilst, then I'll just come straight home! Most of time I enjoy whatever it may be for long enough that I can hang in there till the end. This may change but time will tell!

Hope you feel better soon

Oooh yes and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[Hidden]

Hello I'm Matthew and I'm the same. I have a fear of dying in my sleep and my Heath overall . When I don't get any sleep , I then worry I don't sleep enough and that I will die due to the lack of sleep. It would be nice if I had some friends to talk too who experience the same, so we can share our thoughts. I'm taking Zopiclone 3.5 mg and I also have the 7 .

[stace11 in reply to Hidden]

Hiya. Im just the same. Im terrible with my health anxiety and I convince myself that im going to die In my sleep. If I feel my chest is heavy and im breathing quicker I will not be able to sleep for the fear of stopping breathing or having a beart attack. If I have a headache I automatically thinkim going to have a brain anurism. I can't take any medication for any of it either as it makes me feel worse so I just have to deal with it. Ive learnt that exercise helps me a lot and listening to music, music that reminds me of happy times. I will probably never get rid of my anxiety but I will learn to cope with it as best I can.

Hope you feel better soon

[stace11 in reply to stace11]

Sorry for the spelling mistakes.

[LexiLuthor in reply to stace11]

I am in the exact same situation! How are you holding up? I am having an episode right now and i read threads just like this to calm me down

[EfrainConejo in reply to LexiLuthor]

Hey bro how are you doing now?

[EfrainConejo in reply to stace11]

I feel exactly the same.

[Skoda in reply to stace11]

Heyah, totally get you! I am having this as i type... It's 4 am already and it's a dread... I know it's absolutely crap and these thoughts are just that... Thoughts... But maaan they keep me awake... And i seem to feel everything in my body... Well, been having anxiety issues for awhile now but we get along just fine. It seems at night it's just more active

[Bellamafia in reply to stace11]

That’s exactly how I feel! I’m scared 24/7!

[Hidden]

And PB I have anxiety about taking medications too. I know how you feel about that .

[Ghillieinthemist]

Hey, I feel the same thing right now.... All i can do is pray And go to my family for help. Best wishes to you Good luck

[Judahman]

I have the same problem. I am a 33 yo male, turning 34 on July 26 and I worry about dying in my sleep often. I find it interesting that others here take citalopram as I do too 20mg once a day. My anxiety was worse before I took it however. My childhood and family history is very emotional and has left awful emotional scaring. I also had major reconstruction of my arteries when I was 6 years old and I worry that any day I'm just going to die and leave my wonderful life. My current life is wonderful. I am married to a wonderful woman and we generally have a great relationship although sometimes she does drives me batshit crazy just as I do to her lol. But we love each other and have a beautiful daughter. Our biggest concerns are financial (at the moment) though I know that those will clear up soon so where is the anxiety coming from? Is it all from the past? Am I just genetically wired for these thoughts and conditions? What do you guys think? Praying and thinking about anyone on here who shares these feelings of death and anxiety.

[EfrainConejo in reply to Judahman]

Hey I'm 15 I've been afraid to sleep because I feel like im going to pass away. How are you now?

[Judahman in reply to EfrainConejo]

I'm better now. Those feelings of dying in my sleep come and go. I think has a lot to do with stress and feeling disconnected from society. Feeling unfulfilled. I don't know though, I'm not a doctor. These are just my thoughts.

[Skoda in reply to Judahman]

Hey! So here is my story... I have a wonderful relationship with a wonderful guy. Same problem with the financial situation, same thoughts:this will clear soon. My anxiety should not exist but you it had a trigger somewhere in the past. I know that it is because of family issues (not the extremely bad kinds but the "disappointing of parents", "letting my family down " kind of thing) but somehow i still haven't been able to resolve this. Maybe i Don't feel independent enough

[Skoda in reply to Judahman]

Btw my b-day is July 25,turning 31

[lollymelinda]

If you have seen a doctor and know you are in fairly good health...it's anxiety.Get your mind as active as possible and try to realize that dying in one's sleep is extremely rare unless you have a debillitating disease such as cancer or something like it.I really pray you can overcome this,but maybe a medicine for anxiety is in order until you are able to cope better.Try to ask yourself why you have problems with this.Has someone you've known died in that way?

I truly hope you can get this taken care of so you can live a somewhat normal life.

[Iwantsleep]

Yeah I have been haveing the same problem right now. I had a cousin pass away at 17 two years ago and last month I turned 17. My brain just goes to the thought of dying. It also doesn't help that I grew up in church so I don't follow god but I think of going to hell all the time. I can't sleep so I stumbled apon this place and it makes me feel better right away that I am not alone with this.

[Vannah_Bug1997]

So how is everyone doing now? I have been having this overwhelming fear of dying especially in my sleep for the last month now and just can't seem to get over it.

[Voller123 in reply to Vannah_Bug1997]

I have recently been suffering with my heart problem the worst it’s been in four years... in and out of hospital for 3 weeks so far this month... I am scared to go to sleep incase I die because of my heart and the illness I have got. I haven’t been too sleep in 40 hours because I’m just scared... it’s ok for people around me to say you would die just close your eyes and you will be fine but that doesn’t help me mentally...

[Afraidsadandconfusrd]

I am in the same boat if this is still relevant to you now. I try to get relaxed for sleep but no all these scary thoughts of dying in my sleep its terrifying my heart really goes out to you. Just know somebody else many people are going through it x

[NikkiInTheDesert85]

Did you get better?