Had my TBI over a year ago now and I’m feeling better than I’ve felt since the accident apart from on going fatigue I feel fairly ‘normal’ but I’m still having awful panic attacks that started when I had my accident.
They start early evening when I get tired and continue all night even when I’m asleep (they wake me up of course)
I’ve tried everything but they keep coming, sometimes I’m having 8-10 a night with severe panic attacks happening when I try and sleep.
They are physically draining and my chest is actually starting to hurt from the constant strain.
it’s really getting me down as I thought I was finally getting somewhere. I have medication from the doctor but it doesn’t really help.
Any body else suffer with this? Any suggestions would be really great!
Thanks in advance xx
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Insaneinthemembrain
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Hi, have you been checked out for sleep apnea? This not only causes 'sleeping panic' but also daytime fatigue.
It blocks or reduces oxygen flow causing sudden awakening and the most common cause is being overweight and unfit where fat deposits restrict the airways. The second common cause is deformed airways either physically or by inflammation/ infection.
Panic attacks while you are awake are caused by anxiety and when you are falling asleep or asleep by restricted airways.
I do snore terribly.. didn’t think of that at all! Assumed it was a result of my injury! When I first banged my head I had loads and loads of panic attacks as my brain tried to figure stuff out and getting overwhelmed but I’m really getting fed up now as it totally exhausts me every night 😩
All your symptoms fit sleep apnea perfectly and as you say you have recovered from most of your BI symptoms. May be worth following this up, may take a bit of time and lifestyle change.
that sounds awful and it must be difficult to plan anything or relax when you never know when they might hit.
My understanding from a neurological point of view is that it may be related to autonomic dysfunction and added to be stress of life after a TBI. The hormones released when stressed emotionally or physically are adrenaline and cortisol.
When these hormones rage in our system we experience the stress response of Fight or Flight. Your body is preparing itself to defend itself or run away. To do that it puts your heart rate up and your blood pressure up and you sweat and pant and feel primed for action. Unfortunately there is nowhere to run to and nothing to attack so all this preparation just leaves you feeling awful. The body and brain becomes used to this level of adrenaline and cortisol and starts to produce them even when not triggered by an event. This results in panic attacks.
Whilst medication can subdue the effects they do not treat the underlying causes.
On a simple level you need to lower the negative stress responses and try to increase the levels of the hormones Oxytocin and Serotonin. These are produced when we feel safe, grateful and joy.
Easier said than done!!
Some people benefit from psychotherapy and may use cognitive behavioural therapy to spot the triggers and learn strategies to halt them before they start.
Becoming mindful and focused on the present moment whilst allowing yourself moments of gratitude for every tiny thing you can think of that you probably take for granted is a good start.
After months of meditation and practicing positive feelings and gratitude you may be able to displace the cortisol and adrenaline as your natural state and instead have oxytocin and serotonin as your natural state. The panic attacks get replaced by joy attacks and happy tears !
It’s a lot of work and there is no quick fix but there are some things you can work at.
I really hope you manage to reduce and eventually rid yourself of them.
After my mum died on Valentine's day1990, I was plagued with spontaneous, terrifying panic attacks. Mum had been trying to call me to say goodbye whilst suffering a (fatal) heart attack. I wasn't available, and heard the news from an aunt.
As the weeks passed, I became reclusive owing to the crippling effects of the attacks. I had CBT, which helped somewhat, but it was finding a compatible SSRi which banished the attacks for good.
I can now reason that we can't always be where we'd like to be or where we're needed, and I cope, but 34 years on it does still haunt me.
You last paragraph resonates with me so much. We each have unique physiology and respond differently to antidepressants. But the right SSRi (tried others with poor results) can change your life massively for the better.
Maybe speak again with your doctor.
Wishing you better days to come m'dear ; full blown panic attacks are devastating. . .Cat x
Mine aren’t too bad. Only whey I have quite a bit on that my brain feels overwhelmed. I started going to therapy a year or so back and I can’t recommend it enough
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