Question:
This morning I woke up having a panic attack. I'd have to open my eyes and then
it would ease up enough so that it was bearable. I even got up and took a
Xanax but I don't think it helped much. I was finally able to go to sleep again.
Any idea what could've caused this?
Answer:
Brain chemistry. Blood sugar imbalance. Even a nightmare which increased
stress hormones in your system.
Being chronically short of sleep. Withdrawal from medication or alcohol.
Onset or recovery from a viral infection.
Take your pick, there are all sorts of triggers.
Comforting when it happens while unconscious - proves it's not being created
by our overactive imagination.
The nature of it was very strange though. Why is it that I would panic as
soon as I started to sleep again?
You were slipping into the sleep stage that allowed the original incident
to be triggered. The waking state involves a different set of controls.
Brain chemistry is mysterious and not to be pondered for too long.
The best we can hope for is to cope well with the debris trail left by
disruptions in the signals.
I've experienced just one of those 'out of sleep' episodes and it is a bit
more difficult to power down from them than the ones that hit while
we're fully awake and able to put it in the proper perspective.
Did you have anything stressful to do today or yesterday? I have
night attacks if I've had a stressful day or if I have something scary
to look forward to.
because when you are asleep the brain amines that allow for it make
you sort of drugged out and disoriented as well as highly suggestible
and irrational -ergo, you keep perpetuating the fear and rememberance
of the panic attack-have some more-a traumatic cauldron that keeps
boiling. Out of the blue nocturnal panic attacks are hallmarks of an
anxiety disorder-they don't happen to everyone, but they do
happen-even well after panic is managed and recovery is pretty well
established-think of it like a brain burp or hiccup
I have PA's often just as I am falling asleep. I have them so
regularly that my pdoc prescribed half of a .25 Xanax for me to take at
bedtime, which helps me alot.
I know how bad it is to be completely relaxed and suddenly be hit with
a PA. It's a terrible feeling. Maybe talking to your pdoc about this
occurence could help. He may have a suggestion for you as to how to
handle waking from deep sleep to going into a full fledged PA.
I don't get actual panic attacks, but I am always more fearful and
worried at that time of day.
Early in the morning I am always in a "conservative" frame of mind,
where I just want to be warm and safe - not caring if I don't acheive
much in life. I just want the fear and anxiety to go away.
Later in the day my frame of mind is slightly more adventurous and I
think it might be worth some pain an anxiety to get somewhere in life.
