Nocternal Anxiety attacks. - Anxiety Message Board

ajc22 · 05-05-2008, 07:59 PM

These past few days I have been having the hardest time falling asleep without my mind going 100 miles per hour. I usually watch comedic tv shows to keep my mind off things, until I start to dose off then I usually turn the TV off and go to sleep.

These last few nights I have done this same routine, but I usually cannot put my mind at ease. Everything starts going through my head like crazy, bad thoughts usually. Last night, it got worse. At first it happend really quick, but then it did it again but was VERY bad this time. I was pretty much asleep, and then all of a suddon I got this EMENSE feeling of dread and complete and utter terror come across me. I became extremely hot, and I was shaking. I kept saying to myself in my mind "oh god no, please go away, please please please go away" It felt like something REALLY bad was about to happen, like I was going to die or there was some kind of spirit or SOMETHING putting this terror on me. (which is weird that i thought that because I am not one to believe in demons or anything like that...)

I talked to my grandmother about it today and she told me she thought it could be an anxiety attack. I'm pretty sure thats what it was now, because i have been doing some researching and all of the symptoms are what i experenced.
Yes, i have lately been going through an extremely hard time. My boyfriend and i just broke up and i took it very badly, and still do. And some other bad things that just seem to contribute to my stress. But my break up seems to be the worse.

Just wondering what you may think it is, if there could be anything else?
thank you!

LaurieBelle · 05-06-2008, 10:00 AM

Hi,

I'm sorry I don't have any definitive answers for you, but I wanted to say that I have had the same type of symptoms. Usually, I would fall asleep fine, but then I would wake up at 1 or 2 in the morning with my heart racing, that intense feeling of dread and fear... it was horrible. At that time I was going through some very bad experiences in my life, too. My doctor said it was anxiety, and she prescribed me some Xanax to relax me, which helped (I still take it sometimes when I feel the anxiety coming on).

I don't have these "episodes" anymore, maybe it is because things have improved in my life and I can rest easier at night... but the Xanax is always there if I need help sleeping.

I heard someone say once "don't believe anything you think at 2 AM" and I didn't know what they were talking about until I started having this nocturnal anxiety.

Hope you feel better.

angie1080 · 05-20-2008, 12:18 PM

I love this site due to the common bond that we all have with each other, its nice to know that I am not the only one who goes thru it and in a small sense it puts me at ease and helps me to function

I will tell you a little about my history maybe this will help you.My panic attacks started when I was 21, or at least thats when I was diagnosed with anxiety I think it started way before that possibly when I was 16 and my mom passed away. After my mom passed I was terrified that I was going to end up sick like her, or that I would die at a young age, thats when I think the anxiety started. Any little thing that happened sickness wise from a cold to stomach bug I worried about it. I had myself convinced that I was going to get really sick and die.

Well, my first attack happened and I literally felt as if I was dying I felt like I was blacking out almost even tho I wasnt, I got dizzy, had extreme pressure (almost like my head was foggy, and it felt like the top and front of my head was tingling, I went numb, had a rapid heartbeat/pulse and felt as if my airway was closing) I didnt know what was going on so I rushed to the ER, well I was given meds, paxil I believe, I took it and decided I was not going to be on anything I could calm myself down. Woah, was I wrong! I was ok for about a year or so and then they hit me big time! I could literally not function. I tried everything from only being around familiar >PEOPLE>/things, listening to soft music to soothe me, and then it got to the point to where I had to have someone in the room with me in order for me to go to sleep and even then I would wake up in a panic.

It would scare me so bad I would drive myself to the ER no matter what time or what mental state I was in, I guess you could say I became a frequent flyer.well, when I came to terms that it was the devil ( I am a christian) trying to bring me down along with accepting that it was anxiety , I agreed to be put on Zoloft,I was on 50 mg for 2 years, decided to take myself off(not a good idea, always consult your dr.)went approx. 2 years panic free, and here as of late have been suffering from it again, I am back on Zoloft and praying that it takes its affect soon, which it will, but it takes a while. I am on 1 mg ativan until I can get it under control.

Some things that help me not to think about the panic are: watching cartoons(childish maybe, but comforting), listening to soft music while I go to sleep(still wake up in panic, but to go to sleep it helps), I try to play games that use intellegence(word games, something that makes you think and takes your mind off of the bad stuff) and being around someone that you love helps to, my fiance has been great with helping me thru the attacks, from rubbing my back or feet or just holding my hand and using soothing words.
Best of luck and if anyone else reads this, give me some feedback . It helps to console me during the rough times

MommyKC · 05-21-2008, 01:17 AM

i like to watch light hearted comides before i go to bed.. recently i have been watching 3rd rock from the sun..it helps in the fact that their are no episodes about anything seirouse. im almost done with it and am trying to figure out what to watch next.. anyone have any suggestions? Also i like to listen to the sound machine while falling asleep, it makes me feel relaxed although when it shuts off it makes me nervouse. so i need to get a cd that i can have replay all night. I am also reading the book Dancing with Fear. It has really been helping me too i have actually come to realize some things about myself that i never quite "noticed" before, and i have a better understanding of "why" i have this anxiety. Another thing that helps is water..i have a little pond in my yard that makes me feel relaxed and hot baths help me temporarly relax, i wouldnt mind a little fountain or fishtank in my bedroom either.