panic at night - Panic Disorders Message Board

xcoughing · 04-02-2003, 11:18 AM

i have only had 2 full on panic attacks in my life... both were cured by a valium and a beer... but, there is something else that regularly occurs and i was wondering if anyone else has heard of it... right before i go to sleep at night when i'm in a lucid semi-dreamstate, i always become conscious of everything bad in my life... instead of seeing everything with a positive spin, i see it in a harsh negative light... it's enought to induce mild panic and wake me up... usually on the second try, i'm able to bypass this "night-panic" and get to sleep... when they're at their worst, i've come-to with a start with my heart racing and thought "my god, i have issues..." ...has anyone heard of this?

Janik · 04-02-2003, 06:50 PM

That's the kind of situation I was in. It still happens on occassion. I always have at hand a list of all my accomplishments and all the nice things in my life. It's simple but conforting. This only works, of course, when I am fully awake. My husband says I still cry sometimes in my sleep but luckily I never remember it.

akahoneypotqt · 04-02-2003, 07:40 PM

I think that it is very common with alot of people, even those who have never heart of GAD, or Panic attacks. I used to think that way during the day, all day long. I was in the grocery store one day and i looked around and i thought to myself "my god,,,, we are all going to die someday".. That was the day i went immediately home and called for a therapist. Yes, we could dwell on the bad things, the "what ifs" and the "shoulda, woulda, couldas" in our lives. But you know what? For every second you spend on a negative thought something wonderful in life is waiting to be thought of next. Pls do yourself a favor before you go to bed. Start to write some affirmations. Things that are positive about you, and your life. If you don't know what affirmations are pls go to any panic/anxiety website and look them up. They are a wonderful way to end your evening. If nothing else.. do what a friend does.. She writes down her most worrysome problems on a piece of paper.. then she either goes outside and burns it (little piece of paper ty) or she rips it into the tiniest of shreds and says "goodnight, see you tomorrow" and goes to bed.