scary thing happens only at first onset of sleep.. help!! - Sleep Disorders Message Board

rubber82 · 06-06-2007, 12:01 PM

Hi I'm new to the forum and have been having a really scary thing happening the last 2 weeks almost every night.

First a little backround, I have anxiety but not so bad that I need to take drugs for it. It's something I just cope with and get seemingly out of the blue every so often, sometimes a day after drinking alcohol does it get the worst.

Anyway the last few nights without fail I will fall asleep and without fail within the first hour (or two at the most) but usually 30 minutes I will wake up .... at least I feel like I wake up, but I seem to be having a dream at the same time. It makes no sense, I know I'm in my bed but I can't seem to snap out of the weird thoughts going on in my head. When I do finally snap out of it and realize what's going on, I start to shiver uncontrollably and get severe anxiety/panic for usually about 15 minutes until I can manage to calm myself down. I feel cold even if it's not and can't stop shivering and my mind seems to race and be disoriented until I finally fall asleep again. it's like i can't control my thoughts and it keeps thinking the same thing over and over, usually something weird like an airplane or a sport figure that just won't go away!

Has anyone else experienced this? My new insurance has not kicked in yet so I am forced to ask for help online until it does. It's scary because everytime I fall asleep I know that in about 30 minutes I will wake up disoriented not knowing what's going on and not be able to get myself out of it right away.

I also have problems waking up out of the blue with my heart beating extremely fast and i have to catch my breath. I usually jump out of bed really fast, once again disoriented and not breathing. this goes away after a few minutes but can persist 3 or 4 times before I finally get to sleep. Once asleep after these episodes I seem to sleep fine the rest of the night and even if I wake up in the morning can go back to sleep without any problems.... it only happens at the first onset of sleep every night. what the heck is going on?!?!? my body can't take this stress anymore...

thanks for reading. any help is much appreciated...

mike

ckc27 · 06-06-2007, 06:58 PM

Welcome to the board Mike! All I can think of is that maybe you're still a little wound up at bedtime. If that may be the case, before going to bed, you might try meditating, listening to relaxing music, or maybe even go to sleep with the sound of a gentle stream, rainfall, etc., from a cd.

Waking up having to catch your breath could be a sign of sleep apnea, yet you say you sleep fine later in the night. I still wouldn't rule it out though. Best of luck to you.

mkgbrook · 06-07-2007, 08:35 AM

Check out the sleep hygiene post.. it give you an overview of the guide that the sleep MDs pass on that all people should follow.. this might help.

Sincerely,
MG

babygirl2005_21 · 06-07-2007, 09:07 AM

I feel like this too! My doctor prescribed me Lunesta which has helped me sooo much but I feel that I am dependent on it now. I need to stop taking it but I am scared of the rebound insomnia I have heard about. I think drinking alcohol really messes with your sleep cycles. Try to cut back on that and see if that helps you.

dawnjritten · 06-19-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber82

Hi I'm new to the forum and have been having a really scary thing happening the last 2 weeks almost every night.

First a little backround, I have anxiety but not so bad that I need to take drugs for it. It's something I just cope with and get seemingly out of the blue every so often, sometimes a day after drinking alcohol does it get the worst.

Anyway the last few nights without fail I will fall asleep and without fail within the first hour (or two at the most) but usually 30 minutes I will wake up .... at least I feel like I wake up, but I seem to be having a dream at the same time. It makes no sense, I know I'm in my bed but I can't seem to snap out of the weird thoughts going on in my head. When I do finally snap out of it and realize what's going on, I start to shiver uncontrollably and get severe anxiety/panic for usually about 15 minutes until I can manage to calm myself down. I feel cold even if it's not and can't stop shivering and my mind seems to race and be disoriented until I finally fall asleep again. it's like i can't control my thoughts and it keeps thinking the same thing over and over, usually something weird like an airplane or a sport figure that just won't go away!

Has anyone else experienced this? My new insurance has not kicked in yet so I am forced to ask for help online until it does. It's scary because everytime I fall asleep I know that in about 30 minutes I will wake up disoriented not knowing what's going on and not be able to get myself out of it right away.

I also have problems waking up out of the blue with my heart beating extremely fast and i have to catch my breath. I usually jump out of bed really fast, once again disoriented and not breathing. this goes away after a few minutes but can persist 3 or 4 times before I finally get to sleep. Once asleep after these episodes I seem to sleep fine the rest of the night and even if I wake up in the morning can go back to sleep without any problems.... it only happens at the first onset of sleep every night. what the heck is going on?!?!? my body can't take this stress anymore...

thanks for reading. any help is much appreciated...

mike

Hi, Mike,

I have has this happen to me two times before. It is very scary. It did occur after I had drank a lot of alcohol a day or so before. Possibly, a form of DT from alcohol.