night panic attacks?

wexpat girl

Some nights I find it hard to get to sleep as I feel like it's hard to catch my breath/ have tightness in chest. BY day I,m grand. Not consciously stressed at the mo.

Had some expereince of panic attacks 15 yrs ago but I was highly stressed in work and burnt out. Didn't get any medical/ therapeutic help.Changed jobs. Solved.

This time I'm puzzled... it'a only the past few weeks.

Buona Fortuna

Hi Wexpat - I sympathise as I used to suffer from panic attacks about 10 years ago.

A couple of questions - really just me thinking out loud

- Is your home quite safe and secure?
- Any loud noises at night?
- Any history of problems at night?

I think a chat with your GP would be useful.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

DeltaWhite

Hey OP

Ever hear of mindfulness?

I suffer with panic attacks and am currently going through a bereavement the last few months, night time was the same for me. I downloaded one of those mindfulness apps and I have to say it really worked for me. Helps you relax before sleep and I haven't had any panic feelings in bed in months. Maybe give it a go and if it doesn't work go see your GP.

Good luck

wexpat girl

Buona Fortuna wrote: »

Hi Wexpat - I sympathise as I used to suffer from panic attacks about 10 years ago.

A couple of questions - really just me thinking out loud

- Is your home quite safe and secure?
- Any loud noises at night?
- Any history of problems at night?

I think a chat with your GP would be useful.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

No nothing like that. Mindfulness CD has been suggested. Maybe I'll give that a go.

poeticmakaveli

I first got panic attacks when I was around 15 and had them terrible for a few years, thank god they went away but I still get the odd one the day after drink as I do be jittery,but I understand and know all about the symptoms you have!
I got a book called "when panic attacks" by Aine ..... Not sure her 2nd name, its pretty good and a CD comes with it! it helped! I think confiding in people helps too and eventually in time they will leave!

silverfeather

The only thing I have found really is just time. Telling people etc. Sometimes getting out of the room and into a new surrounding.

LegacyUser

Hi op,

Did you think of physical option first? For example there are a couple of physical problems that may seem similar to anxiety. I have simple partial seizures (epilepsy) which get worse and occurred mostly at night because tiredness is a trigger, it only happens when I`m going through a period of seizures which can happen for a few months at a time then i`m fine again for a good while. I actually do get chest pain and stomach upset which are actually part of it too (would never think that was related to epilepsy obviously). It took me years to find out the cause and of course I was diagnosed with anxiety by the many many GP`s I saw. I knew myself it wasn`t and if you genuinely know your not experiencing and exhibiting other signs of anxiety then look elsewhere and be persistent. Lack of potassium is another one which can cause your heart a bit of trouble and your heart being funny can seem like anxiety. I experience anxiety when I`m getting low on iron so in that case anxiety is a symptom of something.

Be as honest with yourself as possible and look at the other behavior your exhibiting to point to stress or lack of it. Such as are you stress eating or craving more sugar or carbs? Maybe try a meditation (loads on utube) and see how long it takes you to settle. Close your eyes and even mentally audit your body and see what its telling you.

Good luck OP!

pookie82

wexpat girl wrote: »

Some nights I find it hard to get to sleep as I feel like it's hard to catch my breath/ have tightness in chest. BY day I,m grand. Not consciously stressed at the mo.

Had some expereince of panic attacks 15 yrs ago but I was highly stressed in work and burnt out. Didn't get any medical/ therapeutic help.Changed jobs. Solved.

This time I'm puzzled... it'a only the past few weeks.

Are you sure they ARE panic attacks? See a GP to rule this in or out.

Tightness in your chest and trouble breathing when you lay down at night could be anything from reflux to a heart problem.

Rule out anything physical before deciding meditation is the way to resolve it.

LynnGrace

poeticmakaveli wrote: »

I first got panic attacks when I was around 15 and had them terrible for a few years, thank god they went away but I still get the odd one the day after drink as I do be jittery,but I understand and know all about the symptoms you have!
I got a book called "when panic attacks" by Aine ..... Not sure her 2nd name, its pretty good and a CD comes with it! it helped! I think confiding in people helps too and eventually in time they will leave!

Aine Tubridy.