How to Deal with Sleep Panic Attacks
Sleep panic attacks afflicts between 50 and 75 percent of people who have panic disorder. Having a panic attack during broad daylight is awful, but having an attack at night is extremely terrifying.
Things always seem more upsetting in the dark. This is especially true if you’re alone. I would guess that most people, even someone who don’t suffer from, has had a night’s sleep disturbed by fear.
Usually people just switch on the lights, look around the house and feel better. However, this same thing does not work with people who suffer from panic attacks at night.
Nonetheless, the symptoms of sleep panic attacks are same at the attacks that take place during the day. The person will experience accelerated heart rate, fast shallow breathing, tingling feeling in the arms and legs, and a sense of approaching catastrophe. In other words, the person will experience all the symptoms of a panic attack.
Some people might experience the attack just as they are beginning to doze off, while others might get the panic attack while they are fast asleep.
If you experience panic attacks at night, you should be aware that you can control the symptoms. However, to do this, you need some tips and help.
First is to get a complete physical evaluation. Some physical problems that look a lot like the symptoms of anxiety episode. You want to make sure that’s not an issue for you. With nocturnal panic attacks, sleep problems such as sleep apnea may be a concern. Your physician may well recommend evaluation in a sleep lab.
The next step is ensuring that your habits at night promote and encourage a good night’s rest. This would mean reducing and completely avoiding stimulants like caffeine. Keep your bedroom just for sleeping or romantic activities. Do not read or watch TV in the bedroom. Also, you should try not to watch new or disturbing movies or TV shows before you go to sleep. If you suffer from nighttime panic attacks, the last thing you need is having distressing images in your mind just before you retire for the night.
The last step I’ll recommend is getting appropriate treatment for your disorder.
A panic attack at night is like a regular panic attack. The only difference is that it takes place at night, and it is this aspect that can be extremely frightening. However, it does not affect the treatment for the disorder whatsoever. The only thing that the doctor might suggest is taking a sedative to help you sleep. This sedative will be prescribed until such time that other treatment approaches start working.
The only issue with taking sedatives to sleep is that they can affect your normal sleep patterns. Sleeping at night after taking an Ambien is not as relaxing as sleeping without a sleeping pill.
Another concern is that people can become dependent on them. You need to realize starting using these pills that it should only be short-term. Part of beginning therapy should include a plan of how long you’re going to take the medicine and how you’re going to come off it.
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