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Anxiety While Sleeping?

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Q: Anxiety While Sleeping?
asked by: dreamerinkw on November 14th, 2005
New User
Has anyone ever been woken out of their sleep with anxiety symptoms?
I think I did about a month ago.
Woke right up, felt sick to my stomach and then got the anxiety feeling and nervousness at the same time.
Help if anyone can relate to this....Thanks
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Replies(15)
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lmw80
replied on November 14th, 2005
Experienced User
Yes, I have woken up in a panick attack before.

Not fun at all!
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bmunoz
replied on November 14th, 2005
New User
Re: Anxiety While Sleeping?
Hi,
waking up with a panic attack is very common, the reason why?! I dont know but is very bad because next day I wake up like hangover, but with no alcohol fun :-(. What I do those days I just say to myself, im ok this is going to go away and I try to go back to sleep. If it wet worst just drink a glass of water and try your best to go back to sleep, you can also try to breath in hold it for 5 seconds let go slowly and do it again for at least 5 times your body will relax (you might feel light headed but that you make sleepy again) I really hope that works for you.

Good luck

brenda
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dreamerinkw
replied on November 14th, 2005
New User
I appreciate your comments that this has also happened to you.
Do you take any anti-anxiety meds?
I wasn't until this one time I woke in the middle of the night, now I stress about going to sleep so I find part of a anti-anxiety pill helps me out. I don't want to be addicted to taking this pill but I think the anxiety affects are worse really...Thoughts?
Thanks, brenda
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bmunoz
replied on November 14th, 2005
New User
[quote="dreamerinkw"]i appreciate your comments that this has also happened to you.

Yes, I take celexa and prozac, and trust me if you dont start soon taking care of you anxiety it will get worst and worst. Not be afraid of meds they are only adictive when you dont need them, but if you feel good and better I realy dont care taking it for the rest of my life.. I rather do that then be with panic attack or not sleeping well. You should go an especialist and be treated for this. You will feel better

good luck let me know if you have any other questions!
Brenda
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lmw80
replied on November 15th, 2005
Experienced User
I take zoloft. I do have xanax around in case I am in need. When you say you take the anti-anxiety medicine I assume you mean a pill you take on an as-needed basis? Perhaps you should see a phsychologist about an every day anxiety medicine such as zoloft. It takes roughly a month to kick in, and after that month, I found myself cutting down drastically on xanax.

Xanax can be very addicting if it's your sole source, as it does not prevent panick or anxiety, just eases it when you have it.
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bob2
replied on November 15th, 2005
New User
Recently i've been prevented from sleeping and also have been waking up with shooting pains in my head and chest and being very cold. I find I can't breathe properly and its like a minor panic attack. Unpleasent certainly, and it's hard to find a way to get to sleep again. I keep thinking I might die in my sleep. It sounds silly but that's how I feel.
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junhorde
replied on November 16th, 2005
New User
It's terrible what we all go through, always worrying about dying and getting sick. Trust me though, it does and will get better. There are times where I wake up at the very same time each night and my heart is pounding and racing, then to make things worse I start to worry and of course it makes things worse. I end up having to spend 20-30 minutes trying to get back to sleep.

I don't know about any of you, but I find that if I have had decent full day(day where i've done alot physically and mentally) I tend to sleep very well. You can try reading a book before you go to bed, this takes your mind off things a little.

Xanax does work wonders if you have any, if you take one (.5 mg for me) right before you go to bed, it makes a difference.

If you aren't on any kind of medication, I think you better seek help. If you can't afford to do so, don't worry there tons of local programs to help you. (here in the u.S.A.) not sure about other countries ...
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ledwards3
replied on November 16th, 2005
New User
Hi
Have u ever thought about going on medication for I heard it helps or are u already on it.
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dreamerinkw
replied on November 17th, 2005
New User
I have lorazepam which is in the dose of 1 mg.
I take 1/3 of a tablet before bed to help me sleep and for some anxiety.
My doctor says don't take it because it is addictive, but the anxiety I believe is worse.
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pinksalter
replied on November 18th, 2005
Experienced User
Hi

at one point my anxiety was so bad I would wake up with palpitations and felt like I couldn`t breathe. I read it was something to with the stage of sleep you are entering into.

It will go away as it has for me. I no longer wake up tired or waking up scared, I think this was helped by the fact that I knew there was nothing to fear when going to sleep, it was just my mind.

I take 20mg of citalopram (anti-depressant) it seems to be doing the trick and luckily i`ve never needed anything stronger.

Good luck
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linzyloo
replied on June 21st, 2008
New User
anxiety while sleeping
Hello..I am new here and i just had a question, i'm not sure if anyone can help me, it seems like no one ever can. I think that i have anxiety while i sleep, but im not sure if it could be something more serious. Every time I fall asleep no matter when or where it is, i wake up feeling really wierd and it happens all through out the night. I wake up really shaky and my whole body trembles, my heart also beats out of my chest and i feel light headed and extremely depressed or i feel like i am dying and i have a hard time breathing:( Just wondering if this happens to anyone else?!?
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dog-tim
replied on June 22nd, 2008
New User
anxiety when sleeping
hi alot of people suffer anxiety when sleeping some of the symptoms r beating heart rate and a pulse in yor head which feels really strong restlessness and many more go to the doctors to get checked out but u need to find out as much information on anxiety as possible so if it is anxiety u wil understand it more and beable to control it more u may need medication also try some strong hard exercise as this wil curb it as it wil calm down yor adrenalin levels as this is what raises in high pitch anxiety states. u wil b fine its not life threatening u just hav 2 deal wit it
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Cerksees
replied on June 24th, 2008
New User
Do you have sleep apnea?
Are you overweight? Do you snore when you sleep?

If so, your problems may be due to sleep apnea - a condition that can be treated with weight loss, a special night breathing mask (its like an oxygen mask you wear while you sleep) and even minor outpatient surgeries.

Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that interferes with your breathing for very short periods each night.

This can cause the reaction that you experienced and can cause a rise in blood pressure and heart problems if not dealt with effectively.

Check into sleep apnea. It may be the monster under you bed.
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normagomez
replied on April 8th, 2009
New User
anxiety
this morning i woke up with my heart pounding kinda fast , before i even got out of bed , i know im worried about having anxiety all day . feeling my heart rate,thinking about it all day .anxiety is giving me anxiety... help
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leo6742
replied on December 18th, 2009
New User
anxiety while sleeping
how do you know it is anxiety could it be a heart problem? i have had the same thing where i have been alseep for about 15 minutes to a 1/2 hour and then all of a sudden i would wake up feeling strange and my heart would be pounding and i would feel like i was dizzy and then i would start to panic, but everytime i check my pulse it is not beating out of the normal guidelines. I wish i understood more about this it scares me when it happens because like many others i think i am dying. I have been on meds before and stopped about two years ago thinking i could handle this on my own but over the last 5 months i find myself having anxiety a lot, if this is truly what it is.
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