Panic Attacks When Sleeping

It is not too unheard of for someone to have sleep panic attacks. They are usually the result of a source of anxiety in the daily life, even though it seems like they have no cause. A traumatic event from the recent past or some stressful situation, like moving house could be the root cause, or it could an ongoing source of stress in life. The panic attacks, which may be accompanied by nightmares, are a manifestation of the daytime stress because this root cause is being left alone while awake and not dealt with. If the occurrence of sleep panic attacks becomes regular and often, a person may develop additional problems. Insomnia can develop as a result of the person becoming scared of going to bed and sleeping. The panic attacks may be waking them up and disturbing the natural sleep routine already. In turn, leading to more tiredness and stress and so increased chance of feeling anxious. To help deal with sleep panic attacks, remember to tell yourself that your are not in physical danger. If you start to have a panic attack while asleep then wake up, it will feel strange. However, you need to remember it cannot hurt you. Once awake, you should begin breathing deeply and controlling the panic attack as if it were happening at any other time. The feeling of paralysis can sometimes occur in people as they are still half asleep but it is nothing to worry about. One of the main purposes of sleep is for the body to repair the muscles and they are naturally inactive for this process. This is not something to be concerned over, although it is rare for anyone to notice this effect. Always, with panic attacks, the deep reason for the attacks should be determined and action taken to address it. This is the same with sleep panic attacks. To reduce the chance of an attack occurring, there are actions you can put into practice right away. In the evening, take on some light exercise and then make sure you stretch after. Stretching out the legs before sleep is a good technique to relax the body and mind for a good sleep. There are similar symptoms experienced by those with sleep apnea and other conditions. If the condition only ever affects you while asleep, it is worth considering that they are not panic attacks but one of these other conditions. A doctor will be able to tell you more if you discuss it with them.