Signs of a panic attack while sleeping. I’ve had a few of those. Altogether, for a while there, I was getting them every night. I kept feeling like something was attacking me.
Hence, I would wake up not knowing what the hell was going on. And I kept hearing (or so I thought) this screaching sound and something going through the ceiling. Was this a panic attack? You tell me!
Pretty vivid attack! This went on for like a week and a half and then it just stopped. But because of it, I now have a hard time falling asleep.
There are many signs and symptoms to having a panic attack while sleeping, so I picked out the most prominent ones and the ones I have experienced.
Signs of Having Panic Attacks While Sleeping
Feeling Smothered
All things considered, feeling smothered kind of overlaps on some of the other signs of having a panic attack while sleeping. You feel like something is weighing you down.
During a panic attack while sleeping, a person might feel smothered due to the sensation of struggling to breathe or feeling like they are suffocating.
As a result, this feeling of being unable to get enough air can be extremely distressing and can contribute to the intensity of the panic attack.
The physical symptoms of the panic attack, such as rapid breathing, chest tightness, and a sense of impending doom, can also contribute to the feeling of being smothered.
Fear of Dying
Signs of a panic attack while sleeping are telltale signals when you’re having an attack.
Basically, you have the feeling of dying during a panic attack whether you’re sleeping or not. But to wake up to that is scary. You’re so confused, you don’t understand what’s going on.
From experience, each time I seriously almost dialed 911, it was that bad. I couldn’t breath which is one of the signs.
When I thought I was being attacked, I thought ‘dear God , let me make it through this.’ I will say, it also felt so real.
Accordingly, I’m more clearer in my mind than I have ever been, but maybe something was attacking me becuase I swear I could see it leaving. (I’m just sayin’).
Paresthesia
Paresthesia, also known as pins and needles. Generally, anxiety disorders and depression are common psychogenic causes of paresthesia.
This can feel like tingling, pricking, swelling, or burning. These symptoms usually subside quickly, but they can last up to 30 minutes or longer in rare cases.
After the attack, people may feel emotionally and physically fatigued and weak. All in all, these tingling, tingly, pins and needles anxiety symptoms can range in intensity from slight, to moderate, to severe.
They can also come in waves, where they are strong one moment and ease off the next.
Also, these tingling, tingly, pins and needles anxiety symptoms can change from day to day and from moment to moment.
Tachycardia
Signs of a panic attack while sleeping are hard to ignore. Tachycardia is a fast heart rate. Correspondingly, tachycardia means that your heart is beating much faster than normal, usually more than 100 beats per minute.
When your heart beats more than 100 beats per minute, you know you’re scared shitless. What makes it worse, is waking up to that.
Kind of a funny story. I was in the doctor’s office the other day and the nurse took my blood pressure and oxygen levels. Nonetheless, BP was high.
I was just sitting there not noticing anything. He looks at the computer and says ‘your heart is beating fast.’ I didn’t even notice.
Because I’m so used to being in an anxious state most of the time, my heart beats fast during attacks (of course). I was having a mild panic attack and didn’t even know it.
Sweating
Waking up drenched in sweat from a panic attack is not fun. Ultimately, if it’s that bad, I change clothes. I remember one time, I felt like I was lifted off the bed and then slammed back down.
I know I was having a panic attack from that. Because it felt so real it caused an attack. I didn’t know if something was in the room with me. Therefore, I kept my eyes shut for awhile.
When I finally opened them (several minutes later), I realized I was alone. I started to calm down and stopped sweating.
I was so afraid to move. Nevertheless, I didn’t go back to sleep that night. And this happened about an hour after I fell asleep.
Hot flushes
Signs of a panic attack while sleeping include hot flushes. At length, women often describe a hot flush as a creeping feeling of intense warmth that spreads across your whole body and face.
It lasts for several minutes. At the same time, others say the warmth is like the sensation of being out in the hot sun, or feeling like a furnace.
Tips for reducing hot flushes
You can try these tips to ease your symptoms:
- firstly, cut out or reduce coffee and tea
- stop smoking
- keep the room cool and use an electric or handheld fan if necessary
- fourthly, if you feel a flush coming on, spray your face with cool water or use a cold gel pack
- wear loose layers of light cotton or silk clothes so you can easily take some clothes off if you overheat
- additionally, have layers of sheets on the bed, rather than a duvet, so you can remove them as you need to
- cut down on alcohol
- sip cold or iced drinks
- have a lukewarm shower or bath instead of a hot one
- lastly, if medicine is causing your hot flushes, talk to your GP about other ways you can take it to avoid this side effect
Choking Feeling
Before when I described the thing attacking me, I felt like it was choking me. It seems so real , but I believe that I was having a panic attack at that time. the signs are there.
Consequently, during the episode, I couldn’t swallow or even speak. It felt like someone had their hands around my throat and squeezing.
I also felt like I was going to pass out if it didn’t relent. After a few minutes, it eased up and I felt I could breath again.
I’m just describing one event, although it has happened many times. So, it’s nothing new. I am afraid for the next one thinking I won’t make it through it.
Tremor
Signs of a panic attack while sleeping are very scary. I have tremors when I’m not having a panic attack while sleeping, but they’re worse when I do. Comparatively, they are uncontrollable until the panic eases up.
At any rate, my whole body is shaking. Sometimes, if they’re really bad, I’ll take the medicine I use to take for the movements from Parkinson’s Disease. I get desperate.
I know they will adventually subside, but like it is called a panic attack…I panic. Although, each time I have an attack while sleeping, they seem to get worse.
I don’t know if it’s just me (maybe you can relate?), but the panicking is getting worse. Moreover, maybe it’s the fear of having another one that increases the panic.
Shortness of Breath
I know (and you probably know too) that anytime you have a panic attack, it feels like you can’t breath.
This, also, goes along with the choking feeling. No air is getting through your throat. I’ve learned over the years that having this symptom doesn’t last forever.
Yes, it is scary, but it does ease up after a few seconds. I know you feel like you’re going to pass out, but you won’t.
I can only say that from experience. If you do pass out, then something else is going on. Therefore, these signs are very scary, but not life threatening.
Feeling a Loss of Control
Signs of a panic attack while sleeping make you feel like you’re out of control.
Feeling a loss of control when you wake up from a panic attack while sleeping is the worsrt. Henforth, the split second you wake up, you don’t know what is going on.
Combined with the other symptoms, you feel like you are loosing your mind. Furthermore, you were just sleeping and now all of a sudden you’ve been thrown into chaos.
At first, you don’t recognize that you’re having a panic attack because before you were sleeping peacefully. “Why is this happening to me?”
When you get your bearings straight, you finally recognize for what it is. And then, the attack starts to subside. Although, it’s very hard to go back to sleep after having one.
Sum It All Up
Signs of a panic attack while sleeping are very scary. Especially when you keep having them. Even so, sometimes the next one is worse than the last one.
I think for me, the worse symptom is not being able to breath. When that happens, then the panic really sets in. Then you truely feel like you are going to die.
Be that as it may, I hope that those who are ‘newcomers’ to having attacks while sleeping, recognize these signs and know that you’re not dying.
Personally, I don’t know how to completely stop these panic attacks. I know medication has helped me and I am also going to try microdosing. Hopefully, that will be the answer to my prayers. Until next time…
Articles About Signs of a Panic Attack While Sleeping
-Nocturnal Panic Attacks: What Causes Them?
-How to cope with panic attacks at night
-Why You Might Be Waking Up with a Panic Attack
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/waking-up-with-panic-attack
Have a Good One,
Cindee Murphy, One Voice In A Vastness Of Emotions
“In my experience, the words “now just calm down” almost inevitably have the opposite effect on the person you are speaking to.” — Elyn R. Saks
“It’s disrespectful, in my opinion, when people talk about panic attacks as if they’re just a slight hiccup.” — Unknown
“Confession: Sometimes I get anxious because I don’t feel anxious. Which means I forgot what I was supposed to feel anxious about in the first place and that gives me anxiety.” — Unknown
becoming more common, like AI.
Related Posts
Can an Anxiety Attack Last for Days?(Opens in a new browser tab)
The Fear Of The Panic Attack(Opens in a new browser tab)
How To Stop a Panic Attack!(Opens in a new browser tab)
Realistic Depiction of a Panic Attack(Opens in a new browser tab)
Leave a Reply