All About Sleep Panic Attacks
Sleep panic attacks affect between half and seventy-five percent of experience daytime panic attacks. Having a panic episode in daylight is bad enough. Having one in the darkness of the night is even worse.
In the in the middle of the night things tend to disturbing than in daylight. This is true even if you don’t suffer from panic attacks. In fact, most people may have had a disturbed night because of some irrational fear even if they have never had a panic attack.
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.
The signs and symptoms of a sleep panic attack are essentially the same as one occurring during daytime. For example, the person usually experiences a pounding pulse, quick shallow breathing, tingling in their arms and legs, a sense of doom and so on. In short, all the things that go with any panic episode.
Some people might have the attack just as they are beginning to nod off, while others might have an episode from the blue while they are fast asleep.
If you experience these episodes know that you leave them behind you. But there are things you need to do to reach that goal.
The first step should be getting a thorough physical examination done by a doctor. Some physical conditions have the same symptoms as a panic attack. This way you can rule out any physical disorder. With night panic attacks, certain sleep issues like sleep apnea could be a cause for concern. It is quite possible that your doctor may recommend further tests done in a sleep lab.
The next thing to do is to make sure that your habits at night help you get a restful night’s sleep. This means avoiding or reducing stimulants like caffeine. Keep your bedroom for sleeping and indulging in romantic activities. Do not read or watch television in your bedroom. Also, try not to watch the news or dramatic and distressing movies and television shows before you retire to bed. If you have panic attacks, the last thing you need is to have all these disturbing images floating in your mind just before you go to sleep.
The final step I’ll recommend here is to seek specific treatment for your panic attacks.
A night time anxiety episode is like any other panic attack except it occurs at night. Because it happens at night it may be more terrifying, but that doesn’t affect the treatment plan. One thing that is slightly different is that if the night time episodes are fairly frequent, a physician may recommend a sedative at bedtime as a temporary measure while longer term treatments have a chance to take effect.
One problem with prescription “sleeping pills” is that they interfere with normal sleep patterns. A night’s sleep after you’ve taken Ambien isn’t as restorative as a night’s sleep without the sedative.
The other problem with sedatives is that they can be habit forming. That is why when you are put on sedatives, you need to realize that they are only meant for short-term use. Your treatment for sleep panic attack should address the issue of duration of the sedative and how you are going to wean yourself off it.