Sleeping is when we are at our most relaxed state. Our body is relieved from stress when we are getting quality sleep. But it is also very possible to have anxiety attacks when we are sleeping. A rapid heartbeat and racing pulse, you may feel confused, disoriented, anxious, disconnected from reality, grinding the teeth, head pain and a feeling of pressure in the ears are just some of its most common symptoms. Learn more about this kind of panic attack by reading through the rest of the article.
About half of people who experience panic attacks during the day experience nocturnal panic attacks. A person might suddenly wake up with a rapid heartbeat and racing pulse, the individual may feel confused, disoriented, anxious, and disconnected from reality. Other symptoms are grinding the teeth, head pain and a feeling of pressure in the ears. Even though these attacks are rare (only about 10% occurrence), people who experience these find it more frightening than those that occur during the day. People who experience nighttime attacks begin to fear going to sleep. They fear that they might become comatose or worse, that they might never wake up again. These may develop into insomnia, and other sleeping problems, thus actually making the person become more susceptible to more panic attacks.
The exact causes for panic or anxiety attacks at night are not known. One cause of these kinds of attacks includes the increase of carbon dioxide in the body during sleep (false suffocation alarm) which may trigger our body’s panic response. Another possible cause is that attacks are triggered during changes in the sleep cycle, such as when an individual moves into a deeper stage of sleep.
Sleep panic attacks happen even before a person begins to dream as studies show. Thus this rules out dreams as the cause of these attacks. This is a major difference with nightmares occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase or the dream phase.
There are other sleeping disorders during deep phases of sleep which have similar symptoms as sleep panic attacks. These are more common in children. Consumption of alcohol, drugs, depression, and other stressful events that occur during the daytime influence these kind of attacks.
Stopping panic attacks is a LOT EASIER THAN YOU THINK. Many think that because their symptoms are so severe that a cure for panic attacks would not exist which is untrue! For your well-being, take a look at the simple treatments available for Treating Anxiety and Panic Attacks now!