Night Time Panic Episodes –First Steps to Take If One Strikes

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Night Time Panic Episodes –First Steps to Take If One Strikes

Sunday, January 25th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Night time anxiety attacks affect between half and three-quarters of folks who suffer from panic disorder. Having an anxiety attack in daylight is bad enough. Having one when you’re in the dark causes even more distress.

Things can be more upsetting at night. This is especially true if there’s no one else around. I believe everyone, even someone without an anxiety disorder, has had a night’s sleep disturbed by fear.

For folks without a panic problem, just getting the lights on and checking things out dispels the fear.

It doesn’t work that way if your problem is a nighttime anxiety attack.

The signs and symptoms of a nighttime panic attack are essentially the same as as one happening during the day. That is, the panic victim typically feels a rapid pulse, quick shallow breathing, trembling, a a sense of doom and so on. In brief, everything that go with any anxiety episode.

Some people experience the sense of panic just as they’re drifting off to sleep. For others, the panic comes out of nowhere while they’re in the depths of a deep sleep.

Interestingly, most people with nighttime panic attacks don’t remember a nightmare preceding or accompanying the attack.

If you experience these attacks realize that you leave them behind you. But you will need to take action.

To begin, you need to see your doctor. There are some physical ailments that can cause the symptoms of a panic. You need to make sure that’s not an issue for you.

With night time panic attacks, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea could be an issue. Your physician may well recommend testing for this.

Once you know you don’t have a physical problem, you need to practice good sleep hygiene.

This means doing things like eliminating, or at least cutting way back, on things that might keep you awake such as drinks with caffeine in them. Only use your bedroom for sleeping and romantic activities. Don’t watch TV or read or pay bills while lying in bed.

You want to create the association between being in bed and sleeping.

In addition, don’t watch disturbing or action-filled TV shows or read such books before you head to bed. If you have a panic problem the last thing you want to do is to fill your mind with such images before bedtime.

You can find further sleep hygiene tips elsewhere.

The final step I’ll recommend here is to seek specific treatment for your anxiety disorder.

A nighttime panic 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.

Many times, Your doctor will recommend using medication in addition to psychotherapy.

One thing that is slightly different is that if the nocturnal attacks are fairly frequent, your doctor may be more likely to prescribe a sedative before you go to bed as a stop-gap measure while longer term treatments have the time to take effect.

One problem with prescription “sleeping pills” is that they disrupt normal sleep patterns. Sleeping because you’ve had a Xanax isn’t as restful as a night’s sleep without the sedative.

But it is better than one interrupted by a panic attack.

Another concern is that people can develop dependence. It’s important to know starting this treatment that it should only be temporary. Before you begins you should know how long you’re going to take the medicine and how you’re going to come off it.

For a lot of, it’s wise to try more natural treatments before they use drug. You can find a very good summary of natural sleep supplements at Night Time Panic Attacks Part 2.

In general, the supplements mentioned on that page are safe and do not disturb normal sleep patterns. Many people find they’re as effective as the prescription sedatives with out the side effects.

This advice will get you well on your way down the path to relief. If you want more information about all aspects of panic attacks and their treatment, visit Panic Attack Release.

And click here for a review of a great non-drug way to treat panic attacks.

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