"Adrenaline Rush" sensation as I drift off- Sleep Apnea? Need Relief
Posted , 72 users are following.
I'm writing here because it'll be Agust 28th before I can even see a doctor. Lately, when I try to go to sleep, just as I start to drift off, I get something that I can only describe as a surge of adrenaline waking me up. This happened once a few weeks ago and has been consistent ever since, especially the last 2-3 nights. Sometimes it leaves a sensation in my chest, other times, in my brain. I've heard the adrenaline feeling is a symptom of sleep apnea.
My questions are if 1.) anyone else with sleep apnea can confirm this symptom as one that might be SA, or if it could be something else.
2.) In the time between now and whenever I can get to my doctor, is there anything I can take OTC, or a sleep postion, etc, that will help? I've tried melatonin, which didnt help, turning off all lights, winding down routines, etc. So if anyone can help me along with some info I would really appreciate it.
2 likes, 126 replies
Robertxb josh95969
Posted
Hi Josh,
I experienced the same situation as you some years back when i was going through military flight school.
I want to let you know that this can happen to anyone that is susceptible to anxiety or panic disorder.
Firstly i would recommend seeing a doctor and getting a low dose of Propranolol (10 mg) to take an hour before you want to go to sleep. This will greatly reduce the effect of the adrenaline surge and should lower your blood pressure significantly, facilitating your brain to drift off to sleep.
Secondly you must tackle the root of the problem, I often find that i get it worst on days that i exercise vigorously. Therefore I would make sure i only did very light cardio on days prior to stressful events. Eliminate all stimulants, coffee/caffeine being the main culprits - they have the effect of raising adrenaline and cortisol in the body and need to be avoided.
Thirdly learn and practice belly breathing techniques - I recommend reading the book 'The Oxygen Advantage' as it will give you practical tips on sorting your breathing out to reduce the stress hormone secretions.
In summary: 1. See a GP about a light prescription of beta-blocker like Propranolol to facilitate getting a decent nights sleep while you tackle the root cause of the problem.
2. Eliminate stimulants and overly physically strenuous activities before stressful periods.
3. Learn to breath to reduce stress.
zahraa16264 josh95969
Posted
i get the same thing, I'm not quite sure how or why it happens but for me its like an adrenaline rush right as I'm drifting off to sleep. I don't feel it anywhere else but my eyes. When it happens my eyes start to get that weird static or they black out. Sometimes it would happen in deeper stages of sleep where I can't control it and I have to sit through it. I remember I'd open my eyes briefly only to have it all repeat again. I'd see a little bit of my room but only whats directly in front of me, anything around it would be that weird static.
ashley45849 josh95969
Posted
hi there. I recently started having this issue I'm about to go to sleep I get an adrenaline rush. my heart pounds I gasped for air sometimes. it's like I am scared. and it will happen over and over again for an hour or so until I fall asleep and stay asleep. I do have some health anxiety and have been dealing for some things idk if its stress or sleep apena as it only happens when I'm about to fall asleep and its not every night. anyone have any ideas? has anyone got rid of this? how are you doing now?
Guest ashley45849
Posted
Hi,
Did you overcome this problem? I am experiencing for a week every night. I am very scared if this will continue all my life and cant sleep. Is it anxiety or some kind of sleep apnea?
yvonne87369 josh95969
Posted
hi everyone is the feeling in your chest? Please look up Prinzmetal Angina. it happens as your falling asleep.
Manu8915 josh95969
Posted
Hi Guys! Here I am too. I feel so sorry for what we are experiencing but it seems that there are any other causes besides anxiety issues / sleep apneas /acid reflux.
I check my heart regularly (ultrasound, ECG while resting and during exercise) but nothing was detected (luckily).
These weird feelings started in 2015 and I could not understand what they were and since then this issues has been coming and going.
The feeling that I usually experience is the same as what I would have if I was called for an interview - like an anxiety wave that starts from my stomach to go up to my chest. Once it starts, it's frankly impossible to stop it. I fall asleep from exhaustion.
I remember that I was able to finally get rid of it by using Sertraline which is an antidepressant. Probably because it made me more incline to accept this "physical issue" and not to care much about it.
For those who thinks it may be caused by sleep apnea I would say that it's quote impossible if you are not overweight or your neck/throat and nose are fine. Also because this would happen throughout the all night.
It's hard. Very hard. Any news about this?
zahraa16264 Manu8915
Posted
If it makes any sense, I only feel it in my eyes, if I don't open my eyes within a few seconds I'll start having a dream I can't wake up from. I also discovered that it only happens if I take a nap during the afternoon. I'm not sure of why it happens. I also don't want to take any medications.
Nikki2027 josh95969
Posted
Wow! I am so happy to find this discussion. This started for me about a year and a half ago. The first 3 months of it I barely slept at all. I finally went on 15mg of Mirtazapine, because I was so desperate to sleep.
Slowly it got better, but now it is back off and on. I'll have a few bad nights, then a few good and so on. This also came with Nocturnal panic attacks once in awhile. They all started at the same time. I do yoga and meditate. I have been told it's all anxiety. It's strange, I truly was not at all in a difficult time in my life and am not stressed or anxious during the day. My mind also does not race at night. This happens as I am trying to drift off to sleep. I have had a sleep study, and sleep do not have sleep apnea. I have had basic hormone testing and so far it is normal. This is super frustrating and I really just want to get to the root cause. I believe anxiety has a root cause. There is not a ton of information on this subject, so I was so thankful just to see a conversation that let me know that I am not alone in this fight. Nicole
henry65307 Nikki2027
Posted
I had these feeling a few years ago and the they went away has anyone figured out what it is. what happens to me is when im trying to fall asleep all of a sudden i get a sudden rush in my head and feel very wierd. sometime my arms and legs feel wierd a little numb i have to get uo and walk around this happens 4-5 tines a night i dont like it sometines i feel like i might die. i take hot showers for like 30-40 min when this happens and try calm done and i think i finally fall asleep from exhaustion. have had a sleep apnea test in the past and did not have it. will be speaking to my doctor about it soon.
anna08313 josh95969
Posted
Hi Josh,
This happens to me too - particularly when I'm feeling extra anxious. I will be so close to falling asleep and then suddenly I have to gasp for air - like Ive been holding my breath. However, I don't think I have actually been holding my breath. Is that the same as what you're feeling?
Guest anna08313
Posted
Hi Anna,
I am experiencing this problem for a week every night. Gasping air and adrenalin rush just before falling asleep. I sleep 3 hours max. Please help how did you overcome it? Is it anxiety or sleep apnea?
tim59138 josh95969
Edited
I've had this issue for a 2 weeks, I stop breathing just as I fall to sleep (nod off) and an adrenaline wave will jolt me out of it. It's a continuous cycle of this all night long.
So, I know it's the fight or flight response to not breathing and can't understand why I'm not breathing just prior to nodding off.
I'm sure it's anxiety related, as I think I have convinced myself I have shortness of breath and feel anxious a lot about it. Recently had a good nights sleep and was so hopeful it was going to be great from here on after. Last night it was back and stayed awake all night. I'm so worried and getting depressed about my life.
Has anyone else experienced not breathing just prior to nodding off?
joseph45681 tim59138
Posted
Same exact issues. Did you ever find out what the cause was?
tim59138 joseph45681
Edited
I did not really find out the cause but it was definitely brought on by anxiety, so it was
in my head and not physically something wrong. I did get an apnea test and that was negative.
I got a prescription for Ambien and it was what I needed. I felt it gave me the confidence to fall asleep
on my own when I decided to get to sleep on my own without the Ambien a few months later. I feel I need to keep my mind concentrated on something so I listen to something from the Calm app like a sleep story. works well for me.
evcia9 josh95969
Posted
I have been experiencing exactly the same thing, I've been dealing with it for 2 months and I managed to deal with it but unfortunately it came back in the last few days. I suffer with anxiety and that's why it happens to me, its adrenaline that rushes through your body, and the more you're scared of it or think about it the more it will happen. What I found works for me is I focus my mind fully on a word or a phrase when I'm going to sleep and repeat it over and over in my head and eventually you'll fall asleep and won't even realise. It's because you're focusing so much on whether you're falling asleep or not that when you notice you are your brain notices, gets excited and wakes you up over and over again.