Anxiety or Sleep Apnea

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi,

I feel like I forget to breathe and suddenly wake up with adrenaline rush on my chest while falling asleep. Also, I experience jerk or startle while falling asleep and wake up suddenly. It is happening every night for a week and some nights I cant sleep because I am very scared. I am thinking my breath and it gets manually so I cant fall asleep. When I fall asleep it is ok I did not experience breathing problems but I wake up 3 hours later. I am very anxious what can it be? What should I do?

2 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Edited

    Hi,

    This is a "common" problem - it's well known. I had this exact thing. You have the feeling that you aren't breathing, and in my case my heart stopped...for up to four or five seconds. Then I ad the sensation of adrenaline - like a shock or surpise and my heart would suddenly rapidly start again before settling back to normal after awhile. But I'd be left with the feeling of being a bit tense which made getting to sleep tricky.

    It's nothing to worry about. I didn't think so then and when I consulted a cardiologist about something else some years later and mentioned it, he said the same thing.

    Probably your worry about it is more damaging than the problem itself. You shoudl try some CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) if you haven't already - that's very effective preventing what could be compounding the problem.

    Depending on other health factors you may also have sleep apneoa which is different and can be dangerous. If you think that's the case you should get that checked out.

    • Edited

      Thank you,

      This problem come out of nowhere. I am afraid of to sleep because while falling asleep waking up with deep breath and adrenalin is very scary. Also, it occurs again and again each night. I am thinking "what if this is a central sleep apnoea?" and I know central sleep apnoea is cannot be cured so I cannot sleep with these thoughts.

  • Posted

    Hi,

    I struggle with the same feeling when I have bad anxiety in general or I am really stressed. The feeling is very unpleasant, but it is nothing dangerous and not to be worried about. I would advice you to stay calm during falling asleep, for me meditation worked well. I also take some herbal based sleeping pills when the feeling is too intense.

    Sorry for my bad English, it is not my first language.

    • Posted

      Thank you very much Karolina. That choking feeling is very scary. English is not my native language too no problem 😃

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